Gap Analysis by the Rural Development Ministry
A gap analysis of more than 3.5 lakh villages under the Mission Antyodaya convergence scheme has been implemented by the Rural Development Ministry. The analysis involved the comparison of the actual performance of the villages with their potential or desired outcomes. Covering over 1.6 lakh panchayats, this exercise was first initiated in October 2017 with a baseline survey on 50,000 gram panchayats. For 2018, it is expected that all 2.5 lakh panchayats across the country would be covered by the end of November. The rankings developed as part of this analysis are updated as more panchayats are included.
The Survey Analysis
Officials surveyed and scored village level facilities and amenities using specific parameters related to infrastructure, economic development and livelihood, irrigation facilities, health, nutrition and sanitation, women’s empowerment, and financial inclusion. According to the findings, about a quarter of all villages have more than 75% of households using clean energy such as LPG or biogas. However, the mission is to further increase this percentage in alignment with the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
Infrastructure
With more than 73% of the villages connected with an all-weather road, the goal is to expedite this connectivity. The government has set a target to achieve total rural connectivity through all-weather roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana by 2019, three years ahead of the original 2022 target.
Financial Inclusion
Financial inclusion, which is critical for village empowerment, requires further work. Less than 15% of villages have banks, and a little over 10% have ATMs. At a national level, the data shows some progress but also highlights discrepancies in terms of targets met under different government schemes.
Table of Facts
| Aspect | % of Villages |
|---|---|
| All-weather road connectivity | 73% |
| Usage of clean energy | 25% |
| Villages with banks | <15% |
| Villages with ATMs | 10% |
Mission Antyodaya – Aims and Importance
Mission Antyodaya was envisaged by the Ministry of Rural Development to be a project with measurable effective outcomes that transform lives and livelihoods. According to the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011, there are 8.88 crore deprived and poor households in India that require targeted interventions under various government schemes and programmes. These interventions include areas such as wage creation, skill generation, social security, education, health, nutrition and livelihood creation. Mission Antyodaya seeks to converge these governmental interventions and pool resources – human and financial – to ensure sustainable livelihoods. This mission can go a long way in helping the government achieve its aim of reaching the disenfranchised and the poorest of the poor.
