Social and Infrastructure Development

Projects

Introduction
India has tremendous resources and unquestionable potential to become a regional
power. In order to acquire the basic prerequisites to become a credible force, India must
focus towards the creation of world class infrastructure and ensure social equality and
security for all its citizens.
The present Government, after understanding the significance of this requirement, has
engaged itself to this cause on a war footing. A total of 173 Centrally Sponsored
Schemes and Additional Central Assistance schemes are being restructured and centre
has allocated a sum of Rs 5, 87,082 crores to the states and union territories as taxes,
non-plan grants and loans, and central assistance.
Some of the major schemes in respect of social and infrastructure development are
enumerated below:

Social Development Schemes

National Food Security Mission (2007) - Enhance agricultural productivity of wheat,

rice pulses on sustainable basis through, restoring soil fertility, providing easy bank
loans and subsidies, providing technical knowhow and improving technologies to ensure
food security of the country and the implementation of various food for work schemes
under the Food Security Act -2013.
Certain other pet projects of the PM, like Rural Areas Growth & Development
Programme, Soil-Health Card Scheme, Jan Dhan Yojana, Skill India Programme and
Sansad Adrash Gram Yojana will play a pivotal role in energising the National Food
Security Mission.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (2005).The
objective of MGNREGA is to "enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by providing at
least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year, to every household
whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work".
In addition to this, the aim of MGNREGA is to create durable assets, like infrastructure
development projects that would augment the basic resources available to the poor.
At minimum wage rate and within 5 km radius of the village, the employment under
MGNREGA is an entitlement that creates an obligation on the government failing which
an unemployment allowance is to be paid within 15 days.
Along with community participation, the MGNREGA is to be implemented mainly by the
Gram Panchayats. The involvement of contractors is banned. Labour-intensive tasks
like creating infrastructure for water harvesting, drought relief and flood control are
preferred.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (2014) - The scheme has been started with a target
to provide 'universal access to banking facilities' starting with "Basic Banking Accounts"
with overdraft facility of Rs.5000after six months and Ru Pay Debit card with inbuilt
accident insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh and also life insurance.
Ru Pay Kisan Card for availing agro-subsidies and loans will also get linked to bank
account. This scheme will further assist in the implementation of Direct Cash / Benefit
Transfer scheme of the Government.
Direct Cash/Benefit Transfer Scheme (2013-14). The Direct Cash / Benefit Transfer
scheme provides for direct transfer of money into the bank accounts of eligible persons
for pension, scholarship, payments under the Employment Guarantee Scheme and
benefits/subsidies under other Government welfare programs.
The cash transfer will be enabled through Aadhaar Card and facilitated by the PM Jan
Dhan Yojna.
The advantages of this scheme are that there will be greater transparency &
accountability, preventing fraudulent claimants and improving PDS through targeted
welfare of deserving categories.
11 lakh beneficiaries have received benefits under this scheme and its extension to
other schemes is being carried out.

Swarna Jayanthi Sagari Rozhar Yojana (SJSRY) - Provision of gainful employment to

the urban poor through self employment and wage employment ventures. The scheme
is funded by the Government of India and the State Government in the ratio of 75:25.
The scheme aims at alleviation of urban poverty through employment generation. It may
be noted that urbanisation is taking place at a very fast pace, and the present ratio of
25:75 of Rural: Urban population is likely to become 40:60 in the next 7-10 years.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (2001). The objective of this scheme is to provide free and
compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 to 13, as mandated by 86 th
Constitutional Amendment to be a Fundamental Right.
The programme seeks to open new schools and create other infrastructure to facilitate
implementation of the programme.
An additional component focusing on Girl Children in educationally backward blocks to
promote Girls Education is Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya.
Mid Day Meal Scheme (2004). Mid Day Meal programme supplies free lunches on
working days for children in Primary and Upper Primary Classes in Government,
Government Aided, Local Body, Education Guarantee Scheme, and Alternate Innovative
Education Centres, like Madrass, supported under the Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan and
National Child Labour Project schools run by the Ministry of Labour.
The objective of the scheme is to help improve the effectiveness of primary education
by improving the nutritional status of primary school children
The Rashtriya Swasthiya Bima Yojana (2008). This scheme which provided for health
insurance to unorganised sector workers of over 34 million families has now been
further extended to new categories such as rickshaw, auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers,
sanitation workers, rag pickers and mine workers.
It is a step towards ensuring social security to the under privileged.
National Rural Health Mission - The thrust of the mission is on establishing a fully
functional, community owned, decentralized health delivery system.
It aims to ensure simultaneous action on a wide range of determinants of health such as
water, sanitation, education, nutrition, social and gender equality.
Institutional integration within the different health sector departments was expected to
provide a focus on outcomes, measured against Indian Public Health Standards for all
health facilities.
Union Cabinet, in May 2013, has approved the launch of National Urban Health
Mission (NUHM) as a sub-mission of an overarching National Health Mission (NHM).
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) will also now be a sub-mission of the National
Health Mission. Major initiatives under this mission include:

