national institute of rural developmentnird.org.in/nird_docs/newsletters/march2013.pdf · national...

National Institute of Rural Development

MARCH 2013214www.nird.org.in

In this issue...

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International Training Programme

on Promotion of

Rural Micro Enterprises

National Workshop on AKPS

Geoinformatics Module for

Cutting Edge Functionaries

Training-cum-Exposure Visit of

Elected Representatives

Training Programme on

Monitoring and Evaluation

PIB Team from Kolkata &

Guwahati Visit NIRD

Training Programmes For Bank

Officers

Training Programme on

Panchayati Raj and Social Justice

Faculty Achievements

Action Research Project on SHG

Convergence with Animal

Husbandry

Emerging Status Of Drinking

Water Programme

International Training Programme on Promotion of

Rural Micro Enterprises

International Training Programme on Promotion of Rural Micro Enterprises

was organised at NIRD during 3-16 March, 2013 under IAFS by the CSERE

faculty. This is the second programme in series during the academic year

2012-13. Twenty four participants from nine African countries viz., Nigeria,

Namibia, Madagaskar, Lesotho, Benin, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Egypt and

Tanzania participated in this programme, who included senior officials

representing various ministries in their respective countries. The programme

was sponsored by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

The main objectives of this programme were:

lTo expose the participants to rural micro-enterprises policies and

programmes in India and the selected African countries.

lTo equip the participants with strategies and management skills so that

they can effectively operationalise micro-enterprise development

programmes in their countries.

As a part of the study visit, participants were exposed to some of the rural

micro-enterprises as well as the initiatives taken up by the Government of

Andhra Pradesh for creating income generating activities in and around the

districts of Warangal and Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. During the visit of

MARCH 2013NIRD Newsletter

National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, India

Warangal, participants could see livelihood initiatives of

SHGs i.e., dairy, brass handicrafts and interacted with

CBOs and DRDA officials. Participants also visited an

organisation called Orvakal Mandal Podupu Lakshmi

Ikya Sangham (OMPLIS), Orvakal on March 15, 2013

where they had the opportunity of witnessing various

livelihood activities such as Mahila Bank, education,

capacity building, etc., being taken up by women. This

Institute under the leadership of Ms Vijaya Bharathi was

also responsible for elimination of child labour in

Orvakal.

National Workshop on AKPS

A one-day National workshop on “Launch of Annapurna

Krishi Prasaar Seva” (AKPS) commenced at NIRD,

Hyderabad on 23 March 2013. Shri J. Satyanarayana, IAS,

Secretary to Government of India, DeitY, MCIT launched

the 'Annapurna Krishi Prasaar Seva', a multimedia

multimodal Interactive Information Dissemination System

for farmers during the workshop through video

conferencing. The launch was carried out in the august

presence of Dr. M.V. Rao, IAS, Director General, NIRD; Dr. D.

Ramarao, National Director, National Agricultural

Innovation Project (NAIP); Dr. A. Padma Raju, Vice-

Chancellor, ANGRAU; Smt. Chandralekha Malviya, Sr. Advisor & Group Coordinator, DeitY, MCIT, GoI; Dr. G.V.

Ramaraju, MD & CEO, Media Lab Asia; Prof. S.L. Mehta, Chairman, RPC, NAIP; Ex-Vice Chancellor, Maharana Pratap

University of Agriculture & Technology; Dr. S. M. Ilyas, Former Director, NAARM and Director CDAC and a host of

distinguished Agriculture , ICT and GIS Scientists, from various esteemed organisations from the State of Andhra

Pradesh and other parts of the country.

The workshop was attended by about 120 delegates / eminent scientists from ICAR institutions, Department of

Information Technology, Central Government Organisations, SAUs, NGOs, Academic Institutions, Private Industries

and International Participants of CGARD NIRD Training Programme from 11 countries.

