Rural Development

The various schemes under implementation through Rural Development Department are as under:

1. Sampooran Gramin Rozgar Yojana(SGRY)
2. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)
3. Indira Awas Yojana (IAY)
4. Rural Housing Scheme (RHS)
5. Swranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
6. SGSY Special Projects
7. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY.
8. Model Villages under (Prime Minister’s Re-construction Programme)
9. Integrated Water Shed Development Programme (IWDP-Haryali).
10. 11th/12th Finance Commission Award.
11. Prime Minister’s Special Package.

PROCEDURE ADOPTED FOR FORMULATION OF PLANS

Section 12 of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 envisages that it shall be the duty of each Halqa Panchayat to make provision for preparation of the Plans for the development of the Halqa and to take measures for the implementation of the Developmental plans subject to the availability of funds at its disposal. The plans at the Block level are formulated after consolidating the information received from the Village Panchayats through the Secretary Panchayat (VLW/MPW/Gram Savika).

The plans are first consolidated at the Block level and then at the District level. After the approval of the plans by District Development Boards the estimates of the works approved in the plan are prepared by Junior Engineers of the concerned Block. The Village Level Workers/Multipurpose Workers/Gram Savikas (Secretary of the Panchayat) places the proposal of works before the Halqa Majlis, constituted vide Section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act, 1989 for their consideration and after passing a resolution, the Halqa Majlis nominates the person through whom the work is to be got executed. The Block Development Officer then allots the work to the nominated person in accordance with the guidelines of the schemes. The work is then got executed as per the guidelines/prescribed norms. During execution, the test checks are recorded by the AEs/AEEs and Executive Engineer to ensure that the works are executed strictly as per the sanctioned estimates and to ensure quality of the assets.

A WORD ABOUT EACH PROGRAMME / SCHEME IS GIVEN HERE UNDER:-

1. Sampooran Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)

The scheme has the following objectives:-
1. To provide additional wage Employment in rural areas.
2. To provide food security.
3. To create durable community, social and economic infrastructure in rural areas.
4. To lay special emphasis to provide Wage Employment to:
a) Women
b) Scheduled caste
c) Schedule tribes
d) Parents of children withdrawn from hazardous occupations.

Implementation
a) Through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)

Salient Features of SGRY
a) Centrally sponsored Wage Employment Scheme
b) 75% Cash Component as Central share; 25% as State share.
c) Food grains Assistance also provided by the Central Government.
d) Payment of food grains to be made by Ministry of Rural Development to FCI.
e) Transportation /handling charges to be born by the State Government.
f) A minimum of 5 kgs. of food grains per labour to be provided as part of wages.
g) Balance of the wages to be paid in cash. Minimum 25% wages to be paid in cash.
h) Cost of food grains to be worked out at BPL rates or APL, rates or anywhere between the two by the State government.
i) Works to be taken as per the felt need of the area within available funds.
j) 50% of the funds to be earmarked to the village panchayats for infrastructure development works in SC/ST localities.
k) 30% of the employment opportunities reserved for women.
l) 22.5% of the annual allocation (inclusive of food grains) allocated both at the district level and intermediate panchayat level shall be earmarked for the individual group beneficiaries of SC/ST families living below poverty line.

Works prohibited under the Scheme

Buildings for religious purposes, Monuments, memorials statutes, Idols, Arch Gate/Welcome Gates, Bridges, Buildings for Higher Secondary Schools/Colleges, Black topping of roads.

Other inputs about Scheme

a) No ceiling on the cost of the works.
b) But, the size, cost and nature of the work to be executed is such, as could be completed within a period of one year.
c) In exceptional circumstances to be completed within 2 years.
d) Use of high-level technical inputs to be avoided.
e) Contractors and labour displacing machines not permitted.
f) No middle man/intermediate agency can be employed for executing works.

