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Social Infrastructure
2.21 Despite the
fact that there has been decline In the incidence of poverty
during the last two decades, sizeable population continue to
live below the poverty line, majority of whom reside in the
rural areas. The Government has adopted a three pronged strategy
for reducing poverty. First, acceleration of economic growth
with a focus on sectors, sub-sectors and technologies that are
employment intensive and on geographical areas which have been
lagging behind but have a high output and employment potential
leading to reduction in poverty on a sustained basis., second,
human and social development through improvements in education,
health care facilities, nutrition and access to other basic
minimum services which are critical in creating an environment
conducive to greater work and for improving the quality of life
of the people especially the poor and thirdly, as it is recognised
that the process of higher rate of growth and ensuring access
to basic minimum services may take some time before the poor
can benefit to fullest extent, targeted anti-poverty programmes
will have to be used vigorously and in a focussed manner during
this period to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared
by all, particularly the poor. In the short run, specifically
designed anti-poverty programmes continue to provide supplementary
employment and consequent additional incomes to the poor and
assetless. These programmes include (i) the Integrated Rural
Development Programme (IRDP), (ii) Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY)
and (iii) Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS). In addition the
Million Wells scheme (MWS), Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) and Drought
Prone Area Programme/Desert Development Programme (DDP) also
intended for benefiting the poor and also those living in backward
areas.
2.22 IRDP aims
at providing self - employment to the rural poor through acquisition
of productive assets and inputs which generate additional incomes
on a sustained basis to enable them to cross the poverty line.
Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) aims
at social and economic empowerment of women among the rural
poor by forming them into self-help groups engaged in income
generating activities. Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment
(TRYSEM) aims at providing basic technical and entrepreneurial
skills to the youth among the rural poor to enable them to take
up self/ wage employment. The objective of Supply of Improved
Tool Kits to Rural Artisans (SITRA) is to enable rural artisans
to enhance the quality of their products and increase incomes
with the help of improved tools and the scheme of Ganga Kalyan
Yojana (GKY) is to provide irrigation through exploitation of
ground water (borewells/ tubewells).
2.23 Both the JRY
and EAS provide employment for a short duration in the form
of casual manual work during the lean agricultural season on
public works which create economic infrastructure and community
assets. The thrust of Government policy is on assuring at least
100 days of employment per person per year by coordinating all
wage employment schemes. With the universalization of EAS with
effect from April 1997, both JRY and EAS are operating throughout
the country. While the JRY is being implemented through the
panchayats, the EAS scheme is being implemented through the
Collector/Deputy Commissioner of the area concerned. Under the
JRY, works are taken up for creation of rural infrastructure
according to the felt needs of the community largely at the
village level while under the EAS, similar works are taken up
at the block level whenever workers register themselves for
causal manual work.
2.24 Million Wells
Scheme (MWS) and Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) which were being implemented
earlier as sub-schemes of JRY became independent schemes with
effect from January 1996. The objective of MWS is to provide
open irrigation wells, free of cost to small and marginal farmers
who are below the poverty line. Where wells are not feasible
due to geological factors, other minor irrigation works can
be undertaken. The IAY aims at providing dwelling units free
of cost to the families living below the poverty line in rural
areas. The scope of this scheme has been considerably enlarged
in last three years with provision of shelter to the shelterless
poor.
2.25 The National
Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) was introduced to provide
social assistance to poor households in the case of old age,
death of the primary breadwinner and maternity. This programme
is implemented by the Panchayats and Municipalities.
2.26 Drought Prone
Areas Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP)
have been designed to restore the ecological balance through
soil and moisture conservation on a watershed basis within the
framework of area development plans. These programmes were reviewed
in 1993-94 by a high level technical committee. At present DPAP
is being implemented in 947 blocks covering 155 districts in
13 States. DDP is being implemented In 227 blocks of 36 districts
in 7 States covering both hot and cold desert areas.
2.27 The Panchayati
Raj Institutions are to play a pivotal role in the planning
and implementation of schemes related to 29 items of the Eleventh
Schedule of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act including
those of poverty alleviation and rural development schemes.
