Department profile of Rural Development Department

Rural Development and poverty alleviation have been the major areas of concern and thrust for
the Nation since independence. The Community Development Programmes consisting of
various schemes was launched on 2nd October 1952 throughout the country with the objective of
overall development of rural areas with the active participation of community. Community
Development Blocks were created and considered pivotal for planning and implementation of
various rural developments schemes. Prior to 1999, self- employed schemes such as Integrated
Rural Development Programme(IRDP) Training of Rural Youth for Self-
Employment(TRYSEM), Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas(DWCRA),
supply of improved Tool Kits in Rural Areas(SITRA) Million Well Scheme(MWS) and Gandhi
Kutter Yojna (GKY) were being implemented but these schemes were merged in Swarnjayanti
Gram SwarojgarYojna (SGSY) in the year 1999 and further JGSY and EAS were merged into
SGSY in the year 2002.

The Parliament enacted MGNREGA in the year 2005. Besides, Drought Prone Area
Development Programme (DPAP), Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY), Integrated
watershed Development Project (IWDP), Integrated Watershed Development Programme
(IWDP), Indira AwasYojna (IAY), Atal Awas Yojna (AAY), National Family Benefit Scheme,
Swachh Bharat Mission, Gramin (SBM-G), Matri Shakti Bima Yojna and Pradhan Mantri Krishi
sinchhai Yojna (PMKSY) etc. are being involved in the planning and execution at various level
for poverty alleviation and employment generation programmes so that it is ensured that the
benefits under these programmes percolate to ready at grass root level.

The development Block is pivotal for the implementation of various rural development
programmes and overall development of families living below poverty line in the rural areas.
The State has 78 Development Blocks.

Organizational set up
Principal Secretary (RD) at the government level is assisted by Director-cum-Ex-Officio-
Secretary (RD), joint director-cum-Deputy Secretary (rd) I & ii and Joint Director cum CEO,
HPSRLM & NRLM. The Director-cum-Ex-Officio-Secretary (RD) is the head of the Department
and he is assisted by Joint Director-cum-Deputy Secretary (RD) I & II, Joint Director-cum-CEO,
HPSRLM & NRLM.

At District level, District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) are responsible for
implementing and monitoring rural development programmes. The Deputy Commissioner-cum-
CEO of the DRDA is assisted by the Project Director, Project Officer, etc. Besides this there is a
Governing body of DRDA under the chairmanship of ZilaParishad head. At the Block level,
Block Development Officer is assisted by the staff including the panchayat Secretaries at
panchayat level.
Functions of the Department
Execution/reporting and implementation of different rural development programmes i.e. CDP,
NRLM, SBM, etc. in the State are the main functions of the Department. At State level, State
Level Monitoring and Evaluation Cell monitor and evaluate all the CSSs and state plan schemes.

District level:

At district level, DRDAs are responsible for the implementation and monitoring of all rural
development programmes. The Deputy Commissioner –cum-Chief Executive Officer of the
DRDA is assisted by the project Director, project Officer, APO(SE), APO (Women), APO
(Watershed), Project Economist and other administrative staff. Beside this, at district level there
is a governing body of DRDA under Chairmanship of Zila Parishad. This body is responsible for
monitoring of various rural development programmes.

Block level:

At Block level, the Block Development Officer is main catalyst with other administrative
structure viz. Superintendent, Junior Engineers, Assistants, Panchayat Secretaries and Rozgar
Sewaks etc. Besides this the staff from other departments such as Agricultural Development
Officer (Agriculture), Horticultural Development Officer (Horticulture), Extension Officer
(Industries), Panchayat Inspector and Assistant Development Officer (Soil Conservation) are
also functioning under the administrative control of Block Development Officer.

Budget & Expenditure

(Rs. in lakh)
Year Budget Expenditure
2015-16
Demand No.20 67310.04 55010.41
Demand No. 31 2402.707 1409.686
Demand No. 32 4788.17 5102.533
Total 74500.917 61522.629
2016-17
Demand No.20 59808.27 50574.052
Demand No. 31 8098.04 3109.764
Demand No. 32 22677.05 9857.493
Total 90583.36 63541.309
2017-18
Demand No.20 60822.06 27394.104
Demand No. 31 8400.359 1831.263
Demand No. 32 18783.098 4398.43
Total 88005.517 33623.797
Rural Development Programmes
Rural development programmes being implemented in the State by the Department are detailed
below:

1. Community Development Programme

Under this programme grant-in-aid is being provided to the Panchayat Samities under the head,
“Social Education” and “General Education” for developmental activities in the related fields.
Funds are provided to the Blocks for the construction of residential/office buildings and Gram
Sewak huts, strengthening of Mahila Mandals and organization of awareness camps for non-
officials, etc.

