Page 108 - economic review

AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTORS80

2.176 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was notified in phase I in
Wayanad and Palakkad Districts w.e.f. 02/02/2006. Later Idukki and Kasaragod Districts were notified
under the Act on 01/04/2007. The Act was extended to the remaining 10 districts w.e.f. 01/04/2008.
The outcome and impact of the programme are poverty reduction, increased work participation of
women and gender equity, increased land use and land productivity, sharp decline in distress emigra-
tion, inclusive development, and empowerment of the panchayats.

2.177 The financial achievement under MGNREGP during 2013-14 was ` 1301.06 crore which is 95
per cent of the total release during the year. The total employment in terms of mandays generated
during this period was ` 8.6 crore. The Physical and Financial progress of the programme 2013-14
and Financial and Employment details till October 2014 are given in Appendix 2.83, 2.84, 2.85 and
2.86.

Indira Awas Yojana (IAY)

2.178 The objective of Indira Awas Yojana is primarily to help construction/upgradation of dwelling
units of members of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and other below the poverty line non SC/
ST rural households by providing them a lump sum financial assistance. Allotment of the IAY house
shall be jointly in the name of husband and wife except in the case of a widow/unmarried /separated
person. The State may also choose to allot it solely in the name of the woman. In the case of ben-
eficiaries selected under the quota for persons with disabilities, the allotment should be only to such
persons. The construction should be carried out by the beneficiary himself/herself. No contractor
should be involved in the construction of houses under IAY.

2.179 Under this scheme Central and State Government shares the fund in the ratio of 75:25. Gov-
ernment of India has revised the unit cost of IAY houses from ` 45000/- to ` 70000/-in plain areas
and from ` 48500 to ` 75000/- in hilly difficult areas w.e.f. April 2013 onwards. The State Government
have enhanced the unit cost to ` 2 lakh for SC and General Categories and ` 2.5 lakh for ST Catego-
ries. The additional amount over and above the unit cost fixed by the Government of India is to be
met by Grama-Block-District Panchayats in the ratio of 25:40:35. As the three tier Panchayaths are
not in a position to meet the additional amount, State Government has decided to provide ` 75000/-
per house to all categories during the year 2012-13 and ` 50000/- during 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Three per cent of the funds have been earmarked for the benefit of disabled persons below poverty
line. Financial and physical achievements of IAY up to October 2014 are shown in Appendix 2.87
and 2.88.

Rural Infrastructure Development – PMGSY

2.180 PMGSY is a 100 per cent CSS to build up rural infrastructure with the objective of facilitating
a higher degree of rural – urban integration and for achieving an even pattern of growth for the poor
and disadvantaged sections of the society. The spirit and the objective of PMGSY is to provide good
all-weather road connectivity to the unconnected Habitations.

2.181 Since Government of India funds can be utilized only for the actual estimated cost of construction
of roads under scheme, state support to PMGSY for meeting tender excess, shifting of utilities and
maintenance provision for assets already created was included in the state budget from the financial
year 2010-11 onwards. The financial and physical achievements are shown in Appendix 2.89.

Kerala State Planning Board