Question : URBAN RURAL DISPARITY

(a) whether the Government proposes to remove urban-rural disparity in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the study conducted by the Government has indicated that crores of rupees allocated under various Central schemes do not reach the beneficiaries in villages;

(d) if so, the details in this regard, State-wise and scheme-wise; and

(e) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that the funds are utilised fully by the States and the works are taken up immediately on receipt of the funds?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)

(a)&(b): The Government of India is implementing various programmes such as Special Area Programmes, Flagship Programmes, Bharat Nirman Programmes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes in order to specifically address the problem of urban-rural disparity in the country. The Ministry of Rural Development implements schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the objective to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) to provide self employment to the members of the rural poor families in the country. SGSY has been restructured as National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) to implement it in a Mission mode in a phased manner for targeted and time bound delivery of results. Besides, the Ministry is also implementing others schemes viz, Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Drinking Water Supply (DWS), Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) and Watershed Development Programmes with the objective of developing rural infrastructure and basic amenities for improving living conditions of the rural masses. These schemes are primarily designed to provide employment to the rural poor in their villages besides creating rural infrastructure so that urban-rural disparity in the country could be reduced.

(c)&(d): Concurrent Evaluation Studies have been conducted from time to time by the Ministry to assess the effectiveness and impact of rural development programmes. The findings of these studies revealed that by and large the target groups of the programmes have been satisfied with the implementation of these programmes in rural areas.

(e): The Ministry of Rural Development places special emphasis on monitoring and evaluation of its programmes being implemented in rural areas all over the country. The Ministry has put in place a system of monitoring implementation of the programmes and utilization of funds through Periodical Progress Reports, Performance Review Committee, Area Officers` Scheme, Vigilance and Monitoring Committee at the State/District Level, and National Level Monitors. The Ministry has also issued executive instructions for conducting social audit of the schemes.