The Modi government, often been attacked by the Opposition for pursuing "anti-poor policies", has decided to keep the focus on addressing multi-dimensional poverty in rural areas this financial year through convergent planning for rural development.
The process under Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise-II (IPPE-II) in 2,532 poorer Backward Blocks of the country is being undertaken by the Rural Development Ministry will launched on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
The entire planning process will be explained to all elected members of Gram Sabha and the data recently released from the socio-economic survey will be shared with them, a communique from Rural Development Ministry said.
Earlier, the ministry had conducted an IPPE exercise last year in 2500 backward blocks for preparation of MGNREGA Labour Budget (LB) of the Gram Panchayats of these blocks.
That exercise had a village level focus with emphasis on reaching out to securing MGNREGA specific needs of the vulnerable sections.
This year, the ministry seeks to capitalise on the participatory planning processes conducted and the presence of the Block Planning Teams to plan more comprehensively for addressing the various facets of poverty of rural families by incorporating all rural development programmes in a single participatory planning exercise.
"This would include, apart from MGNREGA, the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and the Indira Aawaas Yojana (IAY)," the ministry said.
Efforts would also be made to sensitise the Gram Sabha for partnerships with Community Based Organisations (CBOs) like Self Help Groups (SHGs), Village Organisations (VOs) and other organisations of the poor.
It was felt institutional involvement of organisations of the poor like SHGs, VOs would greatly improve accountability and participation in Panchayats, the ministry said.
The intent of the programme is to promote convergence for wage employment, livelihood, housing, skills and social security.
"Other programmes like Swachha Bharat Mission, programmes of financial inclusion like PM's Jan Dhan Yojana, Accident Insurance, Life Insurance and Atal Bima Yojana will all be part of the convergence efforts.
"The programmes of other departments that improve livelihoods of poor households will also be part of the convergence," the ministry communique said.
