Odisha Review February-March - 2014

Rural Development Programmes in Panchayati

Raj Institutions (PRIs): An Overview

· Rudhi Sundar Mohanty

It is needless to say that Odisha is a land of villages. The 73 rd amendment of Constitution also
So, rural development is the main pillar of Odisha’s mandates state government to endow the
development. The objective of rural development Panchayati Raj Institutions with such powers and
is to provide better prospects to the people living authority as may be necessary to act as institutions
in rural areas and to facilitate economic of local self-government. So, the prime objectives
development, employment generation and welfare of Panchayati Raj Institutions are to eradicate
of SC/ST and other backward classes under poverty, uplift standard of living of people living
different development programmes and welfare in rural areas and bring about a healthy society
schemes through Panchayati Raj Institutions. by creating awareness for hygiene, sanitation,
eradication of illiteracy and to ensure social justice
To strengthen governance at local level to the rural people. Increasingly, at present,
and empowerment of rural village, Odisha is one Panchayati Raj Institutions are more concerned
of the few states in the post-independent period about implementation of rural development
to take up Panchayati Raj as its medium for rural programmes launched by central and state
development. Odisha Gram Panchayat Act was government in India, rather than administration of
enacted in the year 1948 and subsequently in the local areas.
year 1961, the three-tier system of Panchayati
Rural Development Programmes:
Raj Institutions was introduced in Odisha. Over
the past years, Panchayati Raj Institutions have Rural Development is a continuous
emerged as powerful rural institutions in bringing process which aims at improving the socio-
about rapid and sustainable rural development and economic conditions of people living in the rural
economic transformation in Odisha. Currently, areas. For the convenience of this paper on rural
Panchayati Raj Institutions are provided with development programmes, it has been divided into
more powers under 73 rd Constitutional two categories i.e. rural development programme
Amendment Act, 1992. The main objective of during pre-independence period and post-
73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 is to independence period. Though there was no such
provide constitutional status to empower landmark rural development programmes
Panchayati Raj Institutions for implementing rural introduced during the pre-independence period
development programmes, since Panchayati Raj for the people, but some programmes were
Institutions have been assigned with 22 subjects implemented through some individual and
under the aforesaid constitutional amendment. institutions.

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February-March - 2014 Odisha Review

Rural Development Programme in Pre- and a single institution. Moreover, the benefits of
Independence Era: the schemes reached only to very few villages.

In pre-independence era, a few numbers Rural Development Programme during Post-

of attempts were made on a pilot basis for rural Independence Era:
reconstruction, insight into which is sought to
provide in the upcoming paragraphs: In post independence era, government,
voluntary organisations and financial institutions
The first successful attempt for rural have implemented a large number of rural
development was made in a few villages by development programmes for the upliftment of
Rabindra Nath Tagore in the year 1921 under rural people. The following are some of the rural
the stewardship of Elmhurst. The aim of the development programmes which were started
Sriniketan Institute of Rural Reconstruction during the post independence period for the
established by Tagore, was “to bring back life in transformation of the rural areas of the country.
its completeness in the villages, making rural folks The Government of India in March 1950
self reliant and self respectful, acquainted with the established the Planning Commission to translate
cultural tradition of their own country and the idea of development of rural villages. The
competent to make an efficient use of modern Government of India from the very beginning of
resources for the improvement of their physical, its planning era i.e. with the launching of the First
intellectual and economic conditions”. During that Five Year Plan (1950-51) has been emphasizing
period, Brayne, the Deputy Commissioner of on the development of rural villages. The First
Gurgaon district, in 1920, evolved a new Five Year Plan document stated “agriculture,
technique known as Gurgaon Scheme of Village including irrigation and power must have the top
Development to improve the living conditions of most priority”.
the poor people. In 1932, under the Maharaja of
Baroda, a scheme for rural reconstruction was Community Development Programme:
started. In the pre-independence period, Bombay
In 1952, the multi-purpose Community
experiment was the pioneering attempt of rural
Development Programme (CDP) was launched
reconstruction programme launched by the
to bring about rural development covering all
Bombay Government. This experiment was based aspects i.e. agriculture, rural industries, transport
on Mahatma Gandhiji’s programme of Sarvodya. and communications, health, education, social
It was meant to develop the backward rural welfare and welfare of women and children. The
economy of India. The main objective of this central idea behind this programme was to
programme is to inculcate the spirit of self help develop self reliance and self-help both in the
and cooperation among the rural people. individual and the community to achieve the goals.
Gandhiji’s idea of constructive programmes laid According to the First Five Year Plan
great stress on self sufficiency in food and cloths. “Community Development is the method and rural
The Gandhian approach to rural development was extension is the agency through which the Five
to improve inner man and morality through self- Year Plan seeks to initiate a process of
help. transformation of the social and economic life of
the villages”2 .
The efforts made in the pre-independence
era for rural development generally failed to bridge Community Development Programme in
the gap between the rich and the poor mainly India started in October 1952 with 55 community
because these were confined to a single problem development projects under the Indo-US