Annapurna Krishi Prasaar Seva is a pilot testing of the alternative ICT model namely 'Interactive Information

Dissemination System (IIDS)' which is an outcome of the project “Development of a set of alternative ICT models based

on a study and analysis of the major ICT initiatives in agriculture in India to meet the information need of the Indian

farmers” with three major objectives – 1. Assessment of the major ICT initiatives in agriculture vis-à-vis the need of

the farmer in various agro socio-economic situations, 2. Suggest a set of alternative ICT models based on the

assessment for the major situations and 3. Limited validation of some of the models based on the infrastructure that

is already available. IIDS is a pull and push based system with a combination of Toll Free IVRS, Smart Phone

Application and Web Application.

National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, India 3

MARCH 2013NIRD Newsletter

Geoinformatics Module for Cutting Edge Functionaries

The model is developed by the consortium Partners consisting of

CGARD, NIRD; Media Lab, New Delhi ; ANGRAU, Hyderabad and

MICA, Ahmedabad, sponsored under the component 4 of National

Agricultural Innovation Project of ICAR.

The IIDS model is planned to be tested with 600 farmers from six

villages through two Krishi Vigyan Kendras namely, Nellore and

Kampasagar (Nalgonda). By using IIDS applications, farmers can

raise their queries through voice, text, images and small videos, also

they can interact directly with the KVK experts through toll free

number. A centralised server is established and Toll Free IVRS, PRI

Lines are commissioned at ANGRAU, Hyderabad. The two KVKs from Nellore and Kampasagar (Nalgonda) are

connected to a centralised database at ANGRAU Hyderabad through VPN connection with its two KVKs at Nellore

and Nalgonda for the pilot testing of the model. These two KVKs are connected through the VPN lines with the

centralised database, which would have information of farm, farmer and previous transactions (Know Your Farmer,

KYF). The farm profile, farm database and other details of the registered farmers are being entered in central

database by KVKs to deliver farm and farmer-specific advisories.

Module on Geoinformatics Applications in Rural Development Programmes was held during 1-2 March, 2013, for the

District Collectors, Commissioners of Rural Development, Project Directors (DRDA) &, Chief Executive Officers (ZP).

Sixty delegates from various organisations across the country including six senior officers participated in the Module.

The Module was coordinated by Dr. M V Rao, IAS, Director General, NIRD and CGARD Faculty Dr. V Madhava Rao, Dr R

R Hermon and Dr P Kesava Rao.

Dr M V Rao, Director General, NIRD in his welcome address mentioned that there is an urgent need to take space

technology to the villagers for improving their livelihoods. The Module was inaugurated by Dr V K Dadhwal, Director,

National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad. He gave an overview of the resources and technology available with

the NRSC for applications in rural development like the availability of Earth Observation Satellites, ground & wireless

sensors, GIS on cloud, geoportals Bhuvan application and MYRIAD applications in mobile mapping.

National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, India4

NIRD Newsletter MARCH 2013

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Y V N Krishna Murthy, Director, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing. He gave

an overview of the agricultural water management, Geo-spatial technologies for rural development, challenges &

opportunities in rural development like Integrated Watershed Development Planning for practical approach in

planning directed at preservation, conservation, development, management and exploitation of natural resources

for the benefit of people. Dr. M. V. Rao said that Geoinformatics technology potential is immense but there is a need

to take this technology to the district level and below.

Primarily the Module was aimed at evolving a decision support system for sustainable natural resource based

development plan and to integrating the socio-cultural dataset with location based information derived from GPS,

GIS and RS, for effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of rural development programmes

and policies at district level and below..

The Module covered application of Geoinformatics in management of natural resources, agriculture, animal

husbandry, rural development programmes like rural road, MGNREGS, watersheds, monitoring of environment in

rural areas, convergence of RD programmes, livelihood development, etc, towards rendering cost-effective and

timely solutions in the generation of optimised decision alternatives.

Delegates were given a first-hand practical experience on GPS/DGPS tracking of assets, to have a feel of the

technology and a detailed presentation on ISRO development portal Bhuvan. Resource persons were renowned

Geoinformatics scientists from ISRO and INCOIS. The INCOIS scientists presented the agriculture, meteorological

and fishery advisory services and also gave a detailed presentation on Tsunami Warning facilities.