However, the process of devolution of financial and functional
powers is in different stages of operationalisation in various
States.
2.28 The Basic
Minimum Services Programme (BMSP) was launched in pursuance
of the recommendations of the Conference of Chief Ministers
held in July, 1996. The objective of the Programme is to ensure
access of all the people in the country to Seven Basic Services
in a time-bound manner. The Services identified for priority
attention are provision of safe drinking water, primary education,
primary health care, connectivity to all unconnected villages
and habitations, shelter for the shelterless poor, nutrition
and streamlining the Public Distribution System with main focus
on the poor. The BMS has replaced the erstwhile Minimum Needs
Programme (MNP).
2.29 In pursuance
of achieving the constitutional commitment of raising the status
of socially disadvantaged groups viz., Scheduled Castes (SC),
Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and
Minorities at par with rest of the society, high priority has
been accorded to their socio-economic development in the Ninth
Five Year Plan. To this effect, various central and centrally
sponsored schemes are implemented to address the special problems
and needs of these socially disadvantaged groups through a three-pronged
strategy which include (i) social empowerment through education
development, (ii) improvement in economic component through
poverty alleviation and employment and income generation and
(iii) Social justice through legislative support and other programmes,
through Centre and State governments and non-governmental organisations.
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2.30 As there has
been a major shift in the Ninth Five Year Plan towards the empowerment
of these socially disadvantaged groups, all the welfare and
development programmes were reoriented and revised in line with
the Special Action Plan directed towards expansion and improvement
of social infrastructure projects providing drinking water,
housing, education, health care and sanitation in remote and
inaccessible rural and tribal areas.
2.31 Education,
which is the basic to all developmental pursuits, is a fundamental
requirement for social development and has been accorded high
priority In the Annual Plan 1998-99. The Post-Matric Scholarships
(PMSs) for SC/ST students which is a major centrally sponsored
scheme, was revised in 1995 to cover larger number of technical/non-technical
courses thereby promoting higher education among SCs and STs.
By the end of 1997-98, as many as 20.88 lakh SC/ST students
were benefited with the PMSs. Similarly, under the scheme of
Pre-Matric Scholarships for the children of those engaged in
unclean occupations, scholarships are extended to the children
of scavengers/sweepers and tanners to pursue school education
and simultaneously divert them from the clutches of traditional
occupations like scavenging. Under the scheme of `Hostels for
SC/ST boys and girls', construction of hostels are taken up
to extend hostel facilities for SC/ST boys and girls to pursue
higher studies. During 1997-98, 143 SC/ST girls hostels and
86 SC/ST boys hostels were sanctioned. Special Education Development
Programme for SC/ST girls in low literacy areas has been catering
education facilities for improving their literacy level. In
addition to these, the programmes of providing Ashram Schools
for ST students, scholarships to SC/ST students to pursue higher
studies and programmes to extend financial assistance to NGOs
for setting up of educational complexes etc. will continue to
receive priority attention in 1998-99 to improve the education
status of SCs and STs. During 1997-98, the National Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation
(NSFDC), besides extending assistance to 14,144 SCs/STs to take
up income generation and self-employment activities, also extended
forward and backward linkages for credit and marketing facilities.
2.32 The Government
is committed to complete eradication of the obnoxious practice
of manual scavenging by the end of the Ninth Plan with a time
bound programme. Thus, the National Scheme of Liberation and
Rehabilitation has been accorded greater importance by providing
more allocation in the Annual Plan 1998-99 to extend financial
assistance, vocational training and other services to the liberated
scavengers to take up alternative and viable economic activities.
2.33 In view of
the precarious living conditions of the primitive tribal groups,
a new central sector scheme of development of Primitive Tribal
Groups has been introduced in the Ninth Plan to ensure welfare
and all-round development of these groups, specially through
extension of primary education, health services and support
through income and employment generation programmes.
