Lok Sabha Question No. 4905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Rural Development Policy
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Godam Nagesh, Adv. Chandra Shekhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4905 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2025

## RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY

## 4905. SHRI GODAM NAGESH: ADV. CHANDRA SHEKHAR:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures taken by the Government to enhance agricultural productivity while ensuring sustainability in rural and marginalised communities;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  integrate  climate resilience into rural development policy; and
- (c) the  measures  taken  to  ensure  that  the  benefits  of  rural development initiatives reach the most vulnerable sections of society, including women, small-scale farmers and indigenous communities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

- (a): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  with  the objective  of  increasing  foodgrains  production  through  increase  in productivity  and  area  expansion  in  all  the  28  states  and  2  Union Territories  (Jammu  &  Kashmir  and  Ladakh)  of  the  country.  Under (NFSM)  assistance  is  given  through  state  governments  to  farmers for  interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of  practices,  demonstrations  on  cropping  system,  distribution  of seeds  of  High  Yielding  Varieties  (HYVs)/hybrids,  improved  farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection measures, nutrient management/soil ameliorants, processing & post-harvest equipment, cropping system based trainings to the farmers etc.

implementing Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS) under which the following measures have been taken to

Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is enhance agricultural productivity:-

- i. Water Conservation and Irrigation Projects: MGNREGS focuses on creating water-harvesting structures such as check dams, ponds, and wells, helping improve water availability for agriculture in rural areas. These initiatives increase agricultural productivity, especially in drought-prone areas.
- ii. Works  for promoting  agricultural productivity by creating durable  infrastructure  required  for  bio-fertilizers  and  postharvest facilities including pucca storage facilities for agricultural produce.
3. As part of the farm sector development, DeenDayalUpadhyayaAntyodayaYojana (DAY-NRLM) of this Ministry empowers mahilakisans  (women  farmers)  on  adopting  sustainable and  climate  resilient  practices  in  Agriculture  and  Allied  sectors such Agro Ecological Practices, better livestock  management practices  around  health,  hygiene,  feed  and  fodder.  The  aim  is  to support the mahilakisans in reduction of cost of cultivation, support increase  in  yield  and  facilitate  in  marketing  of  produce  in  due course of time by adopting a sustainable practice. The local expert institutions  like  KrishiVigyan  Kendra  and  Agriculture  Universities are continuously guiding the state units of the mission on this.
4. (b): Several  steps  have  been  taken  by  this  Ministry  to  integrate climate resilience into rural development policies. Under MGNREGS, the following steps have been taken:
- i. Water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment  and  improve  groundwater  like  underground  dykes, earthen dams, stop dams, checks dams and rooftop rainwater harvesting  structures  in  Government  or  Panchayat  building with  special  focus  on  recharging  ground  water  including drinking water sources;
6. Watershed  management  works  such  as  contour  trenches, terracing,  contour  bunds,  boulder  checks,  gabion  structures and  spring  shed  development  resulting  in  a  comprehensive
- ii. treatment of a watershed;

- iii. Micro and minor irrigation works and creation, renovation and maintenance of irrigation canals and drains;
- iv. Renovation  of  traditional  water  bodies  including  desilting  of irrigation tanks and other water bodies and conservation of old step wells or baolis;
- v. Land development works in common land.

Pradhan  MantriAwaasYojana-  Gramin  (PMAY-G)  incorporates State-specific  housing  designs  and  promotes  the  use  of  local materials, reducing costs and environmental impact.  It encourages adoption  of,  as  far  as  possible,  green  designs  and  technologies, appropriate to the local culture and geo-climatic conditions (including  multi-hazards),  use  of  local  building  material  minimizing carbon  foot  prints  and  that  the  houses  are  comfortable.   As  per Framework for implementation of PMAY-G, the States Government has been directed take steps to encourage willing beneficiaries to adopt green technologies by using appropriate materials and technologies to reduce CO2 emission and depletion of nonrenewable energy resources by using different rural housing typologies as per PAHAL for achieving greenness in housing.

Under Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY), the Ministry  has  taken  many  initiatives  to  construct  climate-resilient rural  roads.  Ministry  promotes  the  construction  of  roads  under PMGSY  using New  materials/Waste materials/Locally available materials.  The Ministry  has  brought  out  a  new  Technology  Vision Document in 2022 for promoting green/ new technologies in PMGSY road  construction.  The  implementation  of  these  technologies  is based  on  Indian  Road  Congress  (IRC)  guidelines  and  evaluations undertaken  by  premier  technical  institutions  in  the  country.  The National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) organizes workshops, trainings, and field demonstrations for States/ UTs to encourage cross-learning and adoption of these technologies for  saving  natural  resources,  enhancing  the  speed  of  construction and  also  for  utilizing  local  waste. The  Vision  document  on  new technology Initiatives prescribes enhanced use of new technologies/ materials in the construction of PMGSY  roads. Accordingly, States are being promoted to propose at least 50% of the length using new/green technologies/ materials.

