(a) the number of villages in Maharashtra benefited under IRDP during the last three
years;
(b) whether the pace of development has been satisfactory;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the measures being taken to ensure proper implementation of said schemes in the
above State?
MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
( SHRI SUNDAR LAL PATWA)
(a),(b)&(c): the number of villages benefited under erstwhile Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) was not monitored at the Central level. IRDP and its allied programmes have been discontinued w. e. f. 1.4.1999. A new self-employment programme namely Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) has been launched from 1st April, 1999. The number of villages benefited under SGSY is also not monitored at the Central level. The total number of families benefited under erstwhile IRDP during 1997-98 and 1998-99 and total Swarozgaris assisted under SGSY during 1999-2000 in Maharashtara were 147640, 145667 & 48062 (upto Feb., 2000) respectively. Being the 1st year of SGSY i.e. 1999-2000, the pace of programme is picking up slowly.
(d): The Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) has been launched keeping in view the deficiency of the erstwhile IRDP and its allied programmes to produce the desired impact regarding alleviation of poverty in rural areas. SGSY has been conceived as a holistic programme encompassing all aspects of self-employment like organization of rural poor into self help groups and their capacity building, identification of key activities, planning of activity clusters, infrastructure build up, technology and marketing.