Several development departments have
components in their programmes that directly or indirectly
influence fertility behaviour and, as a result, determine
the success of population stabilization efforts. Convergence
of services at village level and coordination of programme
planning and implementation mechanisms at the levels above
village are crucial to achieving the desired results.
Given this, the Health and Family Welfare Department will
identify the key elements of each of the development programme
in the state and prepare a detailed plan to integrate
population stabilization activities with other development
activities. Given below is a list of programmes implemented
by the development departments in Uttar Pradesh
Programmes of Rural Development Department
Employment Assurance Scheme
Though the scheme was launched in 1993
to provide assured employment of 100 days in lean agricultural
season to unemployed unskilled rural workers, it has been
restructured during 1999-2000. The scheme now will be
implemented by Kshetra and Zilla Panchayats.
Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana
Jawahar Rozgar Yojana after restructuring
is now being implemented as Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana.
This scheme aims to create infrastructure facilities in
rural areas and to strengthen facilities available. Entire
amount of the scheme will now be transferred to village
panchayat who have been empowered to plan, approve and
implement the projects themselves without any approvals
from above.
Indira Awas Yojana
The scheme is being implemented in two
parts: 80 percent of total funds are for construction
of new houses for rural shelterless poor and 20 percent
for shelter upgradation and conversion of kuchcha houses
into pucca houses. During 1999-2000, a total of 71,886
houses have been constructed.
Rural Water Supply
This scheme funded by both the Government
of India and the State Government aims to provide one
hand pump for 250 persons in all rural habitations. So
far about 10 lakh hand pumps have been installed and transferred
to gram panchayats.
Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana
This is a holistic approach covering
all aspects of self-employment. It has come into existence
after merging several schemes such as IRDP, TRYSEM, DWCRA,
Improved Tool-Kits Programme, Ganga Kalyan Yojana and
Million Wells Scheme. The scheme envisages organization
of the poor into self-help groups, and their training,
credit, technology, infrastructure and marketing. The
main objective is to improve income levels of people below
the poverty line. Nearly 30 percent of poor families will
be covered in the next five years.
Basic Minimum Services
The broad objective of the basic minimum
needs services is to ensure minimum infrastructure and
facilities to improve quality of life of people in rural
areas. Basic minimum services include safe drinking water,
housing assistance, roads, primary health care, primary
education, mid-day meal programme and public distribution
system.
Department of Education
With a view to augmenting efforts towards
improving the basic education scenario in the state, the
Government of Uttar Pradesh undertook the UP Basic Education
Project (UPBEP) in 17 districts in 1993 and later the
District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) was launched
in 1997 to cover another 22 districts. By expanding to
another 38 districts under the third phase, almost the
entire state has been brought within the ambit of accelerated
primary education projects.
Working with Community on Girls’ Education
Community involvement is crucial for
achieving universal primary education. Both UPBEP and
DPEP have been facilitating community participation and
involvement with the help of grass-root structures such
as the village education committee (VEC). There is a provision
for at least three women members, one elected member of
the Gram Panchayat, one nominated SC woman and one nominated
mother in the committee. The main functions of VECs inlcude
enrolment, retention, supervision, construction and maintenance
of school buildings, social mobilization for girls education
etc.
Involvement of UP Mahila Samakhya
Apart from mobilization of women, the
Mahila Samakhya provides a range of educational opportunities
for different age groups. Mahila Samakhya educational
interventions include the Mahila Sanghas (women’s collectives),
Bal Kendras (children’s centres for both boys and girls),
Kishori Kendras (centres for adolescent girls), and Mahila
Shikshan Kendras (women’s literacy centres).
The Model Cluster Development Approach
(MCDA) for Girls’ Education
Specific pockets in the DPEP districts
have very low female literacy rates. To tackle this problem
it was decided to work intensively in two clusters of
eight to ten villages in each DPEP district with the help
of MCDA. Based on encouraging results, the project has
been extended to 15 clusters in each DPEP district in
1999.
Non-formal Education and Alternative
Schooling
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has
been implementing the centrally sponsored non-formal education
scheme in 576 blocks across the 83 districts in the state.
This programme has extended the access to children who
dropped out of school. A total of 58,241 centres have
been set up in the state. Of these, 37,125 are exclusive
centres for girls. Non-formal education in UPBEP districts
is provided with the help of Siksha Ghar to reach out
to the underprivileged children in the age group of 6-14.
Balika Shiksha Mission
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has
launched the Girl’s Education Mission in 1999 in order
to provide equal educational opportunities for girls (6-14
years). The main objective is to provide equal access
to all girls in all underserved areas and to ensure community
participation to encourage girls’ education.
Department of Women and Child Development
Mahila Samakhya
Mahila Samakhya covers 23 blocks in
10 districts of Uttar Pradesh. There are 1,435 vibrant
and strong women’s collectives called Sanghas. Sanghas
take up a variety of activities ranging from changing
traditional practices to carrying out development activities.
Mahila Samakhya’s main aim is to empower women so that
the women attain a position of strength to carry on their
collective agenda without a major need for any external
inputs or impetus.
Integrated Child Development Services
(ICDS)
The ICDS is designed to promote the
holistic development of children under six years of age.
Besides specific nutrition and health interventions, the
pre-school education component is built into the programme.
At present, the ICDS programme is operational in 550 blocks
spread over 80 districts with 53,699 anganwadi centres.
In all, 45.3 lakh women and children derive benefit from
the programme. The main services provided include supplementary
nutrition, growth and weight monitoring, immunization
services, health check up and education, referral services
and pre-school education.
Scheme for Adolescent Girls (ICDS)
This scheme is being implemented in
99 development blocks. The main objective of the scheme
is to provide supplementary nutrition, health education
and skill training for adolescent girls. The adolescent
girls below poverty line are the main beneficiaries.
Indira Mahila Yojana (ICDS)
The main aim of Indira Mahila Yojana
is to create awareness among rural women in order to encourage
them to participate in social and economic activities
of the society. Initially the scheme was implemented in
two districts and later extended to cover two more districts.
A total of 2,780 women’s groups were constituted and 30
block level societies were registered.