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operational agreement. During the Third Five Year all rural development programmes / schemes of
Plan period it was gradually extended to cover central government and state government as well.
the entire country. This programme was helped
to set up a network of basic extension and The institutional approach for rural
development services in the rural areas and development was continued during the Second
introduced administrative machinery which formed Five Year Plan period by the introduction of
the basis for planning and implementing rural Panchayati Raj. It also became the institutional
development programme. But, Community framework for mobilizing people’s participation
Development Programme did not yield the in rural development programme at the grassroots
expected results because there was no institutional level. Accordingly, the system of rural development
mechanism for the local people to participate in begun in 1950 was strengthened in the year 1959.
the development work. However, through this As development agencies in the rural areas, the
programme approach, the country was covered very objective of Panchayati Raj System was to
with a network of Community Development contribute to the welfare and uplift of poor people
Blocks each headed by a Block Development living in the rural areas. Hence, from this period
Officer (BDO). The basic premise on which the onwards, the Government of India and State
Community Development Programme rests is to Governments, while implementing the rural
motivate the rural people to undertake self reliant development programmes, emphasized on the
community based approach to improve their institutional approach i.e. on the role of Panchayati
socio-economic conditions and rural environment. Raj Institutions and it also acted as an Institution
The target aimed by the programme was to give of Rural Transformation by implementing all the
the rural people a fuller and richer life. However, programmes of Government of India as well as
the programme was failed and not reaped any the State Governments all over the country.
expected results, so the historical Balwant Rai After the lunch of Community
Mehta Committee Report was submitted in the Development Programmes during October 1952,
year 1957. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee the following major rural development
recommended the creation of institutions which programmes of Government were implemented
were to be statutory, elective, and comprehensive with the involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions
in duties and functions, equipped with necessary (PRIs) to make rural transformation. The
executive machinery with adequate resources and programmes were implemented for improving the
with enough freedom and autonomy. To secure socio-economic conditions of rural masses and
this, the Committee envisaged establishment of to bring a change in the lives of people living in
three-tier system of rural local government system, the rural areas of the country.
namely the Gram Panchayat at village level,
Panchayat Samiti at Block/Taluk Level and Zilla During the first and second plan period
Panchayat at District level. Later on these three- (1952-61), the rural development programme
tiers of rural local governance system, popularly sub-divided into 41 different types of programmes
known as the Panchayati Raj system became the in four broad categories namely (i) Constructional
hub of all the rural development programmes of Programmes, (ii) Irrigation Programmes,
central as well as state governments. The birth of (iii) Agricultural Programmes and (iv) Institutional
Panchayati Raj System heralded a new era in the and Other Programmes.
history of rural development in India by
transforming the rural villages into developed i) Constructional Programmes: Under the
villages. Hence, Panchayati Raj started taking the constructional programmes category,
new role of rural transformation by implementing programmes undertaken for the construction

