RASHTRIYA SAM VIKAS YOJANA (RSVY)

The experience of years of implementation of the development programme shows that all the areas of the country have not grown equally. There are certain pockets of high poverty and low growth. This is mainly due to the existing barriers to growth and lack of infrastructure. To tackle this problem the Union Planning Commission has come out with a new initiative called Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (Development and Reform Facility).  This is a 3 years programme and aims at putting in place the activities which would remove the barriers to the growth and accelerate the development process. Tiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu has been selected on pilot basis for the implementation of the programme.

A perusal of the present scenario in Tiruvannamalai District reveals that there are basic problems of high rate of poverty and low per-captia income. Also, a majority of the area under cultivation is dependent on rainfall and does not have any assured source of irrigation. Therefore, the agriculture productivity is low and most of the area is cultivated only once in a year. Furthermore, a substantial percentage of working force are landless agricultural labourers who are fully dependant on the agriculture activities. Industrialisation in the district has still not taken-off. The vital infrastructure required for development of any area has grown poorly. Infrastructure which has been created so far could not be maintained properly. There is high level of ignorance among people on important aspects like health, nutrition and education. All the sectors of economy, i.e. primary, secondary and tertiary are poorly developed.

Under the on-going programmes of Rural Development, the State Plan Schemes and Centrally Sponsored schemes, various works for the development is being taken-up. However, it is observed that the effort taken under the existing on-going scheme leaves a critical gap which needs to be filled-up. To fill-up this critical gap, additional resources are required by the District under Development and Reform Facility programme.

The additional resources need to be allocated to those sectors which are very crucial for the development of the district. The district faces water scarcity and the climate is arid and therefore requires various drought proofing measures in a big-way. Water Shed Development, Social Forestry and improvement of the Irrigation facilities would not only develop the quality of the land but would also make water available for agriculture and other activities. As the district is highly dependant on agriculture, therefore its modernisation is equally important to increase the productivity. The Horticulture sector offers a vast opportunity for the development in the district. This needs to be exploited further. The drought proofing measures and development of Agriculture and Horticulture would mean  agricultural activity for larger part of the year and in many of the new areas. This would increase the employment opportunity in the agriculture sector and also mitigate the poor condition of landless labourers and  cultivators.

Connectivity through the road infrastructure is always an important component in any development effort. The district need adequate attention to this sector under this programme. No development effort would be complete without growing its human resource and social sector. It is also planned to focus on mass education on health and nutrition aspects and also to ensure proper maintenance and  improvement of the infrastructure meant for the social sector. The benefit of information technology needs to be extended to rural areas. The district has been facing peculiar problem of handloom weavers, who find their means and techniques of production outdated. Proper training and modernisation for this sector has to be taken-up. Measures have to be taken for the development of industry and tourism in the district.  These measures would create additional employment opportunity and already over-burdened agriculture sector can shift a considerable number of landless labourers to these sectors of economy.

While it is important to identify the sectors which require additional resources, it is also important to reform the institutional arrangements to implement the programme. It is planned to implement this programme through collective and participatory approach. The involvement of Panchayat Raj Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations  has been ensured from the plan formulation stage to implementation and monitoring stage. All the levels of Panchayat Raj Institutions would be involved fully in the activities of this programme. In the same way, it is planned to create a forum of Non-Governmental Organisation which would work in each block to ensure not only smooth implementation of this programme but also to bring about an integration of all the schemes both by the Government and Non-Governmental sectors. Works relating to drought proofing measure would be implemented at the village-level through watershed association or village councils. This would ensure full participation of the people in this programme.