What major plans were started by the government of India for removal of Poverty & Unemployment? .

Answer:

Following are important poverty and Unemployment Alleviation Programmes started by government of India:

1. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP):

The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) was started in 20 selected districts in the country in 1976-77. Later on in 1980, the programme was extended to all the districts of the country. The scheme was funded by centre. The funds for the scheme are shared by centre and State Govt. on equal basis.

The objective of the scheme is to create productive assets for the families in rural areas living below poverty line. Bank Loans were provided to create productive assets to take up self-employment activities. They include agriculture horticulture, animal husbandry, poultry and weaving etc.

This programme was being implemented by the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA). This scheme was merged with one self-employment programme called Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar  Yojana in year 1999.

2. National Rural Employment Programme (NREP):

This programme was launched in 1980. The main aim of the programme was to create employment opportunities by building and maintaining community assets like village roads, ponds and wells etc. The scheme was expected to generate additional gainful employment to the extent of 30 to 40 crore man-days per annum and to develop community assets. In this programme, food grains was made available for the work. NREP was merged with Jawahar Rozgar Yogana (JRY) in 1989.

 3. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY):

This scheme came into existence in April 1989. The previous schemes NREP and RLEGP were merged into this scheme. The main objective of JRY was to create additional employment for rural under-employed and unemployed.

The basic feature of this programme was that the funds would be released directly to the village panchayats which would launch the employment programme according to the local needs of the people. It was a Central Govt. sponsored programme and expenditure was shared between the centre and states in the ratio of 80:20. The DRDA directly receives the centre’s share and state’s share from Govt. Then DRDA allots the funds to various panchayats. Contractors were not allowed to execute the projects. In 1999, JRY was renamed as Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana.

4. Small and Cottage Industries:

Special measures have been taken by the Government to develop small and cottage industries with a view to removing poverty and unemployment. Large amount is being spent to promote self-employment.

 5. Indira Awas Yojana (LAY):

Indira Awas Yojana was started in 1985-86 to provide residential units free of cost to SC and ST and freed bonded labour. This scheme was extended to Non SC/ST Categories from 1993-94. In 1995-96 families of armed forces and paramilitary forces killed in action brought under this scheme. DRDA is the coordinating agency.

 6. Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY):

Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) was launched in 1993. It is a self-employment scheme meant for the educated unemployed youth. It is meant for poor families having income less than Rs. 25,000 per annum. Each educated unemployed youth is eligible for a loan of Rs. 1 lakh to start a small business. 22:5% reservation is given is SC/ST candidate and 27% reservation is given to OBC 15% of total amount is given as subsidy.

7. Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY):

Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana was started on 1st April 1999 to create rural infrastructure, like roads, bridges etc. The main objective was to create wage employment for the unemployed rural youth. DRDA was the co-ordinating agency. The scheme was sponsored by Centre Govt. The expenditure was shared between centre and state in the ratio of 80:20.

8. Sampooma Gramin Rojgar Yojana (SGRY):

This scheme was started in Sept. 2001 by Prime Minister. The main objective of this scheme was to provide gainful employment & food security to villagers. Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) and Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) have been merged in this scheme because both have the same objectives. DRDA is the nodal agency for this scheme. The expenditure for this scheme is shared by the centre and state in the ratio 80:20.

 9. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA):

This scheme has been launched in Feb. 2006 in 200 rural districts of the country and was extended to 600 districts throughout India. The main objective of this scheme is to provide at least 100 days of unskilled manual work to one person from each rural family at the minimum wage fixed by the State Govt. If the manual work is not provided to beneficiary within 15 days, he will be given unemployment allowance. The name of the scheme was later changed to MGNREGA.

The MGNREGA was initiated with the objective of "enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year, to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work" Another aim of MGNREGA is to create durable assets (such as roads, canals, ponds and wells). Employment is to be provided within 5 km of an applicant's residence, and minimum wages are to be paid. If work is not provided within 15 days of applying, applicants are entitled to an unemployment allowance.

Labour oriented tasks like rain water harvesting, rural roads, irrigation channels, renovation of traditional water-bodies, soil conservation and land reclamation etc. will be undertaken under this scheme. Contractors will not be allowed to execute the work. The expenses will be shared by centre and state Govt. in the ratio of 90 : 10 respectively. Out of total workers employed, one third must be women. Centre Govt. allotted Rs. 11,000 crore for this scheme.