Question

Write briefly about anti-poverty programmes started by the government.

Answer 1

The government formulated several anti-poverty schemes to eradicate poverty such as National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) 2005, Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), Rural Employment Generation Programme, Swarnajayanti Grant Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), National Food for Work Programme. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005
(i) National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) 2005 was passed in September 2005.
(ii) The Act assures 100 days employment every year to every household.
(iii) Initially covering 200 districts, the Act would be extended later on to cover 600 districts.
(iv) One-third of the jobs are reserved for women.
(v) The central government will also establish National Employment Guarantee Funds. Similarly state governments will establish State Employment Guarantee Funds for implementation of the scheme. Under the programme if an applicant is not provided employment within fifteen days she/he will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
National Food for Work Programme (NFWP)
(i) It was launched in 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country. (ii) It was started for the poor who were in need of wage employment and desire to do manual unskilled work.
(iii) Food grains are provided free of cost to the states.
Prime Minister Rozgar Yozana (PMRY)
(i) It was started in 1993.
(ii) The aim of the programme was to create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns.
(iii) It also helped in setting up small businesses and industries.
Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP)
(i) It was launched in 1995.
(ii) The aim of the programme is to create self employment opportunities in rural areas and small towns.
(iii) A target for creating 25 lakh new jobs has been set for the programme under the Tenth Five Year plan.
Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
(i) It was launched in 1999.
(ii) The programme aims at bringing the assisted poor families above the poverty line by organizing them into self-help groups through a mix of bank credit and government subsidy.
Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yozana (PMGY)
(i) It was launched in 2000.
(ii) It aims at providing basic services such as primary health, primary education, rural shelter, rural drinking water and rural electrification.