A broad overview of India's Space Programme and the benefits derived for the society, programmes and policies of

ISRO to reach out to development administrators and the backup support through Bhuvan and SISDIP was

presented. Various ongoing Geoinformatics applications in rural development were also presented. Ocean, climate,

agriculture, fishery advisory and Tsunami information base was presented by Dr T Srinivas Kumar, INCOIS and

Dr P Rama Rao of INCOIS explained web based information advisory for farmers, fishermen and district

administration.

Bhuvan, the Indian corollary to Google, which is proving a potential knowledge base for all rural development

programme monitoring and planning was demonstrated live. Satellite imageries up to 5 metre resolution and 2.5

metre resolution on various States of India, with numerous themes are available in Bhuvan which can be used by

decision-makers at all levels free of cost.

Dr. T. Ravishankar, NRSC discussed the applications in agriculture, water resources, rural roads and climate change.

The Module concluded with a resolution to harness all the available spatial technology for the development of

agriculture, water resources, rural roads and climate change.

Training-cum-Exposure Visit of Elected Representatives

A Training-cum-Exposure Visit on “Decentralisation and Good Governance Initiatives for Elected Representatives of

Panchayats of Andaman & Nicobar ( U.T. Administration)” was organised by Centre for Panchayati Raj (CPR) during

January 28 – February 02, 2013 at NIRD, Hyderabad. Dr. P. Durgaprasad, Professor and Head, CPR inaugurated the

programme and interacted with participants on various issues. A total of 20 elected representatives from the PRIs.

particularly South Andaman, Zilla Parishad participated in the programme. This programme was designed and

organised with the following objectives:



Training Programme on Monitoring and Evaluation

The Centre for Equity and Social

Development, NIRD organised the

Training of Trainers Programme on

Monitoring and Evaluation during, 12-

15, March 2013 (Sponsored by Rajiv

Vidya Mission- SSA, Government of

Andhra Pradesh). Fifty four participants

from 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh

attended the training programme. The

main objective of the programme was to

a create cadre of Resource Persons and

Master Trainers on Monitoring and

Evaluation for effective implementation of Right to Education Act and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan interventions in the

State of Andhra Pradesh. The programme discussed on various topics including understanding the training process,

systematic approach to training, objectives and key elements of ToT, concept and meaning of monitoring and

evaluation, developing indicators, techniques of monitoring, monitoring mechanism for SSA and RTE, data

management for monitoring: (sampling, data collection, analysis and management), evaluation- conceptual frame-

work, types of evaluation and participatory monitoring and evaluation. On 15 March, 2013 a panel discussion session

was arranged on Concerns and Challenges in Monitoring of Schools: by inviting four panelists namely Shri K.Anand

Kishore, former Director, SCERT, Hyderabad, Prof. S.Mahender Reddy, Dean, Faculty of Education, Kakatiya University,

Warangal, Prof. A. Jagadeesh, District Educational Officer, Nalgonda, Dr.H.Sirisha, Former Girl Child Development

Officer and Shri Ch. Murali Mohan, State convener RTE forum, Andhra Pradesh. The programme was coordinated by

Dr. T. Vijayakumar, Faculty (CESD) and Dr.R.R.Prasad, Professor & Head (CESD).

1. To focus on comparative scenario of PR system and its functioning across the country

2. To highlight good practices and initiatives for establishing good governance practices in various states

3. To organise an exposure visit to the gram panchayat, mandal panchayat and zilla parishad to know the

panchayati raj system in Andhra Pradesh.

The topics covered during the programme included, panchayati raj system in Andhra Pradesh, PRA strategies and

approaches and how they can be applicable to rural areas, strategies and impact of self-help group concepts in

Andhra Pradesh and decentralisation and good governance in rural development. One-day field visit was orgnised

and the participants were taken to Ramachandrapur Gram Panchayat in Karimnagar district, Andhra Pradesh to

examine the working of gram panchayat and its impact on the development of infrastructure in the village and the

development that took place for the benefit of rural people. The Ex-sarpanch of Ramachandrapur Gram Panchayat

interacted with the participants and explained about delivery of basic services. Dr. M V Rao, Director General, NIRD

delivered the keynote address. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Y. Bhaskar Rao, Associate Professor, Centre

for Panchayati Raj under the overall guidance of Dr. P. Durgaprasad, Professor & Head (CPR).



