Lok Sabha Question No. 37 (STARRED), answered on 2016-02-25
Subject: Prime Minister Rural Development Fellowship Scheme
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. BHOLA SINGH, GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION N o.37

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.02.2016

## PRIME MINISTER RURAL DEVELOPMENT FELLOWS HIP SCHEME

## *37. DR. BHOLA SINGH:

## DR. C.GOPALAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  salient  features  of  the  Prime  Minister  Rural  Development  Fellowship  Schem (PMRDFS) along with the criteria/procedure adopted for selecting candidates under scheme;
- (b) the  details  of  candidates  selected/benefited  and  financial funds  disbursed under  the scheme since its inception, State/UT - wise;
- (c) the  kind  of  work  and  functions  performed  by  the  fellows  along  with  the  proje undertaken and achievements made th erefrom, State/UT - wise; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to discontinue this scheme, if so, the reasons ther if  not,  the  time  by  which  the  next  batch  of  fellows  under  the  scheme  is  likely selected?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPME NT (SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)

- (a)to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 37 answer on 25.02.2016.

## (a) : The salient features of PMRDF scheme are as below:

- i. 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
- ii. During the two -year fellowship period, fellows remain at the disposal of States and serve the district administration in improving programme delivery and interface the marginalized section of the population.
- iii. A fter two years of fellowship, a fellow is required to spend at least one year in public service as an employee of the State Rural Livelihoods Mission.
- iv. The scheme initially covered Integrated Action Plan districts of nine States. been  expanded  to  seven  States  in  the  North  East  as  well  as  Jammu  &  Kashmir. Currently it covers IAP and backward districts in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Telangana, Tripura and West Benga l.
- v. Fellows are paid stipend during their fellowship.

Fellows are recruited through an open competition conducted through Tata Institute of Social Sciences .The Ministry has so far selected two batches of PMRD Fellows. Batch wise eligibility criteria for a candidate for fellowship are:

Eligibility criteria for candidates for 1 st Batch :

- i. Should be a citizen of India.
- ii. Age between 21 - 30 years at the time of application. For candidates   belonging SC/ST category, the maximum age limit will be 35 years.
- iii. At least a graduate in Law/Engineering/Medicine/Social Sciences/Business Administration, or a Post - Graduate in any subject.
- iv. Physical fitness, certified by Government Medical Hospital, for the arduous na of the work
- v. Working k nowledge of Hindi / local language and customs
- vi. Work experience in related fields
- vii. Excellence in art, culture, sports at High School/College level

## Eligibility criteria for candidates for 2 nd Batch:

- i Should be a citizen of India.
- ii Age between 22 - 27 years at the time of application. Fo r candidates   belonging to SC/ST category, the maximum age limit will be 32 years.
- iiiAt least a graduate from a recognized University with a four -year degree course, including those like Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Engineering, Law, Medicine etc.,
- a post - graduate from a recognized University (in case of a graduate holding degree of course duration of less than four years). It is clarified that a one year post gradu will also be considered valid for eligibility if it is regular, full time a nd if the degree/equivalent diploma is recognized by the AICTE/MCI/UGC.
- iv At least 50% marks in the aggregate or equivalent grade at the graduate or Post - graduate level, whichever is qualifying.
- v Physical fitness, certified by Government Medical Hospital, for the arduous nature of the work.

(b) : The  Ministry  has  selected  156  Fellows  in  the  year  2012  and  160  Fellows  in the  year 2014.There are no disbursals under the scheme to the States .

(c) : PMRD  Fellowship  is  a  short  term  work  opportunity  for  university  educated  an academically bright young women and men to serve with the district administration in impr programme delivery and interface with the marginalized sections of the population. T he scheme does not provide for specific allocation s/sanction of projects.

(d) : No Madam.