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February-March - 2014 Odisha Review

of Kuchha road, Pucca road, culverts, drains, organisation, community centre, Vikash
pavements of streets, school buildings, Mandals, cooperative societies, distribution
community centre buildings, dispensary stores, maternity centres, dispensaries,
building, house for Harijans and drinking veterinary dispensaries, key village centres,
water sources. The primary aim of the Panchayats, adult literacy centres, primary
constructional programmes was to provide schools, training centres, cottage industries,
infrastructural facilities in the rural areas to production-cum-training centres,
facilitate rural transformation during this demonstrator plots and soakage pits and
period. This type of programmes helped smokeless Chhulha. In other word, the
build rural infrastructure which is the soul of institutional and other programmes were
rural transformation. meant to build the rural infrastructure in order
to make lasting improvements of rural areas
ii) Irrigation Programmes: The irrigation in shape of infrastructure building.
programme was meant to provide irrigation
facilities in the rural areas as rural areas are During the third and fourth plan period
predominantly agriculture dependent areas (1962-74), the government of India emphasized
which need better facilities of irrigation. Thus, on agriculture, area development, employment
under irrigation programme, the government and social group development in the rural areas.
undertook works to make irrigation facilities During the Fifth Five Year Plan Period (1974-
through wells, pumping sets, tube-wells and 78) and Sixth Five Year Plan Period (1980-85),
tanks. This type of programmes helped the emphasis was laid on the removal of rural poverty
rural agriculture sector people to make some and unemployment within a time bound period of
improvement to some extent. 10 years. During the Sixth Five Year Plan Period
(1980-85), more emphasis was laid on the role
iii) Agricultural Programmes: Under this of Panchayati Raj Institutions. During this period,
category of programme, the government programmes undertaken under four broad
provided financial assistance for the categories viz. (i) agricultural development
development of agriculture in rural areas. The programmes (ii) Area Development Programmes
government funds utilized for reclamation, soil (iii) Employment Generation Programmes and (iv)
conservation, consolidation of holdings, Social Group formation programmes were as
improve seeds, manure and fertilizers, follows:
pesticides, improved methods of co-nations
and improved implements. The main aid of i) Agriculture Development Programme:
these programmes was to make improvement
in agriculture and agricultural productivity with Under the Agriculture Development
an aim to change the rural agriculture programmes like Intensive Agricultural Area
scenario. Programme (IAAP), High Yielding Varieties
Programme (HVP), National Demonstration
iv) Institutional and Other Programmes: Programme (NDP), Farmers’ Training and
Under this category, programmes were Education Programme (FTEP), Multiple
undertaken for the institutional development Cooperation Programme (MCP), Special
in the rural areas. The government funds Programmes for Commercial Crops(SPCC) and
mainly earmarked for the institutional Intensive Cattle Development Programmes
development. The government funds utilized (ICDP) were undertaken for rural transformation
to develop and support youth clubs, women and development of rural masses.

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ii) Area Development Programme: in income inequalities, removal of socio-economic

