(a) whether it is a fact that huge amount under the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana is still lying unspent with the Andaman & Nicobar Administration;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor; and
(c) the manner in which the Union Government is monitoring the implementation of the said Scheme and proper utilization of funds released for the same?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN EMPLOYMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( KUMARI SELJA )
(a)&(b): Under Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), an
amount of Rs.381.37 lakhs has been released to the Union
Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Administration, so far, including
the unspent balance available from the old UPA programmes. Port
Blair Municipal council, the executing agency for SJSRY, has
reported that an amount of Rs.226.75 lakhs has been utilized.
Funds could not be fully utilized due to several reasons viz.
the scheme is not applicable to the beneficiaries educated
beyond 9th standard, while in the Union Territory of Andaman &
Nicobar, there is high percentage of education level, the number
of eligible BPL beneficiaries for assistance for setting-up of
self-employment ventures and skill development programmes
through appropriate training are very few . Further, the
prevailing daily wages in Government Departments is Rs.100/-
whereas it is Rs.150 to Rs.200/- in private sectors.
Beneficiaries are also reluctant to undergo training programme
with the existing rate of stipend.
(c): The scheme is being monitored at the Central level through
quarterly progress reports received from the State/UTs as also
by way of review meetings at various levels in the Ministry to
ensure proper utilization of funds released.