2.34 Socio-economic
development of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), especially their
educational development has been given high priority in the
Ninth Plan. During the Annual Plan 1998-99, four new Centrally
Sponsored Schemes providing pre-metric and post-matric Scholarships,
boys and girls hostels and residential schools for OBC students
have been introduced. Besides, a new central sector scheme of
grant-in-aid to voluntary organisations for OBCs' development
has also been initiated during 1998-99 so as to encourage/involve
the voluntary sector, for promoting income generating activities.
2.35 Keeping in
view of the prevailing educational backwardness amongst the
minorities, Maulana Azad Education Foundation has been encouraged
for extending services/support to promote education amongst
the educationally backward minorities with special focus on
girl child. Pre-examination coaching centres continued to get
financial support to impart necessary coaching and training
to minority students for appearing In competitive/entrance examinations.
2.36 Social Welfare
programmes takes care of welfare, development and rehabilitative
needs of i) persons suffering from visual, orthopaedic, hearing
and mental disabilities, ii) social deviants namely juvenile
delinquents/vagrants, drug addicts, alcoholics, sex workers,
etc. and iii) the other disadvantaged namely, the aged, destitutes,
street children, children in adverse circumstances, etc. so
as to enable them to overcome their social, economic and physical
handicaps. During the Annual Plan 1998-99, efforts will be made
to implement all the welfare and development programmes of the
social welfare sector in line with the objectives of the Ninth
Five Year Plan by adopting threefold strategy specific to each
individual group viz., empowering the persons with disability,
reforming the social deviants and caring for the other disadvantaged.
2.37 The major
policy thrust towards the disabled has been to make as many
disabled persons as independent, self-supporting and contributing
members of the society. Empowering the persons with disabilities
being the new initiative in the Ninth Plan, in accordance with
the recently enacted Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities,
Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act (PDA), 1995,
efforts will be made to create and develop not only the necessary
institutional mechanism but also to ensure that much needed
services reach the intended beneficiaries in the rural areas.
2.38 Special efforts
will also be made during 1998-99 to strengthen/expand the services
for prevention and early detection of disabilities, education
and training, employment and rehabilitation in rural areas to
make as many disabled persons as active, self-dependent and
productive members of the society. The six national institutes
will continue to serve as apex organisations for manpower development,
education, training, vocational guidance, counselling, research
and development of service models.
2.39 The District
Rehabilitation Centres continue to provide a package of rehabilitation
services to the disabled persons in rural and remote areas.
Under the scheme to Promote Voluntary Action for the Persons
with Disabilities, financial support is being provided to voluntary
organisations for extending services through vocational training
centres, special schools and counselling centres. Voluntary
Organisations will be encouraged for the welfare and development
of persons with disabilities specially in rural areas and in
the regions where voluntary action is weak.
2.40 To provide
full coverage of the services under Juvenile Justice Act, 1986,
about 280 Observation Homes, 251 Juvenile Homes, 36 Special
Homes and 46 After Care Homes were supported during 1997-98.
Special problems of the juvenile delinquents and the children
in difficult circumstances will be addressed squarely by ensuring
effective implementation of the above Act and other curative
and rehabilitative measures in the year 1998-99.
2.41 With the changes in socioeconomic
scenario in the country, various problems of drug addicts, street
children and elderly and social maladjustment leading to juvenile
delinquency/vagrancy/crime are increasingly exposed in both
rural and urban areas. The programme for the street children
will be restructured keeping in view the `Child's Right' by
involving the voluntary organisations. To extend much needed
care and services to the aged, 186 old age homes, 283 day care
centres, 28 mobile units and 2 projects of non-institutional
services for older persons have been established in different
parts of the country during 1997-98. The National Policy on
Older Persons has been finalised for extending financial support,
medical facilities, shelters, access to information etc.to the
older persons.