disparities and to bring improvement in life. For
The Area Development Programmes providing safe drinking water to rural people, the
undertaken activities like Drought Prone Area Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme
Programme (DPAP), Desert Development (ARWSP) was started to provide adequate safe
Programme (DDP), Hill Area Development drinking water facilities to the rural families by
(HAD), Command Area Development (CAD) supplementing the efforts made by the State
and Whole Village Development i.e. Integrated Government under the Minimum Needs
Rural Development Programme. Programme 3 . The National Drinking Water
Mission was also launched in 1986 to facilitate
iii) Employment Generation Programme: quality of drinking water for rural people. The
The employment generation programmes employment generation programmes like NREP
aimed at improving skill and knowledge of rural and RLEGP got merged into a single scheme
people and to make them ready for employment. namely Jawahar Rozgar Yojana and was launched
A good number of employment generation by the Government on 28th April 1989. The
schemes like Crash Schemes for Rural scheme aimed at reaching every Panchayat and
Employment (CSRE), Pilot Intensive Rural seeks to provide employment to at least one
Employment Project (PIREP), Training of Rural person in a family living Below the Poverty Line
Youth for Self Employment and National Rural (BPL) in the rural area for 50 to 100 days in a
Employment Programme (NREP) etc were year at a place near his residence. The scheme
launched by the government to provide skill was implemented by the Village Panchayats and
training and employment to the rural people with Panchayat Samitis give the technical clearance to
the aim to improve the socio-economic conditions the plan of works, which was finalized at the Gram
of the rural masses and make transformation in Panchayat level.
the living conditions of rural masses. The Employment Assurance Scheme
iv) Social Group Formation Programme: (EAS) was launched in the year 1993 during the
8th plan period to provide employment during the
Under Social Group Scheme, lean agricultural season. The primary objective
programmes like Small Farmers and Marginal of the Employment Assurance Scheme was to
Farmers and Agriculture Labour Development create additional wage employment opportunities
Agency (SFDA & MFAL), Integrated Child during the period of acute shortage of wage
Development Services (ICDS) and Development employment through manual work for the rural
of Women and Children in Rural Areas poor living Below the Poverty Line. In this
(DWCRA) etc. were implemented for the programme, the Panchayati Raj Institutions were
development of rural masses and to bring a playing a very crucial role while selection of the
change in socio-economic conditions of the beneficiaries of the programme.
people living in rural areas.
The Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana
Besides the above programmes, in the (JGSY) was started during 1999 which was
year 1975 Government of India initiated the 20- dedicated to development of demand driven rural
Point Programme to mount an attack on rural infrastructure, including durable assets at village
poverty. The programme was announced on 14th level and skills to enable the rural poor to increase
January 1982. The 20-point programme was the opportunities for sustainable employment. It
launched to eradicate poverty and to enhance the also aimed at generating supplementary
agricultural production and productivity, reduction employment for the unemployed poor in the rural

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area. Panchayati Raj Institutions played the role Integrated Rural Development Programme
of selecting the beneficiaries and implementation (IRDP), Training of Rural Youth for Self
of the rural infrastructural programmes in the Employment(TRYSEM), Development of
community. Women and Children in Rural Areas(DWCRA),
the Ganga Kalyan Yojana(GKY) as well as the
The Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana Million Wells Scheme are no longer in operation.
(SGRY) was launched during the year 2000-01,
merging the Employment Assurance Scheme The main purpose of the SGSY
(EAS) and Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana programme is to bring the assisted poor families
(SGSY). The programme aimed at providing (Swarojgaries) above the Poverty Line by
wage employment to rural people. Preference was providing them with income generating assets
given to agricultural wage earners, non-agricultural through a mix of bank credit and government
skilled wage earners, marginal farmers, women, subsidy. SGSY aims at establishing a large number
members of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes, of micro enterprises in the rural areas building upon
parents of child labours withdrawn from the potential of rural poor. Below Poverty Line
hazardous occupations, parents of handicapped (BPL) families living in rural areas constitute the
children or adults with handicapped parents. The target group of SGSY and within the target groups
programme was implemented through the and special safeguards have been provided to
Panchayati Raj Institutions. vulnerable section by way of reserving 50%
benefits to SCs/STs, 40% for women and 3%
National Food for Work Programme for persons with disabilities. The assisted families
(NFFWP) was launched during 2004 to generate may be individual or Self Help Groups (SHGs).
additional supplementary wage employment and However, as per implementing guidelines, SGSY
create assets. It also aimed to ensure a minimum favours the group approach.
level of employment and income to the poor, give
the poor an opportunity to develop their collective The financial assistance to the individual
strength, improve their economic position, reduce Swarozgaries or Self Help Groups is provided in
their vulnerability, discourage migration and the form of subsidy. Subsidy to individuals is
provide access to health, education and welfare uniform at 30% of the project cost subject to a
services in rural villages. Panchayati Raj maximum of Rs.7,500/-. In respect of SCs/STs,
Institutions played the role of selecting the the subsidy is 50% of the project cost, subject to
beneficiaries and supervised the implementation a maximum of Rs.10,000/-. For groups of
of the programmes in their respective Gram Swarozgaries, the subsidy is 50% of the cost of
Panchayats. the scheme, subject to a ceiling of Rs.1.25 Lakhs.
There is no monitory limit on subsidy for irrigation
Current Rural Development Programmes: projects, subsidy is back ended. The monitoring
and reviews of the programme is being done
1) Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana through Central Level Coordination Committee
(SGSY) (CLCC), State Level Coordination Committee
The Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar (SLCC) and at Block/ DRDA Level by field visit
Yojana (SGSY) is an anti-poverty programme and physical verification of assets. During the
with a focus on reduction of rural poverty through current financial year i.e. 2013-14, a total amount
organization of poor at grass-roots level. The of Rs.6000.00 lakhs has been targeted to be
SGSY was launched w.e.f. 1.4.1999 as a new supported to the beneficiaries under this project
self employment programme. With the coming into by the Department of Panchayati Raj,
effect of the SGSY, the earlier programmes namely Government of Odisha.