Focus areas of the scheme

1) Ensuring the initiative and participation of the community for the development
2) Providing funds relating to construction/completion activities
3) Incentives /awards to Mahila Mandals and organizations of awareness camps for non-
officials, etc. were provided as per set norms.
4) Grant-in-aid was provided to the Panchayat Samities for developmental activities in
the related field.
2. National Rural Livelihood Mission(NRLM)
GoI restructured the SGSY scheme and replaced it by NRLM w.e.f. April, 2013 with the
objective to strengthen and provide greater financial support to the poor and the poorest of the
poor families and with the goal of poverty alleviation through social mobilization, institution and
capacity building, skill generation, etc. It is expected that the scheme would reach out to all
districts and blocks of the state by the end of 2020-21 in a phased manner. Initially, as per the
guidelines of the GOI, the strategy of Intensive and Non-intensive Blocks have been adopted. At
present 5 Blocks viz. Kandaghat (Solan), Mandi Sadar (Mandi), Nurpur (Kangra), Haroli (Una)
and Basantpur (Shimla) have been selected as “Intensive Blocks” in the first phase of NRLM
implementation. The remaining ‘Non- intensive Blocks’ would be covered in a phased manner in
the next four years. At present resource block strategy is being implemented in two
Development Blocks (Haroli and Basantpur). Besides, three Development Blocks (Kandaghat,
Mandi Sadar and Nurpur) have been selected as non-intensive blocks in the first phase of the
programme implementation during the year 2016-17. In the State, Shimla and Mandi have been
selected in the category-I where additional interest subvention of 3 per cent will be available to
all women SHGs whereas in the remaining districts all the NRLM compliant SHGs irrespective
of the agencies which have formed they will be eligible for the interest subvention of 7 per cent.
H.P. State Rural Livelihood Mission (HPSRLM) has been registered and set up for the
implementation of NRLM.
 Objectives of the scheme

1. The aim of this programme is to reach out to poor families, mobilize into Self-
Help-Groups (SHGs), link them to sustainable livelihood opportunities and
nurture them till they come out of poverty and enjoy a decent quality of life. This
programme focuses on women empowerment hence the rural poor HHs are
covered through their women members.
2. The programme costs will be shared by the Center and State in the ratio of 90:10.
3. State Rural livelihood mission would be covering all the BPL families initially
and later on all the poor and poorest of the poor and also families which are
marginally above poverty line
4. The selection of target group is made through the process of Participatory
Identification of Poor (PIP) by organizing them into SHGs and their Federated
Institutions and linking them with banks and for repeated micro financing. The
target group list would be approved by the Gram Sabha.
5. Provides for interest subvention to NRLM compliant SHGs all over the State who
avail credit from Banks as per instructions of Reserve Bank of India.
6. Provision for interest subvention to cover the difference between lending rate of
Banks and 7% on all credit (up to Rs. 3.00 lacs )from banks availed by women
SHGs.
7. SHGs that availed capital subsidy under SGSY having outstanding credit will not
be eligible for this benefit
8. Interest Subvention benefit is available only to Rural SHGs.
9. Revolving fund @ of Rs. 10000/- to 15000/- would be provided to those SHGs
who have been practicing Punchsutra for the last 3 months.
10. Community Investment fund of Rs. 75000/- to 1, 10,000/- would be provided to
those SHGs who have adopted regular internal landing out of savings and
revolving fund to the members by small loans for the last 6 months .
11. Vulnerability Reduction Fund of Rs. 1, 50000/- per VO would be provided to
those who have attained its age of atleast 6 months.

During the year 2016-17against the target of formation of 3472 Self Help Groups
(SHGs) only 3280 SHGs were formed and there was a target to disburse a loan for
4000 SHGs, out of which the loan amounting to Rs. 3774.37 lakh was disbursed to
2136 SHGs during 2016-17.

3. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme:

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) was

notified by GoI on September 2005 and made effective w.e.f.2nd February, 2006. All the
districts of the State were covered under the scheme w.e.f 1st April, 2008. The salient
feature of the scheme is to provide 100 days of guaranteed employment in every financial
year to every household.

