SECRETARY TO GOVT Of MIZORAM FCSCA, SYS & SCHOOL EDUCATION RURAL DEVELOPMENT MIZORAM CHALLENGES & PROSPECTS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CONVERGENCE OF MGNREGA & OTHER SCHEMES R.LALVENA SECRETARY TO GOVT Of MIZORAM FCSCA, SYS & SCHOOL EDUCATION

Planning for Rural Development …. A complex process which envisages the development of rural areas. Aims at all round development of people living in Rural areas. Aims at improving Rural peoples’ livelihood in an equitable and sustainable manner. Objectives of RD Programmes ….. alleviation of poverty and un-employment through creation of basic, social and economic infrastructure thereby bringing a quality rural life.

Development Perspective Rural infrastructure and habitat development Poverty reduction Provision of basic minimum services Employment generation Making available basic necessities Target Groups: poorest of the poor and the weakest

Causes for Poverty and Vulnerability Little control over their own Life And Destiny   Employment Insecurity and Low Incomes Lack of Control over Common Resources Lack of Assets and Entitlements Low Productivity of Assets Illiteracy, Poor Health and Nutritional Status Lack of Access to Credit, Information & Technology

“Paradigm Shift in Approach” aim at Universal Coverage are Demand Driven aim at Empowerment of the Poor are Time Bound follow Participatory Approach have built in Transparency and Accountability

India’s Vision for the future India has outlined targets based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) The first goal is to Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger “Inclusive Growth” and “Paradigm Shift in Approach” are the Mainstay

Promoting Inclusive Growth through Planned Programs Coverage of SCs, STs, OTHERS (Children, minorities) Coverage of Vulnerable WOMEN Coverage of Women

PROFILE OF R. D. PROGRAMS RD programs can be divided in to four categories : Programs for Self and Wage Employment. Programs for Rural Infrastructure & Minimum Basic Needs. Programs for Natural Resources Management; and, Programs for Social Security.

I. PROGRAMS FOR SELF AND WAGE EMPLOYMENT Guaranteeing Wage Employment through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Promoting Self Employment Through National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)

II.PROGRAMS FOR RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE & MINIMUM BASIC NEEDS Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Swajaldhara Rural Sanitation Program (NBA/TSC) PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) Integrated Rural Housing Scheme (IRHS) Indira Awaas Yojana Samagra Awaas Yojana Pradhan Mantri Gramdoya Yojana (G.A) Credit-cum-Subsidy Scheme

III.PROGRAMS FOR NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Integrated Wasteland Development Program (IWDP) (Watershed Development and Hariyali) Land Consolidation Land Reforms Computerization of Land Records

IV.PROGRAMS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL ASSISTANCE (NSAP) Old Age Pension, Widow Pension National Family Benefit Scheme National Maternity Benefit Scheme ICDS and Allied Services Subsidized Food for Old & Destitute Annapoorna Antodaya

Challenges … Most programmes represented top-down, techno- bureaucratic solutions to poverty alleviation Peoples’ participation in planning, designing, implementation and monitoring lacking In implementation most programmes reduced to chasing paper targets Little or no gender focus – assumption that improvement in status of family will automatically improve status of women belied by experience Programmes conceptualized for women did not enable them to pull themselves out of a disadvantageous situation No flexibility to adapt programme design to local conditions

Challenges…. Low importance of Social Dev. Programmes to PRI. High Adm. Costs of Program Implementation. Low importance of Social Dev. Programmes to PRI. Perils of centralisation of Program Administration. Multiplicity of Agencies & Difficulties in Coordination. Technical deptt. entrusted with routine jobs Lack of result oriented planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Program Leakages

Prospects …. Unity of plan & policy Organising the poor for greater participation Emphasis on coordination rather than on control Scheme to originate from PRIs and not state/ centre (bottom up – NOT TOP DOWN) Simplification of procedures/ norms Adoption of package approach PRIs as corporate bodies Focus on HRD Creation of satisfactory monitoring system to measure & regulate performance during implementation

Prospects Create Rights and Legal Guarantees for rural poor Decentralise Planning and Implementation Set up well defined Systems with clear Guidelines Involve Partners and Stakeholders Converge Schemes with Common Objectives Incentivise Achievements Ensure Transparency and Accountability Use IT platform for effective Monitoring Establish Grievance Redressal Mechanism

Strengthening Grassroot Processes of Democracy Financial Inclusion Large Scale Capacity Building Social Audits Grievance Redressal Mechanism ICT in MIS

TOWARDS CONVERGENCE Ministry of Rural Development issued series of guidelines for convergence of MGNREGA with other Schemes State Level Workshop on Convergence held on 19th March 2014 with Line Departments. Series of consultations between RD Deptt and Line Deptt – 4 Departments identified for taking up convergence for the year 2014-2015. Rubber Plantation, Silkworm Development, Horticulture Development and Pisciculture Development selected for the pilot

MGNREGS – More Efforts at Convergence for 2015-16 PMGSY on Farm Net (road construction) Sports Dept for Construction of Playgrounds AH & Vety Deptt for site preparation of livestock houses. Irrigation Dept for micro irrgation canals. Agriculture Dept for land development. PHE Dept for NBA and Groundwater recharge. Forest Dept for site preparation, afforestation etc. SWD for construction of anganwadi centre/approach. SLRM for engagement of SHGs as Labour Groups, Social Auditors, facilitators etc.

Intra-Depttal Convergence 4 areas of convergence within RD Deptt Presently implemented by it: BRGF – filling up of critical gap in creating physical infrastructure : Land Development, irrigation channels, Water Harvesting Structures, road construction for farm network (road connecting farms only) – Works to be synchronized with MGNREGA. IWMP – labour component from MGNREGA - watershed approach, digging of pits, trenches, land development including terracing – half moon, bench terracing etc. Materials, tools, saplings to be procured from IWMP IAY – Financial support to beneficiaries. Labour component for site preparation and construction of houses, digging of pits/latrines to be done from MGNREGA SRLM – Services of federations to be for labour groups, facilitators, social auditors, supervisory role in implementation of MGNREGA, awareness generation in rural areas.

ROAD AHEAD FOR CONVERGENCE More Departments to be involved 1.Farm Net (PWD/PMGSY) 2.Cattle Shed (AH & Vety) 3.Agriculture Activities 4.Construction of Anganwadi Centres 5. Drinking Water & Sanitation (PHE) 6.Forest Plantation (Forest Deptt)

APPEAL TO ALL MCS OFFICERS Actual implementing officers Managing the affairs of the government – diversified works Dedication and hard work Spread all over the state : from block, sub division, district and state levels. Largely depend on the determination and dedication

THANK YOU