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2) Housing Scheme for Rural Poor: living in rural areas. The beneficiaries are usually
selected from the categories like poor family,
Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) was launched persons with disability (with 40% and above),
in the year 1985-86 as a sub-scheme of RLEGP mentally retarded, widow, destitute woman,
and continued as a sub-scheme of JRY. IAY has woman of domestic violence, woman head of
been delinked from the sub-scheme and has been family, adult orphans of government approved
made an independent scheme with effect from 1st orphanages, leprosy and AIDS patient, family
January 1996. Under Indira Awas Yojana, rural affected by naxal and racial violence, homeless
people are provided support for housing under due to flood and fire and home destroyed by
BPL category. The families belong to Scheduled elephants are selected for government support.
Caste and Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded Under this scheme, financial assistance of
labourers and other vulnerable categories are Rs.10,000/- is also granted to the families whose
considered eligible for the benefit under the house is completely destroyed either by flood or
scheme. The beneficiaries need to be selected fire. The government provides an amount of
through Palli Sabha and approved in the Gram Rs.45,000/- to the beneficiary for construction
Panchayat for final short-listing under the scheme. of his house in normal districts and Rs.48,500 is
The beneficiaries are required to construct the granted to IAP districts.
houses for themselves. The amount of financial
support provided to the beneficiaries decided by 4) Total Sanitation Campaign(TSC):
the government by revising the amount from time
to time taking into account the prevailing market It is aptly said ‘water is life and sanitation
price of raw materials. During the current financial is health’. Total sanitation is a part of rural
year i.e.2013-14 up to December 2013, a total upliftment which cannot be ignored while
amount of Rs.1358.142 lakhs has been spent discussing about rural development programmes
under IAY for Scheduled Castes, Rs.18018.000 in PRIs. As per the 73 rd Constitutional
lakhs for Scheduled Tribes, Rs.1375.005 lakhs Amendment Act 1992, sanitation is included in
for minorities and Rs.12079.720 lakhs spent for 11 th schedule of our Constitution. Gram
others respectively as per the financial Panchayats have been accorded pivotal role in
performance report of Panchayati Raj the implementation of sanitation schemes through
Department, Government of Odisha. Total Sanitation Campaign. Panchayati Raj
Institutions at all three levels have to implement
3) Mo Kudia: the total sanitation campaign. Panchayats are to
take responsibility of social mobilization for
Mo Kudia is a fully state sponsored construction of community toilets and for
scheme by the Government of Odisha which has maintenance of clean environment by way of safe
been implemented w.e.f. 2008-09 financial year. disposal of wastes. Panchayati Raj Institutions can
Under this programme, housing support is also contribute from their own sources for school
provided to the homeless poor families. The sanitation over and above the prescribed amount.
objective of the scheme is to provide housing Panchayats can also encourage opening rural
support to that family who does not find a place sanitation marts for safe environment and Total
in the 1997 BPL list, 2002 Household Survey Sanitation Campaign.
and waiting list of IAY prepared during the year
2006. The beneficiaries are selected by the The Total Sanitation Campaign was
Panchayati Raj Institutions those who have not launched in April 1999 in Odisha with emphasis
been included in the above list but have a genuine on Information, Education and Communication
housing problem and belong to poor family and (IEC) and massive training programme to masons,