Monitoring and Evaluation

a) Regular monitoring and evaluation through impact studies.
b) Monitoring by Government of India on monthly/Annual basis through progress Reports.
c) Monitoring through Vigilance Committees at the State and District levels.
d) District Level and National level monitors appointed by Government of India to carry out selected verification of works.

2. NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME

The scheme has been launched on February 2nd, 2006 in 200 districts of the country. In Jammu division it has been sanctioned in the districts of Poonch and Doda in the first instance & is being extended to all other districts in a phased manner. In 2007-08, district Jammu has also been brought under the fold of NREGA.
The scheme is expected to enhance people’s livelihood on sustained basis by developing economic and social infrastructure in rural areas.
The scheme is aimed at attacking the causes of chronic poverty such as drought, deforestation and soil erosion.
The scheme provides legal guarantee of 100 days work to every rural household whose adult member volunteer to do un-skilled manual work.
If an applicant for labour is not provided employment within 15 days he/she shall be entitled to un-employment allowance.
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a demand-driven scheme.

Main features of Rural Employment Guarantee scheme

1. The focus of the scheme shall be on the following works in their order of priority;-
I. Water conservation and water harvesting.
II. Drought proofing (including afforestration and tree plantation)
III. Irrigation canals including micro and minor irrigation works.
IV. Provision of irrigation facility to land owned by house holds belonging to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes or to land of beneficiaries of land reforms or that of the beneficiaries under the IAY of Govt. of India.
V. Renovation of traditional water bodies including desiliting of tanks.
VI. Land Development.
VII. Flood Control and protection works including drainage in water logged areas.
VIII. Rural Connectivity to provide all weather access and
IX. Any other work which may be notified by the Central Government in consultation with the State Government.

2. Creation of durable assets and strengthening the livelihood resource base of the rural poor shall be an important object of the scheme.
3. The works taken up under the scheme shall be in rural areas.
4. The State Council shall prepare a list of preferred works for different areas based on their ability to create durable assets.
5. The scheme shall be subject to appropriate arrangements as may be laid down by the State Government under the rules issued by it for proper maintenance of the public assets created under the scheme.
6. Under no circumstances shall the labourers be paid less than the wage rate, notified by the State Government.
7. When wages are directly linked with the quantity of work, the wages shall be paid according to the scheme of rates fixed by the State government for different types of work in every year, in consultation with the State council.
8. The schedule of rates of wages for unskilled labourers shall be so fixed that a person working for 7 hours would normally earn a wage equal to the wage rate.
9. The cost of material component of projects including the wages of the skilled and semi skilled workers taken up under the scheme shall not exceed 40% of the total project costs.
10. It shall be open to the Programme Officer and Gram Panchayat to direct any person who applied for employment under the scheme to do work of any type permissible under it.
11. The scheme shall not permit engaging any contractor for implementation of the projects under it.
12. As far as practicable, a task funded under the scheme shall be performed by using manual labour and not machines.
13. Every scheme shall contain adequate provisions for ensuring transparency and accountability at all levels of implementation.
14. Provisions for regular inspection and supervision of works taken up under the scheme shall be made to ensure proper quality of work as well as to ensure that the total wages paid for the completion of the work is commensurate with the quality and quantity of works done.
15. The District Programme Coordinator, the Programme Officer and the Gram Panchayat implementing the scheme shall prepare annually a report containing the facts and figures and achievements relating to the implementation of the scheme within his or its jurisdiction and a copy of the same shall be made available to the public on demand and on payment of such fee as may be specified in the scheme.
16. All accounts and records relating to the scheme shall be made available for public scrutiny and any person desirous of obtaining copy or relevant extracts from these may be provided such copies of extracts on demand and after paying such fee as may be specified in the scheme.
17. A copy of the muster roll of each scheme or project under a scheme shall be made available in the office of the Gram Panchayat and Programme Officer for inspection by any person interested after paying such fee as may be specified in the scheme.

CONDITIONS FOR GUARANTEED RURAL EMPLOYMENT UNDER THE SCHEME AND MINIMUM ENTITLEMENTS OF LABOURERS.

