Poverty alleviation is one of the important
objectives of plan programmes. It is a multi
dimensional problem which needs innovative and
coordinated action at macro, sectoral and micro
level. A large number of programmes and schemes are
in operation both at National and State level which
aim to strengthen and improve the quality and
standard of living of weaker and deprived sections
of the society. Different Govt.
departments/Corporations of Punjab Govt. are
constantly making efforts to eradicate poverty and
to generate sources for raising further income and
employment in the State.
The Planning Commission, Govt. of India at
regular interval estimates the number of people
living below poverty line in each State as well as
country as a whole. These estimates reveal that
Punjab State has been able to tackle the problem of
poverty with much greater efficiency as compared to
the rest of the country.
During the year 1973-74, more than 28 percent
population of Punjab State was living below the
poverty line which came down to 6.16 percent in
1999-2000. At the National level, over half of the
population (54.93 percent) was living below the
poverty line in 1973-74 which was reduced to 26.10
percent during the year 1999-2000. Punjab, is thus,
well on the way to tackle the problem of the
poverty.
According to Planning Commission GOI during the
year 1999-2000, there were 10.20 lakh families in
rural areas and 4.29 lakh families in urban areas
living below the poverty line in Punjab. To tackle
the problem of poverty, different schemes for rural
as well as urban areas are in operation in the State
(i) Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar
Yojana (SGSY)
Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
scheme is to provide sustainable income to the rural
poor. Under this Programme large number of Micro
enterprises are to be established in rural areas. A
family covered under this Programme would be brought
above the poverty line within a period of three
years. For this 4-5 key activities are identified
for each block based on the resources, occupational
skills of the people and availability of markets.
The major Key activities are Bee keeping, Handloom,
Dairy, Poultry, Sewing, Knitting and Embroidery etc.
Subsidy Under this programme, at the uniform
rate of 30 percent of the project cost is provided
subject to a maximum of Rs. 7500, but for SC’s, it
is 50 percent and Rs. 10,000 respectively. For a
group, subsidy is 50 percent of the project cost
subject
to ceiling of Rs. 1.25 lakh. Loans are arranged by
the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) from
the banks.
During the year 2004-05 assistance of Rs.
1697.25 lakh (subsidy +loan) was disbursed to 5246
beneficiaries. In the current year (upto Sept.,
2005) an assistance of Rs. 795.36 lakh (subsidy +
loan) has been disbursed to 2535 beneficiaries.
During the year 2004-05, 3156(60 percent) scheduled
castes beneficiaries were provided loans amounting
to Rs. 1030.11 lakhs and during the current year (upto
Sept,2005) an amount of Rs. 500.63 lakhs was given
to 1591 Scheduled Castes beneficiaries.
(ii) SAMPOORNA GRAMIN ROZGAR YOJANA
(SGRY)
From
the year 2004-05, Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)
is being implemented as one Integrated Scheme. The
main objectives of the schemes are to provide food
security, generation of additional wage employment
and village infrastructure in rural areas. It is a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented on
75:25 sharing basis between Centre and State Govt.
The resources/funds are distributed in the
proportion of 20 percent, 30 percent & 50 percent
among the Zila Parisheds, Panchayat Samities and
Gram Panchayats.
The Programme is self-targeting in nature and
would be available for all the rural poor(BPL/APL)who
are in need of wage employment and are willing to
take up to manual/unskilled work. Under the scheme,
5 Kg of food-grains (in kind) will be distributed as
part of wages per Mandays. The remaining part of the
wages will be paid in cash to ensure notified
minimum wage.
Govt.of India allocated Rs.8034.10 lac with
69220 tones of wheat during 2004-05 to Punjab.
During 2005-06, Rs.9625.22 lac with 67030 tonnes of
wheat had been allocated.
During the year 2004-05 43.29 lac mandays
employment was generated out of which 30.87 lac
mandays have been generated for SCs. and upto
September 2005 11.88 lac mandays employment was
generated out of which 8.36 lac mandays employment
was generated for SCs.
( iii ) National Food for work
programme (NFWP)
Introduced by Government of India NFWP is 100
percent Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 150 identified
most backward districts of the country. In State of
Punjab, Hoshiarpur District has been taken under
this Programme.
The main objectives of the programme is generation
of supplementary wage employment and providing of
food security through creation of need based
economic, social and community assets. Food grains
are also provided free of cost by the Government of
India. Rs. 716.32 lac and 7355 tonnes of wheat was
released to District Hoshiarpur during the year
2004-05.
During the year 2004-05, Rs. 698.45 lac and
4962 tonnes of wheat has been released for execution
of 524 Works such as development of ponds, Flood
work Control/ protection works, Tree plantation,
land development, water conservation & drought
proofing etc. Upto September, 2005, Rs. 698.45 lac
and 4962 tonnes of wheat has been utilized for these
works.
Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana
(SJSRY)
Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)
was launched by Government of India and its main
three components are:
(a) Urban Self Employment Programme (USEP)
Under USEP, loan and subsidy amounting to Rs.
110.00 lacs were disbursed to 527 beneficiaries out
of which 175 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries were
given Rs. 39.66 lacs as loan and subsidy during the
year 2004-05. During the current year upto September
2005, an amount of Rs. 4.65 lacs as loan and subsidy
given to 17 beneficiaries out of which 6 Scheduled
Castes beneficiaries were assisted with Rs.1.60 lacs
as loan and subsidy. In the year 2004-05, 2676 urban
poor youths were given skill up gradation training
utilizing Rs.48.69 lacs.
(b) Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP)
During 2004-05, under UWEP 24000 mandays were
generated with an expenditure of Rs. 50.14 lacs and
upto September 2005; Rs.2.75 lacs have been utilized
to generate 1000 mandays.
(c)Development
of Women and Child in Urban Areas (DWCUA).
During 2004-05 and upto September 2005, no
progress has been achieved under this component in
urban area as no funds have been released by
Government of India/Government of
Punjab
The Punjab Backward Classes Land Development and
Finance Corporation (BACKFINCO) provide loans and
subsidy under different schemes to Backward Classes
and minorities whose annual family income is less
than Rs.54500 in Urban Areas and Rs.39500 in Rural
areas. The loans are arranged by this Corporation
under the bank tie–up scheme. The corporation
provided loans amounting Rs.65.41 lacs to 108
beneficiaries during the year 2004-05. Less
disbursement was due to restructuring of loaning
system of the BACKFINCO by the State Govt. During
the current financial year i.e. 2005-06 upto Sept.,
2005 disbursement of Rs.250.47 lacs to 427
beneficiaries has been made.
The Punjab Scheduled Castes Land
Development and Finance Corporation provides loans
and subsidies to Scheduled Castes below poverty line
under different schemes. The Corporation provided
loans amounting to Rs.229.08 lakhs to 821
beneficiaries during the year 2004-05 and upto
September-2005 an amount of Rs.6.04 lakhs has been
disbursed to 11 beneficiaries