Janni Suraksha Yojna. JSY aims to reduce maternal mortality among pregnant
women by encouraging them to deliver in government health facilities and also
giving them cash assistance.

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakarm. Provide free to and fro transport, free
drugs, free diagnostic, free blood, and free diet to pregnant women who come for
delivery in public health institutions and sick infants up to one year.

National Mobile Medical Units. To cover those areas, that does not have proper
medical facilities.

National Ambulance Services. To provide free ambulances services on toll free

numbers, to reach patient within 30 min.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. - Screen diseases specific to childhood,

developmental delays, disabilities, birth defects and deficiencies and will cover
about 27 crore children between 018 years of age and also provide free
treatment including surgery for health problems.

District Hospital and Knowledge Centre. - District Hospitals are being

strengthened to provide Multi-specialty health care including dialysis care,
intensive cardiac care, cancer treatment, mental illness, emergency medical and
trauma care etc.

Infrastructure Development Projects

Bharat Nirman (2005). This is an overall plan of the government for creating and
augmenting basic rural infrastructure.
It comprises projects on irrigation, roads (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana), housing
(Indira/Rajiv Awas Yojana), water supply (National Rural Drinking Water Programme),
electrification (Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana) (Rajiv Gandhi Grameen
Vidyutikaran Yojana) and telecommunication connectivity.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Phase-II Launched in 2014). Government is
upgrading and constructing nearly 50,000 km of rural roads under phase-II of the
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-II, up to 2017.
While, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, was launched in 2000, is a 100 per cent
centrally funded programme, PMGSY-II is on cost sharing basis between the central
and state governments in the ratio of 75:25.
Indira Awaas Yojana (1985). It is a social welfare programme, created by the
Government, to provide housing for the rural poor. Under the scheme, financial
assistance worth Rs.70, 000/- in plain areas and Rs.75, 000/- in difficult areas (high land
area) is provided for construction of houses.
The houses are allotted in the name of the woman or jointly between husband and wife.
The construction of the houses is the sole responsibility of the beneficiary and
engagement of contractors is strictly prohibited.

Nirmal Bharat Abiyan (2013). Sanitary latrine and smokeless chullah are required to
be constructed along with each house being constructed under the Awaas Yojana, for
which additional financial assistance is provided from Total Sanitation Campaign (now
called the Nirmal Bharat Abiyan) and Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana,
respectively.
Rajiv Awas Yojana (2013 to 2022). This scheme is an attempt on the part of the
Government to help slum dwellers gain appropriate housing and address the processes
by which slums are created and reproduced.
This scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Programme, with the aim of making India slumfree by 2022, by providing people with shelter or housing, free of cost and capacity
building of Municipalities at state and district levels.
The government has earmarked Rs. 32,230 crore for the implementation of this
programme and one million beneficiaries are proposed to be eventually covered under
it.
NABARD Warehousing Scheme (2013-14) This scheme envisages the extension of
loans to Public and Private Sectors for construction of warehouses, silos, cold storages
and other cold chain infrastructure.
The aim of this scheme is to minimise wastage and degeneration of food grains,
especially, perishable food items. The scheme will serve to preserve food grains for
national food security.
Solid Waste Management (2013) - During the year 2013-14, 77 Towns / Panchayats
which are generating more than 5 MT per day of solid waste, have been sanctioned
comprehensive solid waste management projects involving door to door collection,
segregation, composting, and scientific land fill.
The same will promote the cause of campaigns like the Swatch Bharat Abiyan.
Tourism: Town & Heritage Town Development Programme (2013) - 106 Towns /
Panchayats are classified as Tourism, Heritage and Temple Towns. To improve the
infrastructure facilities in these Town Panchayats funds have been allotted.