2.42 The Special
Action Plan for Health envisages expansion and improvement of
the health services; no specific targets have been set for the
health sector. The current status, problems, proposed intervention
programmes, targets set and monitoring mechanism in health sector
including health nutrition, family welfare and ISM&H were
reviewed and an operational strategy under the SAP for the health
sector was drawn up. The strategy includes: (a) State specific
strategies for fully operationalising the on-going programmes
in health, nutrition and family welfare. (b) Reorganisation
of the primary health care infrastructure, redeployment of manpower
in urban and rural areas; providing additional funds to fill
critical gaps; improving referral linkages; improving efficiency
and accountability. (c) Investment in health manpower development
in modern and Indian system of medicine so that there are adequate
manpower of appropriate quality and quantity; continuing education
for professionals, and paraprofessionals to update their knowledge
and skills, providing appropriate programme and people orientation.
(d) Effective prevention and control of communicable and noncommunicable
diseases; (e) providing appropriate care at primary, secondary
and tertiary level institutions; (f) Improved monitoring of
ongoing and effecting mid-course corrections.
2.43 Currently
the major nutrition related public health problems facing the
country are: Chronic energy deficiency and under-nutrition;
Chronic energy excess and obesity and micro-nutrient deficiencies.
Efforts are underway to achieve (i) freedom from hunger through
increase in food production, its effective distribution and
improvement in purchasing power of the people; (ii) reduction
in under-nutrition and its health consequences through universalization
of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS); and (iii) prevention,
early detection and effective management of micro-nutrient deficiencies
and the associated health hazards.
2.44 Number of
beneficiaries under the Integrated Child Development Services
Scheme (ICDS) has increased from 5.7 million children and 1.2
million mothers in 1985 to 18.5 million children and 3.7 million
mothers in 1996.
2.45 Health and
nutritional status of the population living in KBK districts
continues to be poor due to poverty, low income, lower levels
of literacy, periodic drought, endemic malaria, inadequate access
to health services and lack of health awareness especially in
tribal areas. Health is one of the sectors covered under the
Long-Term Action Plan (LTAP) for KBK Districts of Orissa (1995-2002)
which is being monitored by the Planning Commission.
2.46 The major thrust areas of
intervention include: (a) greater access to public health services
through mobile health clinics/units. (b) improved availability
of health staff in existing health institution. (c) prevention,
detection and prompt treatment of malaria under the National
Anti-malaria Programme. (d) prompt and effective treatment of
Tuberculosis through Revised National TB programme. (e)emergency
Feeding Programme for the old, infirm and the destitute.
2.47 Containing
the population growth is one of the major objectives of the
Ninth Plan. The Reproductive and Child Health Programme initiated
in Oct, 1997 aims to achieve this objective through meeting
all the felt needs for contraception of reducing infant and
maternal mortality so that there is reduction in the desired
level of fertility. Efforts were also made to undertake need
assessment and area specific micro-planning , improve quality
and coverage of services
2.48 Review of
performance under family welfare programme indicate a marginal
improvement in new acceptors of contraception as compared to
previous year, but the figures are still less than those during
1994-95. The coverage both under routine and pulse polio immunization
fall short of 100%. Among the poorly performing States Bihar
and UP have shown a substantial decline as compared to their
own past performance. Deptt . of Family Welfare is currently
taking steps to ensure all round improvement in performance.
2.49 As part of
National Policy, universalisation of elementary education received
overriding priority. According to the Sixth All India Education
Survey (1990-93), 8.76 lakh habitations covering 94 per cent
of rural population of the country had schooling facilities
at the primary stage within one kilometer distance. 7.26 lakh
habitations covering 83.98 per cent of the rural population
had middle school within three kilometer distance. The enrolment
of SCs and STs has increased considerably and they are now more
or less in proportion to their population at the primary level.
Under elementary
2.50 The National
Literacy Mission (NLM) was set up in 1988 with the objective
of making 80 million persons literate in the age group of 15-35
by the year 1995. Subsequently, the goal was revised to cover
100 million persons by the year 1998-99. Recent NSSO data show
that India has achieved 62 per cent literacy in 1997. Till March,
1998, 447 districts have been covered under the literacy programme.
Of these, 215 districts had total literacy campaign, 173 had
the post literacy phase and 59 had continuing education programme.