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PRIs as well as government functionaries for Maharashtra, without decline in the demand for
demand generation. The purpose of TSC is to unskilled wage work. This is the only programme
bring about improvement in general quality of life which has brought a radical change in the rural
in rural areas, since sanitation is one of the basic infrastructural development and the wage
determinants quality of life and human employment opportunity for the rural poor
development index. Good sanitary practices simultaneously. The programme is entirely
prevent contamination of water and soil and planned, implemented and monitored by the
thereby prevent disease. Besides, hygiene and Panchayati Raj Institutions. The novelty nature of
sanitation is a crosscutting issue across all sectors the scheme has brought a revolutionary change in
having direct and indirect impact on health, the socio economic scenario in rural India.
economic, education, nutrition, environment, In Odisha, it was implemented during
women empowerment (dignity, convenience and February 2006 in a few selected districts and from
safety etc) and community development as well. 2008 it has been implemented in all districts of
Total Sanitation Campaign has been launched Odisha. With the provisions of NREGA 2005,
throughout the state to encourage sanitary practice the Government of Odisha has formulated a
and for that the government has also made National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
provisions for cash award to three-tier PRIs on (NREGS-Odisha). The purpose of the scheme
individual and institutional capacity for their best is to give effect to the legal guarantee of work, by
activities in this regard. providing at least 100 days of guaranteed
employment to every rural household whose adult
5) National Rural Employment Guarantee members volunteer to do unskilled manual work
Scheme (NREGS) subject to conditions of the Act. The objective of
The National Rural Employment the scheme is to provide livelihood safety to rural
Guarantee Act, 2005 which confers legal right to families and to strengthen the economic conditions
employment on the rural citizens, is landmark of rural labour and to give them an opportunity to
legislation in the history of independent India. The live with dignity. The unique feature of the scheme
NREGA 2005 received the accent of President is that when a registered job card holder fails to
of India on 5th September 2005 and notified in get work within 15 days of his application to the
the Gazette of India on 7th September 2005. It Gram Panchayat, he is entitled to get
seeks “to provide for enhancement of livelihood unemployment allowance as per law. The scheme
security of the households in rural areas of the is being implemented through three-tier Panchayati
country by providing at least one hundred days Raj Institutions under the direct control and
of guaranteed wage employment in every financial supervision of Collector of the district, DRDA and
year to every household whose adult members Panchayat Samiti. The PRIs being the
volunteer to do the unskilled work and for matters implementing agency, prepares the annual action
connected therewith or incidental thereto made plans and monitor and supervise the programme
under the Act4 ”. Subsequently, the scheme was through social audit programme in the Gram
renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Panchayat. The Gram Sabha recommends
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). different works to be undertaken in the Gram
Initially, the programme was started in selected Panchayat out of the MGNREGS funds and
200 districts of the country and later on it was accordingly the budget and other technical works
started throughout the country. The launch of this are being sent to the Panchayat Samiti and Zilla
ambitious scheme was guided by the Maharashtra Parishad for administrative and financial approval.
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MEGS), which At Gram Panchayat level, the programme is
has been implemented for over last 30 years in implemented by the Gram Panchayat under the

