RURAL DEVELOPMENT

SPECIAL PROGRAMMES FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Performance In The Ninth Plan

The strategy for rural development followed in the state during the Ninth Plan was that of integration of poverty alleviation and rural employment programmes with the local plans formulated and implemented by local Governments. Poverty alleviation and self employment programmes have undergone thorough changes and modifications in their content and approach during the Plan period. In the case of rural development programmes group or cluster approach has been adopted instead of individual beneficiary oriented approach. Training schemes have been revamped in their design, content and method. Employment scheme was extended in all Block Panchayats. Grama Sabhas were made the grass root level agency for identification of beneficiaries for rural development schemes. Integrated Rural Development Programme, TRYSEM (Training) TRYSEM (Infrastructure), DWCRA and Million Wells Scheme have been restructured and renamed as Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) and Jawahar Rozgar Yojana has been renamed as Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) with the financing pattern of 75:25 between Central and State Governments. These changes were effected from 1999-2000 onwards.
The approved outlay for rural development and panchayats was Rs.392.90 crores ie., 2.44 percent of the state plan outlay which was distributed as Rs.229.79 crores for rural development and employment programmes, Rs.10 crores for Kudumbashree, Rs.121 crores for Attappady Environmental Conservation and Wasteland Development Project and Rs.32.11 crores for the other schemes. The total provision earmarked in the annual budgets was Rs.344.17 crores and the anticipated expenditure is Rs.288.52 crores. The budget provision and anticipated expenditure for the sub sectors are as follows:-

(Rs. crore)

Sub Sector	Budget Provision	Anticipated Expenditure
1. Rural Development and Employment	167.24	188.66
2. Panchayats	20.34	17.25
3. Kudumbashree	36.50	33.03
4 Attappady Wasteland Comprehensive Environmental Conservation Project	101.43	32.43
5. Land Reforms	4.90	5.68
6. Other Programmes	13.76	11.47
Total	344.17	288.52

Details of physical achievements of rural development and employment programmes are given below:

Programme	Unit	Physical Achievement
		1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01	Total
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
I. IRDP
Families/Swarozgar's Assisted	No	44191	39836	24796	37926	146749
SC/ST Assisted	,,	15556	13625	7659	11464	48304
Women Assisted	,,	22050	18594	11353	20790	72787
II. TRYSEM
1. Youths Trained	No	3846	2995	--	--	6841
2. SC/ST Assisted	,,	1547	1295	--	--	2842
3. Women Assisted	,,	2740	1959	--	--	4699
4. Youths Self Employed	,,	1068	989	--	--	2057
5. Youths Wage Employed	,,	1824	1551	--	--	3375
6. Youths Settled	,,	2892	2540	--	--	5432
III. DWCRA
1. Groups Formed	No	1355	1397	--	--	2752
IV. Tool Kit
1. Tool kit distributed	No	2278	7759	--	--	10037
V. Indira Awaz Yojana
1. Houses Completed	No	12834	9452	20729	19092	62107
2. Houses for SC/ST	,,	8048	5888	11906	10729	36571
3. Houses under construction	,,	11917	19050	16365	26689	74021
VI. Million Wells Scheme
1. Wells constructed	No	3976	4070	--	--	8046
VII. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana
1. Employment Generated	Lakh mandays	41.82	39.37	37.17	27.93	146.29
2. Employment Generated for SC/ST	,,	16.08	12.3	13.04	9.62	51.04
3. Employment Generated for Women	,,	14.44	13.65	11.13	9.35	48.57
4. Assets Created
(i). Houses constructed	No	4969	4682	3629	2613	15893
(ii) Roads	KM	722.31	672.92	665.28	603	2663.51
(iii) Irrigation Wells	No	95	46	145	100	386
(iv) Sanitary Latrines	,,	11588	8154	8591	5464	33797
(v) Drinking Water Wells	,,	372	804	400	529	2105
(vi) School Buildings	,,	9	7	28	34	78
VIII. Employment Assurance Scheme
1. Employment Generated	LMD	47.24	55.75	42.94	30.49	176.42
2. Employment Generated for SC/STs	,,	16.84	19.75	15.04	9.46	61.09
3. Employment Generated for Women	,,	16.5	19.14	14.65	9.02	59.31

The drawbacks in the implementation of employment generation schemes were:-

Predominance of roads, mostly benefiting the landed people. Assets of direct and continuing benefit to the poor are generally neglected.