PIB Team from Kolkata & Guwahati Visit NIRD

A media team consisting of 11 members from important

newspapers of PIB Kolkata and Guwahati visited NIRD on March

19, 2013 to get exposed to various training and research

activities undertaken by the Institute for rural development. Dr.

M.V. Rao, Director General, NIRD interacted with the officials

and briefed them in general on various training, research and

other related activities undertaken at NIRD. Participants were

also taken to RTP to get exposed to various models of rural

technologies drawn from different parts of the country. They

were also provided an opportunity to interact with the

participants of an ongoing international training programme

on GIS Application in Rural Development. Dr. Madhava Rao,

Course Director explained the participants about the objective

of the course in general and Application of GIS in Rural

Development in particular. This programme was jointly coordinated by Dr. K.P. Kumaran, Professor & Head (CMRD),

Dr. P. SivaRam, Project Director (RTP) and Dr. Y. Gangi Reddy, Associate Professor (RTP).

Training Programmes for Bank Officers

* A customised training programme for

Branch Managers of UCO Bank was

conducted from 25 February to 2

March 2013 at NIRD which was

coordinated by Shri R. Koteswara Rao,

Project Consultant, CRCDB. Twenty one

Branch Managers from Maharashtra,

Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh

attended this sponsored training

programme. In coordination with SERP,

a field visit was also arranged to

Meerpet, Saroornagar Mandal, Ranga

Reddy district for interactive study on

working of SHGs and VOs at Meerpet

village. Participants interacted with

SHG and VO members and gained

knowledge about social and financial

empowerment of women through Self-

Help Groups.

th*The 10 Training programme on Rural

Credit Management was conducted

during 04-09, March, 2013 exclusively

for Branch heads of rural and semi-



Training Programme on Panchayati Raj and Social Justice

A Training Programme on 'Panchayati Raj and Social Justice” was organised by the Centre for Panchayati Raj (CPR)

during 25 – 28 February, 2013 at NIRD, Hyderabad. Dr. P. Durgaprasad, Professor and Head, CPR inaugurated the

programme and shared his thoughts about Panchayati Raj and Social Justice. Twenty two participants including 13

government officials, seven elected members from PRIs and two members from NGO sector participated in the

programme.

The following were the objectives of the programme:

lTo share the experiences of elected representatives and functionaries of PRIs with their functioning;

lTo focus at the implementation of Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) and Special Component Plan (SCP);

lTo highlight the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the implementation of development programmes and

project the rights of SCs and STs, and

lTo discuss the process of convergence and integration with MGNREGA SC/ST focused programmes.

Various topics covered in the programme included empowerment of weaker sections through PRIs, Panchayat

Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) and the operational issues in the implementation of the Act. Participants were

taken to Choutuppal Mandal to examine the works which are being implemented for the cause of scheduled castes

and scheduled tribes, for instance, the land development schemes for SCs and Tribal Development works. Apart

from this, participants also visited Pochampally Gram Panchayat and interacted with Secretary and Ex-sarpanch. Dr.

P. Durgaprasad, Professor and Head, Centre for Panchayati Raj participated in key deliberations with the participants

and delivered valedictory address. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Y. Bhaskar Rao, Associate Professor,

Centre for Panchayati Raj under the overall guidance and supervision of Dr. P. Durgaprasad.

Faculty Achievements

Dr. Shankar Chatterjee, Associate Professor (CPME) was invited as Speaker for the

National Seminar on Millennium Development Goals: Strategy, Achievement and

Challenges held during 7-8 March 2013 at Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed

University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. He delivered a talk on Addressing Poverty and

Hunger through Self-Employment: Cases Across India on 8 March 2013 at the

Plenary Session –II.

urban branches of UCO Bank. Participants were from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar States.