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direct control and supervision of Sarpanch and BRGF insists on integrated, decentralized
Chief Executive Officer of Gram Panchayat. The and participatory plans consolidated by District
Programme is being monitored and supervised Planning Committees (DPCs) with the funding
through Panchayat level, Block level, district level pattern being 25% for Anganwadis, 16% for
and State level committees and a Grievance schools, classrooms, compound, 14% for drinking
Redressal Mechanism has been developed to water and 10% for Gram Panchayat buildings.
redress the grievance of people under the system. The development grant of BRGF is largely untied
During the current financial year i.e.2013-14, up in nature and the Panchayati Raj Institutions would
to December 2013, a total of Rs.73251.19 lakhs largely decide the actual projects to be taken up.
has been spent under the project throughout During the current financial year i.e.2013-14, as
Odisha covering 30 districts as per the financial per the financial performance report, out of total
performance report of Department of Panchayati expenditure of Rs.16400.97 lakhs, the
Raj, Government of Odisha. Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of
Odisha, has already spent and submitted utilization
6) Backward Regions Grant Fund: certificate of Rs.3051.99 lakhs to Government
of India.
The Backward Regions Grant Fund
(BRGF) programme is being implemented 7) Gopabandhu Grameen Yojana:
through Panchayati Raj Institution to address
regional imbalances in development. The fund will A new initiative called Gopabandhu
provide financial resources for supplementing and Gramin Yojana (GGY) was launched by the
Government of Odisha during 2006-07 with a
converging existing developmental inflows in
view to provide additional developmental
identified districts in Odisha like Balangir,
assistance to the targeted 11(Eleven) districts of
Kalahandi, Phulbani, Boudh, Keonjhar,
the State not covered under the Backward
Rayagada, Debgarh, Koraput, Sambalpur, Regions Grant Fund (BRGF). With this Scheme,
Dhenkanal, Malkanagiri, Sonepur, Gajapati, Rural Connectivity and quality of rural life has
Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, undergone tremendous change. Most of rural
Jharsuguda and Nuapada. BRGF consists of two roads in the targeted districts have been covered.
funding windows (a) capacity building fund and In order to further strengthen rural connectivity,
(b) substantially untied grants. The capacity both inter village and intra village, in the targeted
building fund is primarily used to build capacity in districts during the 12th Plan Period with due
planning, implementation, monitoring, accounting importance to electrification and water supply,
and improving accountability and transparency. these revised comprehensive guidelines and are
The allocation of substantially untied grants will hereby issued. It has been conceptualized for
be used by the Panchayats and Urban Local providing additional development assistance to the
Bodies to address critical gaps in integrated targeted 10 districts namely Angul, Balasore,
development identified through the participatory Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsingpur,
planning process. The funds are usually used for Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh and Puri which
construction of Cement Concrete Road in rural are not covered under the Backward Regions
areas, construction of Panchayat’s own office Grant Fund (BRGF).
building if not available, maintenance of Panchayat
office with prior approval of Panchayati Raj The primary objective of the scheme is
Department, Government of Odisha, and to provide additional funds to the targeted districts
construction of drainage system by both sides of for development of infrastructure primarily
rural roads in villages etc. consisting of Bijili (Electricity), Pani (Water) and

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February-March - 2014 Odisha Review

Sadak (Road) to every revenue village in the Finance Commission grant-in-aids has been
identified eleven districts. The additional earmarked for general basic grant-in-aids,
development funds provided under this Yojana is Operation and Management, Pure Drinking Water
of untied nature and supplements the Supply and Sanitation, Management of solid
programmes, which are already available in the waste and drainage system of rural areas,
aforesaid sectors and provide synergy and Database Management, Accounts and Audit, up-
convergence to the different development gradation and Maintenance of Panchayat Samiti
programmes. As per the Government instructions, and Gram Panchayat office buildings etc.
75% of the fund to be earmarked for the
construction of village concrete roads and the rest 9) Cement Concrete(CC) Road in Rural
to be used for Bijili (electricity) and Pani (water) Areas:
component. For the transparency and The Panchayati Raj Department,
accountability, the programme is being monitored Government of Odisha has taken initiative in the
and supervised by a village level Vigilance past for construction of Cement Concrete Road
Committee and by conducting social audit at in the village under various schemes in order to
Panchayat level. The district Collector along with improve the quality of life and hygienic conditions
district level officials is also authorized to make in the rural villages. It has become a very popular
field visit to activate the programme. scheme and one of the most sought after schemes
During the current financial year i.e. 2013- in the rural areas. In the past, though Cement
14, as per the financial performance report up to Concrete Roads were taken up under different
December 2013, the Department of Panchayati schemes, all the villages have not yet been
Raj, Government of Odisha, has spent a total of covered. The State Government has decided to
Rs.314.09 lakhs for electrification projects (Bijili), give thrust to the scheme for construction of intra
Rs.15083.14 lakhs for construction of roads village Cement Concrete Roads in the villages with
the objective of attaining saturation in the State
(Sadak) and Rs.545.66 lakhs for water supply
projects (Pani) respectively under the scheme. with special focus on Vulnerable Tribal Groups
like STs/SCs habitations. Government has given
8) 13th Finance Commission Grant-in-Aid: importance on construction of good quality roads.
The programme is being implemented taking
The Finance Commission is a Block as a Unit and Panchayat Samitis are
constitutional body set up every five years under authorized to prepare the plan of action and funds
Article 270, 275 and 280 of our Constitution to are being provided directly to the Blocks. Under
make recommendations relating to distribution of this programme, funds are provided based on
net proceeds of taxes between union and states, population of a village. Rs.3 Lakhs sanctioned to
the principles which should govern the grants-in- a village having population of 0-500, and
aids of the revenues of the states out of the population ranging 501 to 1000 gets a grant of
Consolidated Fund of India and the measures Rs.5 lakhs and Rs.7 lakhs provided to the villages
needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a where there is a population of more than 1000
State to supplement the resources of the Panchayat people in rural areas. The Panchayat Samiti i.e.
and Municipalities. The 13th Finance Commission Block is authorized to work as implementing
of India, Dr. Bijaya Kelkar made his agency in every district. The programme is
recommendations during December 2009 and it monitored and supervised by the district level
came into effect from April 2010 and to be officers along with district collector through field
continued up to March 2015. In Odisha context, visit and physical verification of works
the release and utilization of funds under 13t h implemented.