Influence of middlemen who often determine choice of work.

Absence of genuine participation by the people

Unrealistic procedures for preparing estimates giving unhealthy discretionary powers to officials

Even in pockets where off-season employment is a problem, the programme has not been planned to generate labour during such period.

Upkeep of assets created under employment generation schemes has been a major problem.

The trickle down approach has not been successful.

The food component has never been accepted as part of wage in real terms in the state.

Kudumbashree

      Kudumbashree is an innovative poverty eradication programme which is a community based, women oriented, participatory programme in every respect. Kudumbashree programme, which was started in April 1999, is being implemented through the local governments in the State. The three-tier community based organisation of women such as Neighbourhood Groups at the neighbouhood level, Area Development Societies at the local level and Community Development Societies at the Village Panchayat/ Municipality level under the aegis of the State Poverty Eradication Mission, act as the community wings of the local self governments. Self-Help' is the key to the success of the programme.

      At present 66340 Neighborhood Groups, 7100 Area Development Societies and 721 Community Development Societies are functioning under the project. Under this community structure women drawn from 10,24,414 poor families are members. The NHGs have mobilized a sum of Rs. 48.12 crore. Sustainable and holistic development of around four million poor people and the community at large is the goal. Economic empowerment of the poor women through micro enterprise development is the main means chosen to realize this objective. The Mission also gives equal importance to 'micro financing' (informal banking), convergent community action and social and cultural empowerment of the poor women to hasten the process of bringing a tangible change in the living standards of the community in general and the poor in particular. Kudumbashree has also set up 772 women group enterprises and 12219 individual beneficiary oriented enterprises as part of poverty eradication efforts.

      The total budget provision set apart for Kudumbashree during 1998-2002 is Rs.36.50 crores and the anticipated expenditure is Rs.33.03 crores.

Attappady Environmental Conservation and Wasteland Development Project

      Attappady Environmental Conservation and Wasteland Development Project is an externally aided project assisted by Japan Bank for International Co-operation. The objective of the project is "ecological restoration of degraded wasteland in Attappady and development of replicable models of participative eco restoration so as to prevent further degradation and promote sustainable livelihood for the local people with special emphasis on tribal population and in harmony with available resource base. 507 sq.k.m. wasteland of Attappady has to be brought under eco restoration programmes investing a total sum of Rs.219.31 crores. The external assistance is Rs.177 crore the balance amount has to be met from the State Government resources. Attappady Hills Area Development Society (AHADS) is the agency for implementing the project.

      The physical achievements of the project include forming of 92 user associations and 160 habitat development committees (Ooru Vikasana Samithies), survey of 15,000 families, demarcation of 146 micro watersheds, conducting 438 awareness camps for 20000 people, training of beneficiaries etc.

      The major programmes during the Tenth Plan include micro plan preparation and detailed design of micro watersheds, implementation of soil conservation and afforestation activities, water resources development activities, infrastructure development activities and design and implementation of community based income generating projects based on the local available renewable resources etc;

Strategies for the Tenth Plan

The strategies for rural development and poverty eradication in the Tenth Plan would be:

shift from a standardized concept of poverty to identification of differential manifestation and different vulnerabilities,

develop a poverty index that looks at relative entitlements in changing scenarios,

Conceive anti-poverty sub plan that allows for different responses to different levels and different manifestations of poverty

undertake massive capacity building exercises that result in enhancing the capabilities of the poor

bring about convergence of programmes and resources and services preferably at the watershed level and certainly at the panchayat level

organise all the poor families through women and network them for empowerment and demand led conveyance.

orge a Partnership with Private Sector to benefit the poor. The possible areas for private sector support

The small, medium and large-scale private sector entrepreneurs can outsource a portion of their work in their enterprise to the poor, without prejudice to their regular employees

The private sector enterprises can utilize the groups of poor women (marketing entrepreneurs) for the marketing of their products in the community

Private sector organizations and individuals can adopt a habitat of the socially disadvantaged groups for providing physical infrastructure, educational institutions, anganwadies etc.

The local governments can accept contributions from the private individuals/organizations to promote the well being of the poor.

