WE THE PEOPLE
Consigning guidelines of SGRY to flames has deprived 12 districts of over Rs 3 cr cash assistance and 1500 tons of foodgrains
Hence people urge Govt., to utilize Central funds to provide wage employment and food security to rural poor
By: Aleesa Shah
Srinagar: The ultimate objective of any administration is to provide succor to people as they are the real king-makers in all democratic dispensations. The Central Government has, therefore, launched several welfare schemes to improve the living condition of the countrymen. Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) was launched in September 2001 by merger of the ongoing schemes of `Employment Assurance Scheme’ and `Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana’. The primary objective of the scheme was to improve nutritional levels of the rural population. The second objective was to create durable community, social and economic assets for infrastructure development. Preference in employment was to be given to agricultural wage earners, non-agricultural unskilled wage earners, marginal farmers, women and members of schedule castes and schedule tribes. The wages were to be paid partly in foodgrains at the rate of 5 Kg per manday, revised to 3 Kg per manday with effect from November 2005 and partly in cash. The cash component of the programme was to be shared between Centre and State in the ratio of 75:25 and the foodgrains were to provided free of cost by the Centre. The cost of transportation of foodgrains was to be borne by the State Government.
As a matter of procedure, the Central and State Governments release funds to the Assistant Commissioner Development of each district for the implementation of the Scheme, who in turn is supposed to release funds to the Block Development Officers and other programme implementing agencies. The Union Ministry of Rural Development determines the district-wise allotment of funds and foodgrains. The State share of funds is allotted to each Assistant Commissioner Development for disbursement. The resources in the shape of funds and foodgrains allocated to the district are to be distributed among three tiers of Panchayats – Village Panchayats, Intermediate Panchayats and District Panchayats and Development Board in the ratio of 50:30:20. The District Development Board is supposed to determine the allocation of funds and foodgrains to various Village Panchayats.
But it has been observed that non-adherence to the guidelines for implementation of the programme by the State Government has deprived people in 12 District of Central Cash Assistance to the tune of Rs.3.54 crore and 1500 tonnes of foodgrains. In 10 Blocks, 345 works, estimated to cost Rs. 1.29 crore approved in the Annual Action Plan during 2002-06, were not executed. However, an expenditure of Rs.1.46 crore was incurred on 314 unapproved works. As a matter of fact the objective of creating economic assets for sustainable employment have not reportedly been achieved. As against the requirement of Rs.3.89 crore to be spent on individual beneficiary, only Rs.3.68 lakhs were reportedly spent during 2002-06. Against a financial target for expenditure of Rs. 6.01 crore for creation of need based infrastructure in schedule caste areas, only Rs. 1.96 crore were spent during 2002-06. Moreover less distribution of foodgrains in remote and backward areas has defeated the objective of providing food security to rural population.
“We are shocked to learn that the State Government has failed to implement and not followed the guidelines enunciated in SGRY scheme, which has caused not only financial loss, but attributed towards mental trauma to rural youth. The State functionaries have forgotten that nearly 80 per cent of total population live in rural areas and this is the reason that the Central Government has launched several schemes to improve their financial health. Unemployment is a major issue facing the rural population and if works are allotted to them plus foodgrains supplied, they can live without encountering any difficulties. Another reason for rural population to be in the backyard is due to poor rate of literacy. If the State Government wants to help such a major segment of population, then it should implement all Central schemes to change the face of rural belts of the State”, said a group of experienced and elderly persons of Kashmir Valley.
In this backdrop, it becomes necessary for the State Government to adhere to the guidelines laid down under Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana which has been launched to provide wage employment and food security to rural poor, besides creating durable community, social and economic assets.
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