1. The adult members of every household who
(i) reside in any rural areas; and
(ii) are willing to do unskilled manual work, may submit their names, age and the address of the household to the Gram Panchayat at the village level (hereafter in this schedule referred to as the Gram Panchayat) in the jurisdiction of which they reside for registration of their household for issuance of a job card.
2. It shall be the duty of the Gram Panchayat to register the household after making such enquiry as it deems fit and issue a job card containing such details of adult members of the household affixing their photographs as may be specified by the State Government in the scheme.
3. The registration made under paragraph 2 shall be for such period as may be laid in the scheme, but in any case not less than five years, and may be renewed from time to time.
4. Every adult member of a registered household whose name appears in the job card shall be entitled to apply for unskilled manual work under the scheme.
5. All registered persons belonging to a household shall be entitled to employment in accordance with the scheme made under the provisions of this Act, for as many days as each applicant may request, subject to a maximum of one hundred days per household in a given financial year.
6. The programme Officer shall ensure that every applicant referred to in the above paragraph shall be provided unskilled manual work in accordance with the provision of the scheme within fifteen days of receipt of an application or from the date he seeks work in case of advance application whichever is later.
Provided that priority shall be given to women in such a way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work under this Act.
7. Applications for work must be for at least fourteen days of continuous work.
8. There shall be no limit on the number of days of employment for which a person may apply, or on the number of days of employment actually provided to him subject to the aggregate entitlement of the household.
9. Applications for work may be submitted in writing either to the Gram Panchayat or to the Programme Officer, as may be specified in the scheme.
10. The Gram Panchayat and Programme Officer, as the case may be shall be bound to accept valid applications and to issue a dated receipt to, the applicant, Group applications may also be submitted.
11. Applicants who are provided with work shall be so intimated in writing, by means of letter sent to him at the address given in the job card and by a public notice displayed at the office of the Panchayats at the district, intermediate or village level.
12. As far as possible, employment shall be provided within a radius of five kilometers of the village where the applicant resides at the time of applying.
13. A new work under the scheme shall be commenced only if-

(a) at least fifty labourers become available for such work; and
(b) the labourers cannot be absorbed in the ongoing works;

Provided that this condition shall not be applicable for new works, as determined by the State Government, in hilly areas and in respect of afforestration.