An Anti-Poverty Sub Plan is to be formulated from grass root upwards on the basis of:-

perspective shift from undimensional to index driven and vulnerability specific identification of poverty

separate income generating strategies for various occupational groups, and within such groups for differential access to gainful employment

holistic land and water management practices by local communities for sustainable eco-development towards which existing wage employment and watershed based schemes would be channalised.

development of micro enterprises with activity specific plans and operational strategies.

creation of community managed grain banks for tackling hunger in vulnerable areas and groups both for emergency and long term needs

an anti poverty health strategy that identifies population pockets with prevalent malnourishment and chronic illnesses both contagious and otherwise and addresses its problems through an income enhancing and environmental occupational enhancing approach

targeting vulnerable groups for education and

Strengthening social audit, and responsiveness of department, institutions and local governments to community led critiques.

The Scheme-wise details are given below:-

1. Swarnjayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) (25% State Share)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 5980.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 1274.00 lakhs)

      Swarnjayanthi Gram Swarzogar Yojana (SGSY) is a centrally sponsored scheme started during 1999-2000 with financing pattern of 25:75 between the state and central governments. It aims at establishing a large number of micro enterprises in the rural areas, building upon the potential of the rural poor. Emphasis is given to group approach in this programme. SGSY is a holistic programme covering all aspects of self employment viz. formation of self help groups, capacity building, planning activity clusters, infrastructure build up and arranging technology, credit and marketing. This programme adopts a project approach for each key activity. The effort is to cover 30% of the rural poor in each Block Panchayat in the next five years. The programme expects at least 50% of the beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes and Tribes, 40% from women and 3% from disabled.

      In the Tenth Plan, in addition, it is proposed to implement special projects particularly for food processing, copra processing etc., and for this purpose the infrastructure facilities in the Food Processing And Nutrition Centre, Balussery will be improved. It is proposed to assist 2.30 lakh families under the scheme during the Tenth Plan and 46000 families during the Annual Plan 2002-03.

      The distribution of outlay is as follows: -

(Rs. lakh)

Category	Tenth Plan	Annual Plan
1	2	3
1. General	5580.00	1194.00
2. SCP	250.00	50.00
3. TSP	150.00	30.00
Total	5980.00	1274.00

2. Administrative cost for District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) (25% State Share)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 497.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 230.00 lakhs)

This is a centrally sponsored scheme for meeting the cost on DRDAs which function as the Poverty Alleviation Units of District Panchayats or District Panchayats which perform the functions of DRDAs. This scheme is funded on 75:25 basis between Centre and State to meet the administrative cost of District Rural Development Agencies as per a pattern of cost ceiling according to the number of blocks in the district. The 10% of the total admissible cost allowed to be used by the state will be used for strengthening the ETCs and SIRD.

The provision for the scheme in the Tenth Plan is Rs.497 lakhs of which Rs.230 lakh is for the Annual Plan.

3. Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) (25% State Share)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs.7140.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs.1420.00 lakhs)

The objective of Indira Awas Yojana is to provide dwelling units to the houseless Scheduled Castes and Tribes, freed bonded labourers and other rural poor below poverty line by providing grant at the rate of Rs.22, 000 per house. This is a centrally sponsored scheme with the Centre and the State sharing the cost in the ratio of 75:25.

Out of the total allocation for Indira Awas Yojana, 20% is earmarked for upgradation of existing kutcha houses into pucca houses. The houses constructed under various earlier schemes like NREP, RLEGP, JRY etc before 12 years and not fit for occupation at present will be supported under this scheme. The maximum assistance under upgradation is Rs.10, 000 as grant. Under the scheme it is proposed to assist 1.01 lakh families for new house construction and 55500 families for upgradation of kutcha houses in to pucca houses during the Tenth Plan. It is proposed to assist 20200 families for new house construction and 11100 houses for upgradation of kutcha houses during the Annual Plan.

The distribution of outlay is as follows:-

(Rs. lakh)

Category	Tenth Plan	Annual Plan
1	2	3
1. General	5290.00	1050.00
2. SCP	1495.00	299.00
3. TSP	355.00	71.00
Total	7140.00	1420.00

4. Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) (25% State Share)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs.8495.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 1629.00 lakhs)

Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) is a new centrally sponsored scheme introduced in August 2001, by merging Employment Assurance Scheme and Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana. The expenditure sharing between the Centre and the State is in the ratio of 75:25. The Central Government will also provide food grain of value equivalent to the cash component, free of cost, as an additionality.

