(a) the objectives for setting up of CAPART in the country;
(b) whether the desired objectives have been achieved by CAPART;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the action taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUBHASH MAHARIA)
(a): The objectives for setting up of the CAPART in the country are given at Annexure-1.
(b) & (c): The achievement of the objectives is an on-going process and it is CAPART`s endeavor to continuously encourage voluntary action in implementing projects for enhancing rural prosperity and to promote voluntary efforts in the field of rural development which focus on injecting new technological inputs. The projects and schemes of CAPART are periodically reviewed and modified in this continuous process of achieving these objectives. More than eight thousand voluntary organisations have been supported. 19,637 projects worth Rs.570.52 crores have been sanctioned under different schemes since inception till March, 2001. Rs.439.53 crores have been released by CAPART to the voluntary organisations under these projects.
(d) & (e): Do not arise in view of reply to parts (b & c) above.
ANNEXURE-I
Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3524 for 14.08.2001
The objectives of CAPART
(i) to encourage, promote and assist voluntary action in the implementation of projects for the enhancement of rural prosperity.
(ii) to strengthen and promote voluntary efforts in rural development with focus on injecting new technological inputs in this behalf.
(iii) to act as the national nodal point for coordination of all efforts at generation and dissemination of technologies relevent to rural development in its wider sense;
(iv) to act as a catalyst for development of technology appropriate for the rural areas, by identifying and funding research and development efforts and pilot projects by different agencies and institutions particularly voluntary organisations;
(v) to act as a conduit for transfer of appropriate technology to Government Departments, public sector undertaking, cooperative societies, voluntary agencies and members of public to encourage adoption of modern, techniques and appropriate technology in rural development;
(vi) to act as a clearing house of information and data bank;
(vii) to disseminate knowledge on rural technology to manufactures of machinery, tools, equipment and spare parts so that large scale production of technically improved machinery etc. is carried out in the private cooperative and public sectors;
(viii) to promote, aid, guide, organise, plan, undertake, develop, maintain and coordinate projects/schemes aimed at alround development, creation of employment opportunties, promotion of self-reliance generation of awareness, organisation and improvement in the quality of the life of people in rural areas in general and of the economically and socially handicapped sections in particular;
(ix) to assist and promote programmes aimed at conservation of the environment and nature resources;
(x) to strengthen existing institutions of research and develop or set up institutions, so that national level institutions on matters of purely or largely rural interest are built up;
(xi) to collaborte with other institutions, associations and societies in India or abroad including concerned internatinal agencies constituents of the U.N. system interested in similar objects;
(xii) to conduct or sponsor training programmes, conferneces, lectures and seminars on rural development activities of particular interest to women, with an accent on improved technologies appropriate to their role in rural development;
(xiii) to conduct or sponsor training programmes for trainers, particularly in the voluntary sectors, so that improved technology is disseminaated to participants in development in the rural areas;
(xiv) to conduct or sponsor training programmes/seminars, workshops and meetings to promote interaction between government agencies and voluntary agencies working in the field of rural development and technology;
(xv) to carry out research studies, survey, evaluation and the like on the use of appropriate technology and to offer fellowships, scholarships and prizes in furtherance of the objects of the society;
(xvi) to prepare, print and publish paper, periodicals, monographs and books in furtherance of the objects of the society; and
(xvii) to do all other such things as the society may consider necessary incidental or conductive to the attainment of its objectives;