Besides inputs on all Rural Credit schemes, topics like SHG movement, Financial Inclusion were intensively covered.

Participants were taken to a remote village in Keesara Mandal for direct interaction with members of a SHG and SHG

village organisation. With this, total 244 branch heads of UCO Bank have undergone training at NIRD in the second

phase during December 2012 and March 2013.



Action Research Project on SHG Convergence with Animal Husbandry

The CHRD,NIRD-AR

Team, headed by Dr.

Gyanmudra , P ro jec t

Director & Head CHRD

organised an exposure

visit, along with the team

members, Dr. Sarumathy,

Dr. Achari and Mr. Kiran ,

to SHGs of three villages

of Ipperu Panchayat-

Ipperu, Nagireddypalle

and Antaraganga to

Orvakal, Kurnool district,

on 22 March 2013 . The

SHGs in these villages

have been converged with animal husbandry a year ago. The present exposure visit has been considered as an

important part of the action research through which members get an opportunity to observe and learn from other

groups' s developmental activities. The purpose of this exposure visit is to learn from the experiences of others by

direct interaction. It is a practical learning process since learning takes place from real life situations of other

members.

Orvakal Mandala Podupu Laxmi Ikya Sangam (OMPLIS) is a federation of SHG groups at mandal level, having its own

training centre being sponsored by UNDP and SERP with Ms Vijaya Bharathi as the director of the institute. The thrift

movement in Orvakal Mandal has been successful after implementation of the UNDP-sponsored project in seven

mandals for five years. The movement has been more successful in Orvakal, which attracted the attention of people

involved in poverty alleviation at national and international levels for its innovative concepts.

The CHRD-AR team, with twenty five participants from three villages, visited Orvakal to interact with SHG leaders at

Orvakal. The participants had an interactive session with Ms Vijaya Bharathi, Director, OMPLIS. The Director enquired

them about what they have observed and learned from the OMLIS SHG leader.

The leaders of OMPLIS shared their experiences of socio-economic conditions before joining the mandal Ikya

sangam and the transformation they could see after joining the sangam.

They shared the experiences of how they struggled in joining the mandal samakhya , the challenges they had to face

in the process and ultimately how they overcame all the hurdles and became successful women with collective

effort, with regular monthly saving, running the small ventures on their own and even becoming resource persons

and going to different places to take motivational classes at international forums.

Case Studies

They explained the Director about their interaction with OMPLIS' SHG leaders. Collectiveness, proper book

keeping, regular monthly savings, mutual help to each other in the groups were observed as major factors for the

success of the Orvakal SHG Members. Later with a motivational song Ms Vijaya Bharathi had suggested the

participants to resume their education by attending the night schools. She hoped that all the members will be

aware of their rights to do things better. She was wishing all the participants to contest in forthcoming Panchayat

elections independently not affiliating with any political party. With the one-day exposure visit the participants felt

very happy about knowing new things through interaction with Orvakal SHG members. They also took oath to

follow whatever they learnt from the exposure visit in becoming successful in their life.



Smt.Ramasubbamma, being separated from her

husband was helpless in bring up her two daughters.

Later the Podupu Sangam (Mandal Ikyasangam) stood

by her and helped financially to get 7 buffaloes on loan

given by the sangam. She developed the dairy activity

year by year and now she is able to give employment to

others. Her daughters are doing jobs after finishing

their studies. She has now two houses and two acres of

land and leading a happy life. She proudly says that the

Podupu Sangam has changed her living conditions

drastically.

Smt.Ratnamma, Loddipalem, President, former

Mandal Samakhya. She is from SC community. She

narrates how she liberated her husband, a bonded

labourer. She could do it because of the loan she got

through the SHG she joined a few years back.

Ratnamma joined the SHG, contributing ` 1 from her

savings. She says, “after joining the organisation I

could educate my children. My daughter got school

education and she is doing nursing. Two of my sons

got government jobs after I joined in this mandal

Samakhya”. Until now she has drawn around ` 9 lakh

credit and only ` 20000 are remaining to be cleared.

She has been one of the community resource persons

moving around the globe to motivate the SHG

members of different countries.