14. In cases the employment is provided outside such radius, it must be provided within the Block and the labourers shall be paid ten per cent of the wage rate as extra wages to meet additional transportation and living expenses.
15. A period of employment shall ordinarily be at least fourteen days continuously with not more than six days in a week.
16. In all cases where unemployment allowance is paid, or due to be paid, the Programme Officer shall inform the district Programme Coordinator in writing the reasons why it was not possible for him to provide employment or cause to provide employment to the applicants.
17. The District Programme Coordinator shall, in his Annual Report to the State Council, explain as to why employment could not be provided in cases where payment of unemployment allowance is involved.
18. Provision shall be made in the scheme for advance applications, that is, an application which may be submitted in advance of the date from which employment is sought.
19. Provision shall be made in the scheme for submission of multiple applications by the same person provided that the corresponding periods for which employment is sought do not overlap.
20. The Gram Panchayat shall prepare and maintain such registers, vouchers and other documents in such form and in such manner as may be specified in the scheme containing particulars of job card and pass books issued, name, age and address of the head of the household and the adult members of the household registered with the Gram Panchayat.
21. The Gram Panchayat shall send such list or lists of the names and address of households and their adult members registered with it and supply such other information to the concerned Programme Officer at such periods and in such form as may be specified in the scheme.
22. A list of persons who are provided with the work shall be displayed on the notice board of the Gram Panchayat and at the office of the Programme Officer and at such other places as the Programme Officer may deem necessary and the list shall be open for inspection by the State Government and any person interested.
23. If the Gram Panchayat is satisfied at any time that a person has registered with by furnishing false information, it may direct the Programme Officer to direct his name to be struck off from the register and direct the applicant to return the job card.
24. If any personnel injury is caused to any person employed under the scheme by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment, he shall be entitled to, free of charge, such medical treatment as is admissible under the scheme.
25. Where hospitalization of the injured worker is necessary, the State Government shall arrange for such hospitalization including accommodation, treatment, medicines and payment of daily allowance not less than half of the wage rate required to be paid had the injured been engaged in the work.
26. If a person employed under a scheme dies or becomes permanently disabled by accident arising out of and in the course of employment, he shall be paid by the implementing agency an ex-gratia payment at the rate of twenty five thousand rupees or such amount as may be notified by the Central Government and the amount shall be paid to the legal heirs of the deceased or the disabled as the case may be.
27. The facilities of safe drinking water, shade for children and periods of rest, first aid box with adequate material for emergency treatment for minor injuries and other health hazards connected with the work being performed shall be provided at the work site.
28. In case the number of children below the age of six years accompanying the women working at any site are five or more, provisions shall be made to depute one of such women worker to look after such children
29. The person deputed under paragraph 28 shall be paid wage rate.
30. In case the payment of wages is not made within the period specified under the scheme, the labourers shall be entitled to receive payment of compensation as per the provisions of the payment of Wages Act, 1936 (4 of 1936).
31. The wages under a scheme may be paid either wholly in cash or in cash and kind provided that at least one fourth of the wages shall be paid in cash only.
32. The State Government may prescribe that a portion of the wages in cash may be paid to the labourers on a daily basis during the period of employment.
33. If any personnel injury is caused by accident to a child accompanying any person who is employed under a scheme, such person shall be entitled to, free of charge, such medical treatment for the child as may be specified in the scheme and in case of death or disablement, through an ex-gratia payment as may be determined by the State Government.
34. In case of every employment under the scheme, there shall be no discrimination solely on the ground of gender and the provisions of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 (25 of 1976) shall be complied with.

3. Indira Awas Yojana (IAY)

The scheme is designed to provide shelter to house-less people living in rural areas with special thrust on scheduled caste, scheduled tribe communities, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST families living below poverty line. An amount of Rs.25,000/-in plain areas and Rs.27,500/- in hilly areas is provided by way of cash assistance in two installments to the beneficiaries. The funding pattern of the scheme between Centre and State is 75:25

The scheme is implemented through BPL beneficiaries themselves without the involvement of intermediaries.3% of funds under the scheme are earmarked for physically challenged persons. The guidelines of IAY programme also permit up-gradation upto an amount of Rs.12,500/- of Kacha Houses in the rural areas


4. Rural Housing Scheme (RHS)

The Rural Housing Scheme is a State Plan scheme implemented in all the district of the division. The scheme is implemented in accordance with the guidelines of IAY.

5. SWARANJAYANTI GRAM SWAROZGAR YOJANA (SGSY)

The objective of the scheme is to bring the assisted poor families above the poverty line by organizing them into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through the process of social mobilization, training, capacity building and provision of income generating assets through a mix of bank credit and government subsidy.
The funds are shared by State & Center in the ratio of 25:75 and the permitted %age of funds earmarked for various components of the scheme are
a) Training (10% of allocation)
b) Infrastructure (20% of allocation)
c) Revolving fund (10% of allocation)
d) Subsidy of economic activities (60% of allocation)

6. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Objectives

1. To provide all weather roads to unconnected habitations having population of more than 500.
2. New Roads –primary focus.
3. Programme for Village Road and Other District Roads only.
4. Roads to be surfaced with Black Topping.
Roads taken up under PMGSY Phase-I and PMGSY Phase-II were executed by the Rural Development Department and are nearing completion shortly. The fresh projects under the scheme are now being executed by R&B Department.