The scheme is to provide additional wage employment in the rural areas as also food security, along with the creation of durable community, social and economic assets and infrastructure development of direct and continuing benefit to the poor. Priority would be given to protection of traditional water resources, water harvesting and creation of infrastructure like markets, anganwadis, schools, dispensaries, veterinary hospitals etc.

The programme will be implemented in two streams; namely, (i) district and block panchayat level and (ii) grama panchayat level. Out of the total fund available under SGRY 50% will be earmarked to district and block panchayats at the ratio of 40:60 percent. In this stream, 22.5% of the funds will be earmarked for individual beneficiary schemes for Scheduled Castes and Tribes for providing economic and social assets and for developmental works in the individual lands of below poverty line families of these groups. The balance 50% of the funds will be earmarked to the Grama Panchayats. The Grama Panchayats would earmark 50% of the funds allotted to them for taking up infrastructure development works in Scheduled Castes and Tribes settlements.

It is proposed to generate 400 lakh mandays wage employment during the Tenth Plan and 80 lakh mandays during 2002-03 under this scheme.

The allocation of the plan provision is as follows:-

Category	Tenth Plan	Annual Plan
1	2	3
1. General	8000.00	1530.00
2. SCP	375.00	75.00
3. TSP	120.00	24.00
Total	8495.00	1629.00

5. Credit cum Subsidy Scheme for Rural Housing (25% State Share)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 534.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 100.00 lakhs)

A large number of poor people without shelter could not be covered under Indira Awaz Yojana due to reasons of shortage of fund or other yardsticks of eligibility. Limited repayment capacity of this category of people prevents them from availing financial assistance from other housing finance agencies. The credit cum subsidy scheme for rural housing is targeted for this group. This scheme envisages the role of government to that of a facilitator rather than a provider of assistance as laid down in National Housing and Habitat Policy 1998. The target group under this scheme will be rural households having an annual income of Rs.32000. BPL families will be given preference. 60% of fund will be earmarked for Scheduled Castes and Tribes and liberated bonded labourers. The Rural Development Department will be the nodal agency for implementation of this scheme. Centre and state will share the subsidy portion of this scheme on 75:25 basis. The upper limit of subsidy is fixed as Rs.10,000 per household and the upper limit of loan is fixed as Rs.40, 000. State Government will identify the funding agencies for loan component. All other conditions of Indira Awaz Yojana housing scheme will apply to this scheme also. It is proposed to construct 53400 houses in the Tenth Plan and 10650 houses during the Annual Plan. The outlay proposed for the Tenth Plan is Rs. 534 lakhs of which Rs. 100 lakhs is for the Annual Plan.

LAND REFORMS

6. Strengthening of Revenue Machinery and Updating of Land Records (50% SS)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 2000.00 lakh)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 450.00 lakh)

This is a centrally sponsored scheme having 50% central assistance. The scheme intends to computerise the existing land records after updation. Out of the total geographical area of 38863 sq.km, re-survey has been completed in respect of 23076 sq.km with conventional methods. The balance 15,787 sq.km is to be re-surveyed with modern equipments such as global positioning system (GPS), total station and computerisation etc.

An amount of Rs. 2000 lakhs is proposed for the programme during the Tenth Plan. The outlay proposed for 2002-03 is Rs. 450 lakhs. Focus will be on computerisation of land records.

7. State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) (50% State share)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 1200.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 240.00 lakhs)

State Institute of Rural Development is the key institution for the capacity building for anti-poverty programmes with focus on block panchayat functionaries both elected and official and non-governmental organisations. Besides poverty reduction, the institute focuses on watershed management, rural infrastructure development and gender issues in development. It is proposed to bring the Extension Training Centres at Kottarakkara, Mannuthy and Thaliparamba under the overall academic control of State Institute of Rural Development.

During the Tenth Plan the focus will be on upgradation of training facilities including hostel, library and computer lab and conduct of induction training and inservice training to the staff of Rural Development Department and thematic training for elected members of panchayat raj institutions especially on watershed management, poverty reduction and women development.

The outlay proposed for the Tenth Plan is Rs.1200 lakhs of which Rs.240 lakhs is for the Annual Plan.

8. Integrated Waste Land Development Programme (IWDP) (State Share 8.33%) (New Scheme)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 350.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 50.00 lakhs)

Integrated Waste Land Development Programme is a centrally sponsored scheme. The basic objective of the scheme is to promote integrated land water management and wasteland development including reclamation of degraded forests with people's participation. The scheme includes components of soil conservation, minor irrigation, check dams, raising of nurseries, fodder cultivation, afforestation of degraded forests, social forestry etc. The project based common guidelines for watershed development is under implementation with effect from 1995.