Under the literacy programme, approximately 68.57 million people
have been made literate of which 60 per cent were females. The
percentage of SCs and STs in total literate was 22.40 and 13.20
respectively. The total literacy campaign has been continued
as dominant strategy of the National Literacy Mission. Use of
traditional and electronic media for creating environment for
literacy is being advocated. An effort is made to develop instructional
material in regional languages and local dialects based on the
local needs of the population. Topics like value oriented education,
spiritual education, upgradation of marketing skills, nutrition,
health, human resource development and mother and child care
and consumers rights are being included in the curriculum. NGOs
have been involved for experimentation and innovativeness with
adequate financial support to them.
2.51 In Secondary
Education, during 1997-98, the focus was laid to improve education
in the areas of science, population, environment, value education,
educational technology, physical education and sports etc. A
total of 875 Kendriya Vidyalayas covered eight lakh children
of transferable Central Government employees including that
of defence personnel. The scheme of Navodaya Vidyalayas continued
to provide education up to senior secondary stage with the objective
of providing high quality modern education having strong cultural
values to the talented children predominantly from rural areas
irrespective of their socio-economic background. During 1997-98,
219 Navodaya Vidyalayas were upgraded to Senior Secondary stage.
The existing Computer Literacy Programme (CLP) continue to be
provided in 103 Navodaya Vidyalayas. The National Open School
covered about 80,000 persons in various courses during the year
1997-98. The main emphasis continued to be on consolidation
and qualitative improvement of the programme of vocationalisation
of secondary education. in the Annual Plan 1998-99, for improvement
of science education in the country, voluntary organisations
are encouraged to take up science education programmes for talented
students from rural areas. The scheme of Integrated Education
for the Disabled Children is being expanded to cover more children
under the programme. Effort is being made to ensure that every
disabled child has access to free education until the age of
18 years as envisaged under the `Persons with Disabilities Act'
1995'. More voluntary organisations are being encouraged to
take up this scheme. Efforts are being made to utilise modern
telecommunications and computer technology in making its instructional
design and delivery more effective and accessible through a
nationwide telecommunication network with uplinking facility
and telecommunication channels. States are being encouraged
to set up `State Open Schools' on the national model and by
developing education facilities in regional languages to strengthen
the access to secondary education.
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2.52 During 1997-98,
59 lakh persons were enrolled in higher education. The share
of women in total enrolment at the beginning of the year was
about 23 per cent. Distant education accounts for merely 12
per cent of the total enrolment in higher education and is the
emerging reality in the educational scene of the country. The
major thrust area in higher education relate to vocationalisation
of education at the first degree level, COSIST programmes, Orientation
of teachers through Academic Staff Colleges, spread of Mass
Communication and Educational Technology Network, Computer Education,
Support for education of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
minorities and weaker sections among the minority communities.
2.53 The major
programme for the development of technical education continued
through 1997-98. Six Indian Institutes of Technology continued
to provide excellent facilities at undergraduate and post graduate
levels and other research programmes. The four Indian Institutes
of Management continued to provide high quality management education
through teaching, training, research and consultancy. As on
March, 1998, 442 community polytechnics were functioning all
over the country out of which 83 are exclusively for women.
Community Polytechnics have made significant contribution towards
promoting transfer of a large number of tested and approved
items of technology to the rural areas including windmills,
smokeless chulahs, rural latrines, solar appliances, agricultural
implements etc. The scheme of Community Polytechnics had continued
as a support system for technology transfer, training and S&T
awareness for the rural community. Emphasis has now been shifted
to demand based vocational courses especially in the service
sector. Further, stress is being laid on practical knowledge
as well. Efforts are also being made to encourage NGOs wherever
there is no community polytechnic to take up this responsibility.
2.54 Enrolment
of girls at primary, middle and high and higher secondary stage
was 43.38, 39.83, 37.10 and 35.32 per cent respectively. Overall
(including college and technical education) share of girls enrolment
in all stages worked out to 41.32 per cent. The National Agenda
for governance, under article 16 envisaged provision of free
education for girls upto college level including professional
courses so as to empower women. An in-depth review of District
Primary Education Programme (DPEP) conducted during September-October,
1997 revealed reduction of gender and social inequalities. The
index
of gender equity
stood at more than 95 in 18 out of 36 districts. The Mahila
Samakhya Programme has been operating in 5000 villages of 35
districts spread over eight States which are educationally backward.