Under DAY-NRLM, the mahilakisans are encouraged to adopt organic farming and natural farming practices. As on January 2025, the mission has covered 4.40 croremahilakisans across the country

on  adoption  of  Agro  Ecological  Practices,  3  lakhs  women  farmers into  organic  farming  through  adoption  of  Participatory  Guarantee Systems (PGS) practices. In addition  to  promoting  natural  farming practices,  70,000 KrishiSakhi (Community Resource Persons) have been  certified  in  convergence  with  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and Farmers  Welfare  to  promote  natural  farming  with  the  mahilakisan households.   DAY-NRLM ensures the benefits of rural development initiatives reach the most vulnerable sections, including women, by promoting  inclusive  farm  and  non-farm  livelihood  models.  Through Producer Groups, Integrated Farming Clusters, Sub-Sector Approach, and Non-Farm Enterprises, the mission fosters economic empowerment,  social inclusion, and climate resilience. These initiatives  create  sustainable  income  opportunities,  reduce  rural poverty, and strengthen women's leadership in economic development.

The  main  objective  of  watershed  development  is  resource conservation, resource generation and resource utilization. Watershed Development Component of Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana (WDC-PMKSY), through its interventions,  seeks  to  address  the  concerns  of  land  degradation, improving productivity. It rejuvenates watershed landscapes, which leads to improvement in physical properties of degraded soils and sustenance of ground water, reduction of surface runoff, reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation of reservoirs. Springs Rejuvenation  ensures  sustainable  development  through  improved natural  resource  management  and  better  resilience  of  farmers  to climate  change  and  generates  livelihood  opportunities  for  the watershed communities.

- (c): Several measures have been taken by this Ministry to ensure benefits reach vulnerable sections of society.  Under MGNREGS, the following measures have been taken:
- MGNREGS  prioritizes  providing  employment  to  marginalized communities,  including  Scheduled  Castes  (SCs),  Scheduled Tribes (STs), and women. These groups are given preference for  work  under  the  scheme,  ensuring  that  they  benefit  from
- i. rural employment opportunities.
- ii.
- The scheme ensures that at least 33% of the beneficiaries are women, and in many cases, the proportion exceeds this target. Women are given equal wages for equal work, and provisions

exist  for  child  care  in  some  areas  to  encourage  women's participation in the workforce.

- iii. MGNREGS assists small and marginal farmers through activities like land development, irrigation, and water conservation, which directly benefit them by improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Under PMAY-G, the following provisions have been made:

- 60%  of  the  target  is  to  be  earmarked  for  Schedules  Castes
- i. (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
- ii. In  view  of  the  provisions  of  the  Rights  of  the  Persons  with Disabilities  Act  2016,  the  States  to  the  extent  possible  may ensure  that  5%  of  beneficiaries  at  the  State  Level  are  from among Persons with Disabilities.
- Allotment of house is made jointly in the name of husband and wife  except  in  the  case  of  a  widow/unmarried  /separated person. The scheme allows the State to also choose to allot it
- iii. solely in the name of the woman.
- iv. Women beneficiaries  are  being  encouraged  to  join  Self  Help Groups  (SHGs)  accredited to NRLM  of  Ministry of Rural Development, to get the livelihood opportunities for augmenting their household income.

PMGSY has also brought about socio-economic change in the lives of rural people, particularly in the lives of women farmers and other vulnerable sections of society. The findings are as follows:

- New  roads  have  provided  better  education  opportunities  for children  particularly  girl  children  to  continue  their  education
- i. beyond the elementary school level.
- PMGSY roads have made health facilities accessible to people. Women have  been  the  major  beneficiaries,  with  most  of  the
- ii. childbirth taking place in government hospitals.
- iii. Women's participation in financial decisions has increased and it is reflected in their market accessibility.
- iv. The PMGSY  roads have provided new opportunities for employment  like  employment  in  nearby  urban  areas  where people could commute daily.

Further,

Pradhan

MantriJanjatiAdivasiNyayaMahaAbhiyan(PM-JANMAN), the provision  of  pucca  house  to  the  Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal Groups (PVTG) households is one of the interventions which is being implemented  by  the  MoRD.  The  target  is  to  provide  financial assistance  to  4.90  lakh  PVTG  beneficiaries  in  convergence  with PMAY-G for the construction of pucca houses with basic amenities at  Rs.  2.39  lakhs/house,  including  unit  cost  of  Rs.  2  lakh  with  Rs 12,000/- for toilet construction in convergence with Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) and 90/95 days unskilled wages (Rs 27,000/approx.) under MGNREGS. Under PMGSY, target length of construction of roads is 8,000 Km with a period of 5 years (2023-24 to 2027-28).

Further,  all  households  with  one  or  more  deprivation,  are automatically included households as per SECC 2011 which constitute the DAY NRLM target group. Further, eligible households identified through 'participatory identification of poor' (PIP) process and  validated  by  gram  sabha  are  also  included  in  the  Self  Help Groups.  Furthermore,  DAY  NRLM  has  an  objective  for  saturation through its inclusion strategy in order to bring the most vulnerable and unreached population into its fold. There are special efforts to include persons with disabilities,  old  age  population,  transgenders and poorest of poor.

National  Social  Assistance  Programme  (NSAP)  is  a  social security programme for the most vulnerable persons of our society living below poverty line, both in rural and urban areas irrespective of the category of the beneficiaries. Under the programme, the old aged,  widows,  and  disabled  persons  belonging  to  Below  Poverty Line  (BPL)  and  fulfilling  eligibility  criteria  prescribed  in  the  NSAP guidelines, are provided financial assistance, in form of pension and in the case of death of the breadwinner of such family, a lump sum assistance is given to the bereaved family.

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