(a) the funds spent on rural development in Rajasthan each year
during the last three years and the current year;
(b) whether the Government proposes to increase allocation for
desert districts in the country including Rajasthan;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the hike
is likely to be made; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI)
(a) Details of funds released under various rural development
programmes in Rajasthan each year during the last three years and
the current year are at Annexure.
(b) to (d) The Department of Land Resources has been implementing
three area development programmes viz. Integrated Wastelands
Development Programme (IWDP), Drought Prone Areas programme (DPAP)
and Desert Development Programme (DDP) on watershed basis since 1995-96.
These programmes have been consolidated into a single modified programme
namely `Integrated Watershed Management Programme` (IWMP) with effect
from 26.02.2009. Under Desert Development Programme (DDP), the cost
norms per hectare were Rs. 6,000 which have been revised to Rs. 15,000
for hilly and difficult areas including desert districts of Rajasthan
under IWMP. Under IWMP, allocation of target area among the States is
worked out based on the criteria like extent of identified DPAP/DDP
areas, treatable wastelands, percentage of SC/ST population, percentage
of rainfed area in the State and 10% mandatory allocation of North-
Eastern States. Accordingly, the State of Rajasthan has been allocated
an area of 12.54 lakh Ha. Since due weightage has been given to the
desert areas while working out the allocation of area, Rajasthan has
got the highest allocation of area amongst all States for taking up
IWMP projects.