The scheme is operational in the districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Malappuram, Palakkad, Idukki and Wayanad. Proposals for 3 other districts are pending.

The cost of the scheme is shared between the Centre and the State at the ratio 11:1. An outlay of Rs. 350 lakhs is proposed for the Tenth Plan of which Rs. 50 lakhs is for the Annual Plan.

9. Index Based Poverty Census (New Scheme)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 300.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 5.00 lakhs)

It is proposed to conduct an index based poverty census during the Tenth Plan period. Details on each of the items of the index will be collected through household survey after extensive training to the officers and staff. An outlay of Rs. 300 lakhs is proposed during the Tenth Plan period. The activities are training, collection of data, computerisation of data and printing of list. For the initial activities of the census Rs.5 lakhs is proposed for the Annual Plan.

10. Facilitation for Innovative Projects Including Outsourcing (New Scheme)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 200.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 40.00 lakhs)

One of the major challenges facing village panchayats is management of liquid and solid wastes. This is an area in which adequate expertise is not available. There have been various initiatives in this regard, the replicability of which needs to be assessed in the local context. Therefore outsourcing for availing of new technologies and services in this sector would be required.

Specific problems of self help group undertaking micro enterprises for income generation like (a) inability to assess market needs and identify and creatively respond to consumer demands (b) inability to effect value addition to a product through standardization, quality control and packaging (c) inability to innovate and be competitive through improved design of product, (iv) inability to identify appropriate technologies etc. need to be addressed through provision of expert services.

An outlay of Rs. 200 lakh is proposed for the Tenth Plan and Rs.40 lakhs for the Annual Plan to make available the required services.

11. Information Kerala Mission

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 959.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 168.00 lakhs)

      Information Kerala Mission envisages net working the local governments with the State Planning Board and the Government.

      The mission started its activities in June 1999 and has already completed the ground work for the final roll out of the computerisation project. Activities ranging from the study of local government systems to field testing the software applications developed have been completed. Site preparation for installation of computer systems has been completed in 656 grama panchayats, 29 municipalities and 4 corporations. A State level training facility and a professional environment for target based software development and timely technical support have been established.

      The activities proposed for the Tenth Plan cover the whole gamut of E-governance at the local level. The networked system is expected to be fully operational in two years.
The outlay proposed is Rs. 959 lakhs for Tenth Plan. It is for the expenses of the mission, infrastructure development, upkeep of the asset and other activities. The outlay proposed for the Mission in the Annual Plan is Rs.168 lakhs.

12. Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA)

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 300.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 60.00 lakhs)

Kerala Institute of Local Administration is the nodal institution for imparting training to functionaries of local governments, elected representatives and employees. Apart from training and policy oriented research activities, the institute organises seminars, workshops and discussions on various issues of local governance and development. The institute has been identified as the nodal agency for implementing the project Capacity Development for Decentralisation in Kerala (CAPDECK), financed by Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation.

In the Tenth Plan, the institute has to shoulder larger responsibilities in the field of capacity building of local governments. This will require a higher level of development faculty, library facilities, information technology services and infrastructure facilities. In order to ensure capacity building of local governments, training programmes have to be conducted covering the following activities:-

Exercise of the developmental and regulatory functions by the local governments

Skill development in information technology for local governments

High priority areas such as women's empowerment, empowerment of disadvantaged groups, watershed development and environmental protection. Also policy research needs to be conducted.

The outlay of Rs. 300 lakhs proposed for the Tenth Plan is for strengthening the activities of the Institute. The outlay suggested for the Annual Plan is Rs.60 lakhs.

PANCHAYATS

13. Modernisation of Office - Computerisation and Upgradation of Facilities

(Outlay 2002-07 Rs. 125.00 lakh)
(Outlay 2002-03 Rs. 25.00 lakh)

The scheme is intended to improve the facilities in the Directorate of Panchayats. An amount of Rs. 125 lakhs is proposed for 2002-07 and Rs. 25 lakhs is earmarked for 2002-03 for computerisation of the Department of Panchayats at the level of the Directorate and the Offices of the Deputy Directors. The training of staff in computer operations is also envisaged.