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Odisha Review February-March - 2014

10) Drinking Water Supply Scheme: programmes at the field level. It also makes all
out efforts for better implementation of the
Drinking Water Supply Scheme aims at programmes day-by-day for the greater benefit
providing sufficient pure and safe drinking water of rural people.
to all rural household on continuous basis for
domestic as well as cooking purpose, since References:
providing safe drinking water to all sections of
rural population on a continuous basis is of 1. Mishra, S.N., “The Horizons in Rural
paramount importance. It has been recommended Development Administration”, Mittal Publication,
that water be treated not as an ‘economic good’ 1989, New Delhi, p.2.
but an ‘economic resource’ which is essential for 2. T. Mathew (ed.), Rural Development in India,
both growth and development. Accordingly, Agricole Publishing Academy, New Delhi, 1981,
during February 2005, the State Government p.25-28.
took a policy decision to implement all drinking 3. First Five Year Plan, Planning Commission, New
water supply schemes on a participatory mode Delhi, p.223.
to improve service delivery system and
sustainability. The programme termed as 4. The National Rural Employment Guarantee (Act
42) of 2005, Ministry of Law & Justice, Legislative
Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme
Department, Government of India, Published in
(ARWSP) is under implementation since 1972- the Gazette of India, New Delhi, September 7, 2005.
73. In 1986 it was renamed as National Drinking
Water Mission. Under the Accelerated Rural 5. Rural Development Schemes in Panchayati Raj
Water Supply Programme, a large number of Department published by State Institute for Rural
drinking water supply sources such as piped water Development (SIRD), Panchayati Raj Department,
Government of Odisha.
supply projects, hand pumps, tube-wells and
sanitary wells have been installed in the rural areas. 6. Annual Report 2011-12, Panchayati Raj
Jaldhara is a strategy adopted by the Government Department, Government of Odisha.
of Odisha for the implementation of water facilities 7. Panchayati Raj Sahayak Pustika(Odia) published
for the rural habitations through different projects. by State Institute for Rural Development,
In this scheme, the Gram Panchayat is to identify Panchayati Raj Department, Government of
the biggest village and go for the piped water Odisha.
supply and Gram Panchayat is to operate and 8. Programme Implementation Guidelines posted in
maintain the existing spot sources. the website of Department of Panchayati Raj,
Government of Odisha.
Above all, Panchayats at village levels are
expected to perform certain obligatory functions 9. www.odishagov.in
to provide basic services like health, education, 10. www.panchayat.gov.in
food safety, social safety, agriculture, environment
protection and management of common property
etc. For this, the Government of Odisha, besides
Panchayati Raj Department, with the help of other
line departments is also implementing different
programmes/schemes with the active involvement
of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at field levels.
So, the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) play a Rudhi Sundar Mohanty, Research Scholar under the
vital role in selecting the beneficiaries and proper Department of Public Administration, Utkal University,
implementation, monitoring and supervision of Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar.

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