Lok Sabha Question No. 2230 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-10
Subject: Status of PMRDF
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH, VISHNU DAYAL RAM

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2230

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2016

## STATUS OF PMRDF

## 2230.SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) The objectives  and  salient  features  of  the  Prime  Minister Rural  Development  Fellow (PMRDF) scheme;
- (b) the details of works carried out in tribal and left wing extremism affected areas so far under PMRD F scheme, State/UT - wise;
- (c) the status of PM R D F in various States/UT in the country including Jharkhand;
- (d) the  details of grants  provided  by  the  Government  during  the  last  three years  and  the current year under the scheme, Stat e/UT- wise;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to change the existing criteria/procedure with a view to  increase  the  number  of  the  fellows/experts under  the  scheme  and  if  so, thedetails thereof; and
- (f) themanner in which the scheme is being publicized by the Government to ensure that its benefits reach the intended beneficiaries?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a): Objectives and salient features of the PMRD FellowsScheme are as below:
1. Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellowship is a short term work opportunity for young professionals to serve and learn in backward/isolated areas of the country .
2. During the two -year fellowship period, fellows remain at the disposal of States serve the district administration in improving programme delivery and interface the marginalized section of the population. Immediately after successful comple ofthe fellowship, a fellow is required to spend at least one year in public serv employee of the State Rural Livelihoods Mission.
3. The scheme initially covered Integrated Action Plan districts of nine States. expanded to seven States in the North East as well as Jammu & Kashmir before the second  batch  of  Fellows  were  recruited.  Currently  it  covers  IAP  and  backwa districts in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashm Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, U ttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,  Manipur,  Meghalaya,  Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Telangana,  Tripura  and  West Bengal.
4. Fellows are recruited through an open competition. Before being allocated to St they undergo orientation training for a period not exceeding three months.
5. During the fellowship, fellows also participate in a post graduate degree progr through di stance learning and contact sessions, leading to a post graduate degre development practice.
6. An  academic  institution  of  national  standing  acts  as  the  knowledge  partner  of Ministry  of  Rural  Development  (MoRD),  with  responsibility  for  recruitment orientation, degree programme and on - field  mentorship.  Currently Tata  Institute of Social Sciences is the knowledge partner of MoRD.
7. Fellows are paid stipend during their fellowship.

(b): Prime  Minister's  Rural  Development  Fellowship  is  a  short  term  work opportunity  for young professionals to serve the district administration in improving programme deliver interface with the marginalized section of the population and learn in backward/isolated the country. During the two -year fellowship peri od, fellows remain at the disposal of States and works under the supervision of the district collector .They implement projects under flagship schemes like MGNREGS, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Tribal Sub Plan, National Rural Livelihoods Mission, SAGY, NSAP etc. Ministry does not assign work directly to Fellows norsanction any projects to them.

(c): The PMRD F Scheme is operational in 18 States including Jharkhand .  Thenumber of PMRD Fellows placedin States as on 29.02.2016 is as below:

| Name of State     |   No. of PMRD Fellows posted |
|-------------------|------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh    |                            4 |
| Arunachal Pradesh |                            1 |
| Assam             |                           13 |
| Bihar             |                           11 |
| Chhattisgarh      |                           20 |
| Jammu & Kashmir   |                           12 |
| Jharkhand         |                           22 |
| Madhya Pradesh    |                           11 |

| Maharashtra   |   1 |
|---------------|-----|
| Manipur       |   1 |
| Meghalaya     |   2 |
| Mizoram       |   2 |
| Nagaland      |   2 |
| Odisha        |  15 |
| Telangana     |   7 |
| Tripura       |   2 |
| Uttar Pradesh |   4 |
| West Bengal   |   4 |

- (d): The PMRDF Scheme is implemented in co ordination withState Governments; however, no grants are provided by the Government under the Scheme.
- (e): The  Government  has  approved  increasing  the  number  of  fellows  posted  with S ate Governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura from 2 fellows to 6 fellows in each state. For the State of Maharashtra, Government has ap increasing the number of fellows from 6 to 12 .
- (f): The PMRDF Scheme was  publicized  through  print  and  electronic  media  during  the recruitment of second batch of PMRD Fellows.

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