The basic philosophy in Mahila Samakhya approach is the understanding
that women must identify their problems and evolve solutions
on their own. As a sequel to the Prime Minister's announcement
on the country's Independence Day, 1998, a scheme of Balika
Samriddhi Yojana has been drawn to provide free education for
girls upto college level including professional courses.
2.55 The housing
needs of all the segments of the population will have to be
met; The Ninth Plan focuses special attention on households
at the lower end of the housing market. The priority groups
identified for such support are people living below poverty
line, SC/STs, disabled, freed bonded labourers, slum dwellers
and women headed households. As facilitator, Government would
create an environment in which access to all the requisite inputs
will be in time, in adequate quantum and of appropriate quality
and standards.
2.56 During 1998-99
(upto Sept. 1998), under EWS housing scheme 50307 dwelling units
have been constructed against the target of 216700 dwelling
units. Like-wise, under LIG Housing scheme achievements have
been 7202 dwelling units as against the target of 57899 dwelling
units.
2.57 Whereas provision
of safe drinking water and sanitation is a State subject and
primary responsibility of the State Governments, the Central
Government has been implementing a large scale Centrally Sponsored
Scheme in the case of rural water supply, viz. Accelerated Rural
Water Supply Programme (ARWSP), currently known as Rajiv Gandhi
National Drinking Water Mission; As on 1.4.1998, there were
56269 left over "Not Covered" (NC) and 313473 "Partially
Covered" (PC) habitations out of a total of 1430663 identified
habitations.
2.58 The concept
of total environmental sanitation needs to be adopted. As the
Government scheme of low-cost sanitation is mainly for the people
below the poverty-lines, it may be necessary to ensure alternative
delivery system for others through "Rural Sanitary Mart",
a commercial enterprise with social objective, which apart from
being a sales outlet also serves as a counselling-centre as
well as a service-centre.
2.59 Due to rapid
urbanisation and ever increasing population of the cities and
towns, their demand for adequate drinking water supply and hygienic
disposal of liquid and solid wastes is assuming greater importance
year after year.
2.60 While the
coverage of urban population by protected water supply is estimated
to be around 90% at the beginning of the Ninth Plan, this however,
does not truly reflect the deprivation of the poor, particularly
those living in slums. Similarly in the case of urban sanitation,
though about 46% of the population have provision for sanitary
excreta disposal facilities at the beginning of the Eighth Plan,
only 29% had sewerage system. The balance had only low-cost
sanitation facilities.
2.61 With a view
to reduce migration of population from rural areas and smaller
towns to large cities, to generate employment opportunities
in the small and medium towns, and to provide infrastructural
facilities in these towns, the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of
Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT) was
initiated during the Sixth Five Year Plan.
2.62 During 1997-98,
the sum of Rs. 154.20 crore has been provided for urban transport.
The Union Cabinet had given its `in principle' approval in July,
1994 for the introduction of an Integrated Multi-modal Mass
Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for Delhi. However, the investment
proposals for the first phase of Delhi MRTS were approved by
the Union Government in September, 96 only. The project envisages
introduction of a metro rail system of about 55.3 kms. comprising
11 kms of underground rail corridor and 44.3 kms of elevated-cum-surface
rail corridors. The total cost of the project is estimated at
about Rs. 4860 crore at April 1996 prices.
2.63 A Committee
was set up in the Planning Commission in February 1997 to review
and rationalise the various Centrally Sponsored Schemes for
Poverty Alleviation and Employment generation. Based on the
recommendation of the Committee Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar
Yojana (SJSRY) came into operation w.e.f. 1.12.97 and the above
mentioned three schemes viz., NRY, PMIUPEP and UBSP were phased
out and the allocated amount for these three schemes were transferred
to SJSRY.
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