NIRD celebrated International Women's Day on 11

March, 2013. On this occasion Dr M. V Rao, Director

General, NIRD welcomed the guests and facilitated

Smt. Shanta Sheela Nair, Vice-Chairperson, State

Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu, Smt. Manjula

Krishnan, Former Sr Financial Advisor, MoRD and

Member, High Level Committee on Status of

Women and Smt G. Vijaya Bharathi, Hon. Advisor ,

IKY Samakhya , Orvakal Mandal , Kurnool for their

commendable work for women's development .

Smt. Shanta Sheela Nair, chief guest of the function

is very well known for her work in water and

sanitation. She has successfully implemented the rain water harvesting structure programme in all the apartments

and localities in Chennai and featured in Aamir Khan's Satyamev Jayate programme. Smt Manjula Krishnan has

initiated Gender Budgeting Processes in the country. Smt.Vijaya Bharathi has contributed immensely for

strengthening of SHG's, and empowering women by alleviation of poverty in Orvakal Mandal which has become the

role model of poverty alleviation.

Smt. Nair in her address said that sanitation is a major issue for women. She narrated an incident where a dalit woman

in a village from Ramanathapuram refused to live with her husband until he constructed a toilet in the house. Her

assertion has resulted not only in her house having toilet but the whole village getting transformed and winning

Nirmal Puraskar Award and this message spread to other villages. She suggested that there is need for engendering

the planning process and focus on rural women priorities to be integrated in planning process of each and every

department.

Smt. Manjula Krishan said, though women have broken glass ceiling in many areas still the patriarchal mindset

continues. One major area of concern is adverse girl child sex ratio of 914 for 1000 males. The Nirbhaya incident has

shown extreme violence women are facing in India and the need for efficacy of laws. Most of the work that women

do within the households or care economy is not calculated in the national income and the income of the

unorganised sector area also not calculated.

Ms. G.Vijaya Bharathi spoke eloquently on how poor women of Andhra Pradesh emerged as leaders and have proved

that women can facilitate development. Women are able to build a safety net around them and are able to address

issues of violence (both private and public) through federation. Another notable feature of SHG movement has been

that it was able to break the barriers of caste and class which need to be studied.

To mark the occasion NIRD has organised simultaneously a National Seminar on Women Participation and Inclusive

Development. The chief guest of the function Ms. Santha Sheela Nair released the Souvenir of the seminar.

All the faculty members, staff of NIRD and their family members, participants and International students and Ms

Padmasree, President, NIRD Mahila Mandali and members joined the International Women's Day celebrations.

The meet ended with formal vote of thanks by Dr.C.S.Singhal, Prof &Head, CWD&GS, NIRD.

NIRD Celebrates International Women's Day



Emerging Status Of Drinking Water Programme

Safe drinking water, standard sanitation and basic health care should be seen as a non-negotiable development

continuum with specific reference to individual and community well-being. A good part of primary health care

derives its strength from this continuum even while leveraging the tangible benefits of associated health and welfare

programmers such as the ICDS, Arogyashree and Health Care Insurance of the kind the Narayan Hrudayala has been

passionately promoting amongst the rural populations and the rural poor in particular. It is in this context the state,

civil society and household interventions of water and sanitation assume critical significance and cascading impacts.

While the water and sanitation (WATSAN) situation has been gradually and significantly improving a lot more needs

to be done by way of equity, affordability, and gender balancing. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation,

Government of India has embarked on a series of mission-oriented interventions in the rural areas for improving the

water and sanitation facilities with high regard for environmental balancing and ecological restoration. The planned

interventions of the Ministry have been substantial and sustained too. The following highlights of achievements

hold not only hope but also provide a window to the potential WATSAN programmes can generate for sustained

development, especially amongst the poor women in rural areas.

thFigure -1 shows the 11 Plan allocation that is regarded as a quantum jump of the highest order so far at ` 49,000

crore by the UPA government. The planned allocations in the previous plan periods represent only a third of this

allocation. The investments in other plan periods are indicated.