7. Model Village

The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India during his visit to valley in October,2004 announced Reconstruction Programme for J&K State which included overall development of one village in each block as a model village by way of creating necessary infrastructure so as to change the outlook of villagers and also
To minimize the Rural- Urban divide.
Check the migration of population
Improve the quality of rural life
Demonstration of latest technology
Integrated development of area, based on local resources.
Optimum utilization of resources available under various schemes.
In every block, one village is presently being developed as a model village and the work is in full swing.

8. Haryali (IWDP)

The scheme is being implemented with the objective of Harvesting every drop of rainwater for purposes of irrigation plantations including horticulture and floriculture, pasture development, fisheries etc. to create sustainable sources of income for the village community as well as for drinking water supplies.
For ensuring overall development of rural areas through the Gram Panchayats and creating regular sources of income for the Panchayats from rainwater harvesting and management.
For employment generation, poverty alleviation, community empowerment and development of human and other economic resources of the rural areas.
For mitigating the adverse effects of extreme climatic conditions such as drought and desertification on crops, human and livestock population for the overall improvement of rural areas.
For restoring ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing natural resources i.e. land, water, vegetative cover especially plantations.
For encouraging village community towards sustained community action for the operation and maintenance of assets created and further development of the potential of the natural resources in the watershed

Activities for Watershed Development

Development of small water harvesting structures such as low cost farm ponds Nalla, bunds, check dams, percolation tanks and other ground water recharging measures.
Renovation and augmentation of water sources, desiltation of Village Tanks for drinking water/irrigation/fisheries development
Fisheries development in village ponds/ tanks, farm ponds etc
Afforestation including block plantations agro forestry and horticulture Development, shelterbelt plantations sand dume stabilization etc.
Pasture development either by itself or in conjunction with plantations
Land development including in situ soil and moisture conservation measure like contour and graded bunds fortified by plantation bench terracing in hilly terrain, nursery raising for fodder, timber fuel wood Horticulture and non-timber forest product species.
Drainage line treatment with a combination of vegetative and engineering structures.
Repair restoration and up gradation of existing common property assets and structures in the watershed to obtain optimum and sustained benefit from previous public investments.
Crop demonstrations for popularizing new crops/ varieties or
Innovative management practices.
Promotion and propagation of non conventional energy saving devices energy conservation measures bio fuel plantation etc.


TRANSPARENCY

Preparation of the Action Plan for the watershed by the Gram Panchayat in consultation with self help Groups / User Groups with the assistance of WDT members.

Approval of the Action Plan at the open meetings of the Gram Sabha

Display of approved Action Plan on a Notice Board at the Gram Panchayat Office Village Community Hall and such other Community buildings

Review of Physical and Financial progress of work during implementation phase through periodical meetings of the Gram Sabha

Payment to Labourers directly and through cheque wherever possible.


FUNDING PATTERN

The present cost norm is Rs.6000 per hector this amount shall be divided amongst the following project components subject to the percentage ceiling mentioned against each

I. Watershed Treatment/ Development works/ Activities 85%
II. Community Mobilization and Training 5%
III. Administrative overheads 10%
TOTAL 100%

Saving, if any in the administrative costs can be utilized for undertaking activates under the other two heads Viz training and watershed works, but not vice versa. Purchase of vehicles office equipment, furniture etc, and construction of buildings and payment of salaries of Government staff is not permissible.

PRIME MINISTER SPECIAL PACKAGE (SGRY-SPECIAL)
The Prime Minister of India sanctioned a special Package for J&K State in the year 2003-04 under which an allocation of Rs.4.00 Lacs were approved for each Panchayat Halqa (Rs.3.00Lacs as Central Share and 1.00 Lacs as State Share).Under the Package, certain activities like constructions of community Information Centre, Food Godowns, Panchayat Ghar and school Buildings etc had to be under taken. The scheme was implemented in accordance with the guidelines of SGRY.

OTHER SCHEMES

The department is also one of the executing agencies for the works programmes of various other departments like Health, Education, Social Welfare, Revenue etc for which funds are allocated under NABARD, CDF, MPLADS, BADP etc.