Bharat Nirman Yojna

Bharat Nirman has set the target of creation of additional irrigation potential of 1 crore hectare under irrigation project in 4 years (2005-06 to 2008-09) through the following means

• 42 lakh hectare by completing such major and medium projects
• 10 lakh hectare through implementation of extension, renovation and modernization of schemes along with command area development and water management practices
• 28 lakh hectare through ground water development
• 10 lakh hectare by way of minor irrigation schemes using surface flow.
• 10 lakh hectare by way of repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies and extension, renovation and modernization of minor irrigation schemes.

To upgrade rural infrastructure, a commitment of Rs. 1,74,000 crores has been made to Bharat Nirman. As part of the programme, Government of India intends that by end of financial year 2008 – 2009, every village of over 1000 population, or over 500 in hilly and tribal areas, have an all-weather road.

To achieve the targets of Bharat Nirman, 1,46,185 kms. of road length is proposed to be constructed by 2009. This will benefit 66,802 unconnected eligible habitations in the country. To ensure full farm to market connectivity, it is also proposed to upgrade 1,94,132 kms. of the existing Associated Through Routes. A sum of approximately Rs. 48,000 crore is proposed to be invested to achieve this.

Telecom connectivity constitutes an important part of the effort to upgrade the rural infrastructure. Under the Bharat Nirman Programme, it will be ensured that 66,822 revenue villages in the country, which have not yet been provided with a Village Public Telephone (VPT), shall be covered by November 2007. Out of the above villages, connectivity in 14,183 remote and far-flung villages will be provided through digital satellite phone terminals. Assistance for both capital as well as operational expenditure for these VPTs will be met out of the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF).

Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidhyutikaran Yojana

Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidhyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) has been introduced in April 2005 with aims to provide electricity in all villages and habitations in four years and provides access to electricity to all rural households.

Under RGGVY, its planned to establish Rural Electricity Distribution Backbone (REDB) with at least a 33/11KV sub-station, Village Electrification Infrastructure (VEI) with at least a Distribution Transformer in a village or hamlet, and standalone grids with generation where grid supply is not feasible.

This infrastructure would cater to the requirements of agriculture and other activities in rural areas including irrigation pump sets, small and medium industries, khadi and village industries, cold chains, healthcare and education and IT.
Subsidy towards capital expenditure to the tune of 90% will be provided, through Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC), which is a nodal agency for implementation of the scheme. Electrification of un-electrified Below Poverty Line (BPL) households will be financed with 100% capital subsidy @ Rs.1500/- per connection in all rural habitations.

Bharat Nirman covers 55,067 uncovered habitations and provides additional coverage to 2.8 lakh habitations that have slipped back from full coverage. Potable water is to be provided to 2,16,968 villages affected by poor water quality

Indira Awaas Yojna

The 2001 Census places the rural housing shortage figure in India at 148 lakhs. The Bharat Nirman Programme has recognised and accorded due priority to the need to end shelterlessness and it is envisaged to construct 60 lakh houses over the next four years across the country, starting from 2005-06.

The rural housing programme is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development through the Indira Awaas Yojana scheme, which is a centrally sponsored scheme where the cost is shared between the Centre and the States on a 75:25 basis. The criteria adopted for allocation of financial resources between the States/UTs gives greater emphasis to the states with higher incidence of shelterlessness. Grant assistance is provided to the extent of Rs. 25,000 per house for normal areas and Rs. 27,500 for hilly areas. Funds are released to the DRDAs in two installments.

The implementation guidelines of the scheme specifically target the rural below poverty line (BPL) households. The selection of beneficiaries is done by the respective Gram Sabha from the BPL list and no higher approval is required. The guidelines also clearly specify that the house allotment should be in the name of the female member of the family as a first priority. While seeking to empower the rural women, the scheme also provides a quota for physically & mentally challenged persons, ex-servicemen, widows and freed bonded labourers. An important requirement in the implementation is that at least 60% of the beneficiaries should belong to the SC/ST communities. The objective of alleviating the lot of the underprivileged members of society is built into the scheme guidelines. The IAY scheme also lays emphasis on individual sanitation and health by incorporating the cost of a sanitary latrine and smokeless chulha into the grant.