Nearly three-fourths of all the habitations i.e., 11.9 lakh have been covered with safe drinking water. The rest of the

habitations are proposed to be covered on priority for provision of 40 litres of safe drinking water per capita per day th(LPCD) in the 12 Plan. While it is a happy augury in terms of coverage, the issue of assured quality of drinking water

remains a major challenge. Figure-3 throws light on the extent of water quality problems in the country. Of the 16.64

lakh rural habitations, over 1.20 lakh habitations suffer from one or other water quality problems including excess

fluoride and unacceptable levels of arsenic; iron; nitrates and salinity.

Figure-1:Plan-wise Allocations on Drinking Water and Sanitation Figure - 2: The Current Status of Provision of Drinking Water

Figure-3 : Status of Coverage of Habitations

As if this problem was not devastating enough, there have been reports of late confirming mercury in river waters of

AP and Northern India. Therefore, priority actions should be initiated in mitigating the problems of flourosis and

skin diseases that strike several communities in the country, more so in already backward areas like Nalgonda, Tonk


NIRD Newsletter

Director General : Dr. M.V. Rao, IAS

Editor : Dr. K.P. Kumaran (P&H, CMRD); Asst. Director (Editing) : Dr. K. Papamma; Photographs : P. Subrahmanyam;Cover Design : V.G.Bhat; Published by Dr. K.P. Kumaran (Prof. & Head, CMRD) on behalf of the National Institute of Rural Development,

Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030 and printed at Vaishnavi Laser Graphics, Hyderabad.

Book-Pocket (Contains Printed Matter)

MARCH 2013

and Alwar as has been revealed by the research studies of the NIRD. While high tech water treatment plants serve

their own purpose, household and community based low cost deflouridation systems need to be promoted as has

been done in Nalgonda by the NIRD and the Sai Oral Health Foundation. thIn terms of physical performance in the 11 Plan, the Central and State Governments have largely achieved

thcommensurate results. As against the target of 798967 habitations for coverage during the 11 Five Year Plan, the

achievements stood at coverage of 613154 habitations. This is a significant achievement of over 75 per cent.

However, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, MP, Odisha, HP, and Tamil Nadu have exceeded their targets.

Disturbingly though, the under achieving states with less than 50 per cent coverage included Sikkim, Punjab, Assam,

J &K, and Arunachal Pradesh.

The National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) is the primary instrument which operates at the national

level under the Bharat Nirman Programme. In physical terms, the achievements under Bharat Nirman have been

substantial. As against 55,000 uncovered habitations scheduled to be covered during the Bharat Nirman period,

over 54,000 habitations have been covered in phase -1. Over 500 habitations have been covered under phase -2 in ththe 11 plan. While covering the uncovered habitations has been a problem by itself, there has also been a growing

challenge of arresting the growth of `slipped back habitations'. However, the states have evidently performed

rather well in covering almost all the 3.58 lakh slipped back habitations by 2009. Latest statistics show that there has

been further progress in arresting the slipped back habitations as over 1.5 lakh habitations were covered by 2012 out

of the 2.10 lakh partially covered / slipped back habitations.

In so far as mitigating the problems of quality affected habitations is concerned, the states have again performed

rather well in covering 50168 habitations out of over 3.10 lakh habitations under phase-1 of Bharat Nirman.

Doubling up this progress, the states have made further in-roads into the water contaminated habitations by way of

further coverage of 32734 habitations in 2009. And by the end of phase-2 of the Bharat Nirman, over 1.10 lakh

quality affected habitations were covered with region-specific quality control projects.

Provision for SCs and STs

The NRDWP has special provisions to ensure focus on the coverage of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe

population with potable water supply. Of the 2,79,200 SC concentrated habitations in the country, 2,05,420

habitations are fully covered, 58,887 are partially covered and 14,893 are quality affected. By 2012, 22,867

habitations have been covered with potable drinking water supply. Of the total 3,57,727 ST dominated habitations,

2,47,135 are fully covered, 86,717 are partially covered and 23,875 are quality affected.

By Dr. P. Durgaprasad, P & H, Centre for Panchayat Raj

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