(a) whether the Government has any proposal to find out solutions to a wide range of problems
pertaining to poverty, hunger, diseases and illiteracy in the country;
(b) if not, the specific reasons for not formulating any new policy to fight these problems for
the protection of poor people in the country; and
(c) if so, the details of the schemes undertaken or proposed to be taken up by the Government in
this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (SHRI M.V. RAJASEKHARAN)
(a) to (c): The Government has been implementing several programmes in order to extend access
to essential public services such as health, education, clean drinking water, sanitation, etc.
for improving the standard of living of people, in general, and for people living below the
poverty line, in particular. Important among these are National Rural Health Mission, Jawaharlal
Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Swajal Dhara, Total Sanitation Campaign for improving basic
services and infrastructure, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme and Indira Awaas Yojana.The Approach Paper to the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-08
to 2011-12), as approved by the National Development Council, has set the growth target for the
Eleventh Five Year Plan period at 9% per year and aims at putting the economy on a sustainable
growth trajectory with a growth of approximately 10% by the end of its period. For the rural
economy the Approach Paper to the Eleventh Five Year Plan aims at achieving a growth rate of
4% in agriculture sector. For that there is a focus on improving rural connectivity, scaling up
of irrigation potential creation, watershed management, rainwater harvesting and ground water
recharge, revitalization of the extension system which links universities and best practices to
farmers, etc. The Approach Paper mentions about reducing the disparities across regions and
communities by ensuring access to basic physical infrastructure as well as health and education
services to all. The Approach Paper has also set monitorable targets for other dimensions of
performance such as, in the area of income and poverty, education, health, women and children
issues, infrastructure and environment, reflecting the inclusiveness of this growth.