Initiatives Being Directly Pursued by PM Narendra Modi

Housing for all by 2022: Government has announced in the Union Budget of 2014
that everyone would get Houses by 2022.
To achieve the same, Government has setup a Mission on Low Cost Affordable Housing
and also increased housing interest rate limit to Rs 2 lakh from 1.5 lakh on home loans.

Need of Sanitation: Swatchh Bharat Abhiyaan is the main motive of the Government
i.e. need for sanitations in all houses.
The Government is providing with the resources and has launched awareness
campaigns in a major way.
Smart Cities: Government has allocated Rs 7060 crore for 100 smarter cities. These
Smart cities will be developed by modernizing the existing small cities and creating
modern satellite towns around them.
MPs' Adopt-a-Village Scheme (Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana): PM Modi has asked
all MPs to adopt a village in their constituency to make it into a model village. He himself
adopted village Jayapur, which is part of his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi.
The aim of this scheme is to improve the amenities available to the village, like, modern
community health centres, intermediate school, public toilets and drinking water
facilities, post office and bank branches, etc.
The vision of the PM is that modernisation of some villages initially, will have a
cascading effect across India in the times to come.
Skill India Programme: A national Multi-skill development programme is being
launched, called the Skill India Programme.
This Program will basically focus on giving employment skills training to youth and will
provide skilled manpower for proposed initiatives like the Make in India.
Clean Ganga Project: Finance Ministry has allocated Rs 100 crore for funding the
Clean Ganga Project and government also proposes to allocate another Rs 2037 crore
to clean and purify Ganga river.
PM recently visited Assi Ghat to infuse enthusiasm and inspiration among others to take
up the clean Ganga drive.
Solar and Renewable Energy: Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects are proposed to be
installed in several states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Rs 500 crore is being
allocated for this sector.
Tourism: Government announced to create 5 tourist circuits around various themes and
a total amount of Rs 500 crore has been kept aside for this sector.
The historic places and heritages sites will be beautified under this initiative and will
help to showcase Indias rich and diverse culture and heritage.
Moreover, it will draw foreign tourists from all over the world, generate revenue and
employment opportunities.
North-East Development: Development of North-East part of the country and focusing
especially on constructing National Highways, proper roads, organic farming, organic
food processing and exploration of natural resources to also generate employment
opportunities.
A sum of total Rs 53,706 crore has been allotted for developing this sector.
Rural Areas Growth and Development Programme: Government is planning to
improvise the rural development model and make it more urbanize in giving proper
goods and services.

Various existing rural development schemes will get an impetus under this initiative.
Statue of Unity: Government of Gujarat has commenced work on 31 October 2014, to
build the largest statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel which will stand as a symbol of
unity of the country.
An amount of Rs 200 crore has been allocated for Statue of Unity in Gujarat.
Soil-Health Card: Government is planning to take up an initiative to undertake
measures to restore soil fertility, so as to enhance agricultural productivity by providing
every farmer with a soil health card and complete technological backup support to
improve and monitor soil fertility.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana: Under this initiative, creation of awareness of
negative sex ratio and safety of women, as also, improving the efficiency of welfare
services for women is being taken up. Rs 100 crore have been allocated for this sector.
Conclusion
Government has adopted a multi-prong approach to address a number of issues to take
India to the next level. The sincerity with which these initiatives are supported by the
foot soldiers of the Government will actually decide the success of these schemes.
It is perhaps a good opportunity and the right time for all of us to exhibit unequivocal
national spirit by doing our individual jobs with utmost sincerity and also strengthen the
hands of the authorities by spreading awareness about the government projects to avail
maximum benefit from these schemes.
On the lighter side............ the present Government is planning to rename all projects
named after the Gandhi family to end dynasty politics, like; Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission, Indira Awaas Yojana, Rajiv Awas Yojana and.............last
but not the least, Sonia Damaad Vikas Yojana!!