(a) whether the Government is aware that a large segment of the
population in different States including Maharashtra are deprived of
facilities of drinking water, health care, education and employment;
(b) if so, whether the Government is taking/proposes to take any
concrete action for addressing the said problems; and
(c) if so, the details thereof
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) to (c): The government accords high priority to provide basic amenities
like drinking water, health care, education and employment to uplift the
standard of living of the population especially the marginalized sections
in different States including Maharashtra. ‘Inclusive growth’ emphasised in
the Eleventh Five Year Plan resulted in lower incidence of poverty,
broad-based and significant improvementin health outcomes, universal access
for children to school, increased access to higher education and improved
standards of education, including skill development. It is also reflected in
better opportunities for both wageemployment and livelihood, and in improvement
in provision of basic amenities like water, electricity, roads, sanitation and
housing. Particular attention was paid to the needs of the SC/ST and OBC
population. Bharat Nirman, a time-bound plan for rural infrastructure launched
by the Government of India to be implemented by State Governments and Panchayati
Raj Institutions is in operation since 2005. Under the scheme, action was
initiated in the areas of irrigation, road, rural housing, rural water supply,
rural electrification and rural telecommunication connectivity. Specific targets
were set under each of thesegoals. The first phase of the program was completed
in 2009 and based on the outcome; revised targets were set for second phase
beginning 2010. Apart from Bharat Nirman a number of other flagship schemes
are also in operation to address specific issues. They include Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Act (MGNREGA), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA),
Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Jawaharlal
Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Integrated Child Development
Services (ICDS), and Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) et.al.
To improve the pace of implementation of these schemes, it is proposed to
(i) allocate additional budgetary support
(ii) strengthening of institutional capacity
(iii) augmentation of contracting capacity
(iv) pro-active
action for getting forest and environment clearance and
(v) continuous monitoring
of the physical and financial achievements under the different schemes by nodal
Central Ministries/Departments.