The application should contain the names of those adult members of the household who
are willing to do un-skilled manual work, and particulars such as age, sex and SC/ST
status etc. After verification all particulars are entered in the registration register by the
concerned Gram Panchayat. Every household is assigned a registration number. Job
cards to every registered household are issued by the gram panchayat. The job cards are
issued within a fortnight of the application for registration. The job card is valid for five
years. Applications for work can be submitted to the gram panchayat as well as to the
Programme Officer. Applications should be given in writing and a dated receipt for the
application for work must be issued to the applicant. The applications for work must be
for at least 14 days of continuous of work. Applicants who are provided work are to be
intimated by means of letter sent to them at the address given in the job card and also by
a public notice displayed at the offices of the gram panchayat. The wage employment to
the applicant is to be provided within 15 days of the date of receipt of application.
Every person working under the scheme is entitled to wages at the minimum wage fixed
by the State Government.
If an applicant for employment under the scheme is not provided such employment
within 15 days of receipt of his application seeking employment or from the date on
which the employment has been sought in the case of advance application, whichever is
later, he shall be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance which will be one fourth of
the wage rate for the first thirty days during the financial year and one half of the wage
rate for the remaining period of the financial year. The ratio of wage costs to material
costs should be no less than the minimum norm of 60:40 stipulated in the Act. This ratio
should be applied preferably at the Gram Panchayat, Block and District levels. The wages
of skilled and semi skilled labourers should be included in the material costs.

Goals of the Scheme

1. Social protection for the most vulnerable people living in rural India by providing
employment opportunities
2. Livelihood security for the poor through creation of durable assets, improved
water security, soil conservation and higher land productivity
3. Drought-proofing and flood management in rural India
4. Empowerment of the socially disadvantaged, especially women, Scheduled
Castes (SCs) and Schedules Tribes (STs), through the processes of a rights-based
legislation
5. Strengthening decentralised, participatory planning through convergence of
various anti-poverty and livelihoods initiatives
6. Deepening democracy at the grass-roots by strengthening Panchayati Raj
Institutions
7. Effecting greater transparency and accountability in governance.
 Thus, MGNREGA is a powerful instrument for ensuring inclusive growth in rural
India through its impact on social protection, livelihood security and democratic
empowerment.
During the year 2016-17, against the availability of Rs. 56778.53 lakh, an amount
of Rs. 56272.23 lakh was disbursed.

4. Indira Awas Yojna(IAY)(Now PMAY-G)

This is a centrally sponsored scheme. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs.
75000 per beneficiary selected by the Gram Sabha is given to BPL families for the
construction of new house. The unit cost has been enhanced to Rs. 1.30 lakh for hilly
States under the new scheme w.e.f. April 2016. The basic aim of the scheme is to
provide housing for all by the year 2022.

Objectives of the scheme

1 Provide pucca house with basic amenities to all houseless households and
households living in kutcha and dilapidated houses by 2022.
2 Immediate objective is to cover one crore households living in kutcha house /
dilapidated houses by 2022 assistance for construction of one crore houses in rural
areas over the period of three years from 2016-17 to 2018-19.
3 Ensure construction of quality houses using local materials, designs and masons
specially trained in quality workmanship with minimum unit size of 25 sq. m.
including a dedicating area of hygienic cooking.
4 Cost of the unit assistance to be f Rs. 1.30 lakh is to be shared between Central
and State Governments in the ratio 90:10 for hilly states.
5 Provision of assistance of Rs. 12000 for toilets and 90/95 days of unskilled wage
labour of MGNREGs i.e. convergence with Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin,
MGNREGs, etc.
6 Identification using SECC-2011data and selection of beneficiaries based on the
deficiency and other social deprivation parameters and verified by the Gram
Sabha.
7 The beneficiary of the scheme will be facilitated to avail loan of Rs. 70,000 from
financial institutions.
8 Convergence with other government schemes for provision of basic amenities viz.
toilet, drinking water, electricity, LPG Connection, etc.
9 Making all the payments through DBT to beneficiary’s bank/post office accounts
registered in Awaas Soft/MIS, etc.

During the year 2016-17, against the target of construction of 4874 houses, 1638
houses were constructed by incurring an expenditure of Rs. 1405.30 lakh.
5. Rajiv Awas Yojna
This is a state plan housing scheme which is being implemented on the pattern of
IAY. Against the target of 846 number of houses, 602 number of houses were
constructed by expending an amount of Rs. 846.90 lakh during 2016-17.