14. Kudumbashree Programme

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 7500.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 1800.00 lakhs)

The programme is implemented by the State Poverty Eradication Mission. Organising the poor by creating community based structures of women below poverty line with focus on self help, demand led convergence of available services and resources and holistic tackling of the multiple dimensions and manifestations of poverty under the leadership of the local governments is the key strategy adopted by the Mission. 38,120 grass root level Neighbourhood Groups, 3,190 middle level Area Development Societies and 319 local government level Community Development Societies are functioning under the programme.

In addition to enabling certain minimum needs infrastructure, setting up micro enterprises and capacity building of the poor, the Mission would make available high quality support services for the design and implementation of self employment ventures.

It also envisages setting up a Challenge Fund to support pro-poor policies of local governments, a Technology Fund to support transfer of technology relevant for poverty reduction, an Innovation Fund to support path breaking innovations in poverty reduction and a common Revolving Fund to provide seed capital for micro enterprises.

The operational area of Kudumbashree is 5 corporations, 53 municipalities and 991 grama panchayats. At present the scheme is in operation in all the 58 urban local governments and 663 grama panchayats. The scheme will be extended to the remaining 328 grama panchayats also. The proposed outlay for the Tenth Plan is Rs.7500 lakhs of which Rs.1800 lakhs is intended for the Annual Plan. The Annual Plan provision is distributed as Rs.1425 lakhs for state level activities and Rs.375 lakhs for the activities at the grama panchayat level.

15. Training of Performance Audit Team

(Outlay 2002-07 Rs. 25.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-03 Rs. 5.00 lakhs)

Performance Audit Units are functioning at district level for Grama Panchayats and Block Panchayats and regional level for District Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations for audit of the plan expenditure of local governments. The proposed outlay for Tenth Plan is Rs. 25 lakhs of which Rs. 5 lakhs is earmarked for Annual Plan 2002-03 for continuing the training for the employees in the performance audit unit. The Directorate of Panchayats is implementing the scheme through the Kerala Institute of Local Administration.

Community Development

16. Block Information Centres

(Outlay 2002-07 Rs. 100.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-03 Rs. 20.00 lakhs)

The main objective of Block Information Centre is to build up a comprehensive data base at Block Panchayat Level for local level planning as well as feed back of information. The Block Information Centres have been linked with the Commissionerate of Rural Development through a computer network. The outlay proposed for the Tenth Plan is to make the network fully functional and then upgrade it and to train the staff. An amount of Rs. 100 lakhs for Tenth Plan and Rs. 20 lakhs for the Annual Plan is proposed for the programme.

17. Attappady Environmental Conservation and Wasteland Development Project

(Outlay 2002-2007 Rs. 14370.00 lakhs)
(Outlay 2002-2003 Rs. 3300.00 lakhs)

      This project is assisted by Japan Bank for International Co-operation. The objective of the project is eco-restoration of degraded lands in Attappady and development of replicable models of participative eco-restoration and promote a sustainable livelihood for the local people with special emphasis on tribal population and in harmony with available resource base. The project cost is Rs. 219 crores of which the external assistance is to the tune of Rs.177 crores. Attappady Hills Area Development Society is the agency for implementing the project.

      The works so far completed consist of afforestation (77.71 ha.) planting (235.50 ha.), production of seedlings (2.25 lakh), fencing of forest land (1000ha.), structural conservation in forest land (501.68 ha.), agronomic conservation measures (315 ha.) homestead activities (613ha.), construction of pits and trenches (2.24 lakh Nos.), check dams (369), contour bunds (7.4 km), drainage canals (3.9 km) , retaining walls ( 6 km) etc. The project, as it has had a delayed start is expected to continue beyond the original terminal year of 2005 upto the end of the Plan.

      The major programmes envisaged in the Tenth Plan include detailed design of micro watershed level action plans, implementation of soil conservation, afforestation, water resources development and infrastructure development activities and design and implementation of community based income generating activities based upon the local available renewable resources.

      The activities that are to be taken up in the Annual Plan include structural conservation measures in private land (3000 ha), agronomic conservation measures in waste land and homestead land (4645 ha) bio mass conservation measures in forest land, ooru bhoomi development (30 Nos), construction of houses (300) etc.

      The outlay of Rs. 14370 lakhs is towards assistance to the project during the Tenth Plan. An amount of Rs. 3300 lakhs is proposed for the Annual Plan.