Objectives of the scheme

1. Like Indira Awaas Yojana, the main objective of the Rajiv Awaas Yojana is
to provide the financial assistance to the rural poor living Below the Poverty
Line (BPL) for construction of a house.
2. Under Rajiv Awaas Yojana (RAY), 100% funds are sanctioned by the State
Government.
3. Financial assistance of Rs 75000/- is being provided under the scheme w.e.f.
01.04.2013.
4. Loan up to Rs.20000/-can be availed by the beneficiary under Differential
Rate of Interest (DRI) Scheme (4%).
5. Beneficiaries of RAY can also avail the benefits under NBA and MGNREGA
in addition to amount of Rs.75000/-
6. There is no specified design for construction of house under Rajiv Awaas
Yojana (RAY). The house should be environment friendly / innovative /
disaster resistant.
7. The Provision for electricity connection under Rajiv Gandhi Garmin Vidyut
Yojana (RGGVY) to BPL RAY beneficiaries exist under the scheme
8. The construction of house is on the choice of the beneficiaries hence,
Sanitation in RAY has been integrated with Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin):
and
9. Dwelling unit is provided with a smokeless chulha, which is a fuel-efficient
alternative, smoke free, healthy, for environmentally clean.
6. Matri Shakti BimaYojna
This scheme covers all women living below poverty line within the age group of 10-
75 years. Under this programme relief upto Rs. One lakh is given to family
members/insured women in case of accidental death or disability, landslide, insect
bite, etc.

139 families were benefitted after incurring an expenditure of Rs. 138 lakh during the
year 2016-17.

Objectives of the scheme

1. Coverage of all women living below poverty line within the age group of 10-75
years.
 2. Provides relief to family members / insured women in case of their death or
disablement arising due to any kind of accident, surgical operations like
sterilization, mishap at time of child birth /delivery drowning washing away in
floods, landslide, insect bite & snakebite etc.
3. Gives benefit to a married woman in case of accidental death of her husband.
4. Provision of compensation amount has been revised from current financial year
2017-18 i.e. death and permanent total disability Rs. 2.00 lakh, loss of one limb
and one eye or both eyes and both limbs Rs. 1.00 Lakh and loss of one limb/one
ear Rs. 0.50 lakh and in case of death of husband Rs. 1.00 lakh.

7. Watershed Development Programme

Under this scheme, Integrated wastelands Development programme (IWDP), District
Prone Area Programme(DPAP), Desert Development Programme(DDP) and
Integrated Watershed Management Programme(IWMP) are covered.

The Integrated watershed Management Programme was launched in April 2008 after
consolidation of the DPAP, DDP and IWDP of the Department of Land resources into
a single modified programme called IWMP for optimum use of resources, sustainable
outcomes and integrated planning. The envisaged outcomes of the programme are
prevention of soil run-off, re-generation of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting
and re-charging of ground water table to enable multi cropping and introduction of
diverse agro-based activities besides providing sustainable livelihood to people living
in respective watershed areas.

Objective of the scheme

1) The target definition and action planning keeping in view specific agro-
climatic and socio-economic conditions of the watershed.
2) Effectiveness of project planning, implementation, operation and maintenance
3) Existence of adequate monitoring and evaluation mechanism for effectiveness
of programme
4) Execution of the projects in a transparent manner
5) Implementation of Watershed projects within the cost and time
6) Area development programme aiming at integrated development of natural
resources like land, water, vegetation, etc. by taking up watershed
development projects.

Under this programme total 163 new watershed projects have been sanctioned by
government of India with a total cost of Rs. 1359.958 Crore for the development
of 839972 hectare rainfed area in the districts of the state during 2009-10 to 2014-
15.
8. Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) 2015-16

The GoI launched this programme on 2nd October, 2014 to achieve the goal of Swachh
Bharat by the year 2019 with the objective.
Objectives of the scheme
1. Bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas, by
promoting cleanliness, hygiene and eliminating open defecation.
2. Accelerate sanitation coverage in rural areas to achieve the vision of swachh bharat
by 2nd October, 2019.
3. Motivate communities and Panchayati Raj Institutions to adopt sustainable sanitation
practices and facilities through awareness creation and health education.
4. Encourage cost effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and
sustainable sanitation; and
5. Develop wherever required community managed sanitation systems focusing on
scientific solid and liquid waste management systems for overall cleaniness in the
rural areas.

During 2016-17 80519 number Individual House Hold Latrine, 166 Sanitation Complex
and 300 Gram Panchayats were taken for incurring expenditure on Solid Liquid Waste
Management. The funds of Rupees 9277.10 lakh were spent on eight components in the
state during 2016-17.

9. Mahila Mandal Protsahan Yojna:

With a view to strengthen the Mahila Mandals and to ensure that they are involved in the
process of development, the department introduced the scheme during 1998-99. This
scheme has been totally linked with the sanitation programme and a sum of Rs. 131.04
lakh has been allocated during the year 2016-17 to provide incentives to Mahila Mandals
who have performed good work under sanitation in village/ward and Gram Panchayat
area.