Drought prone area prog

Government efforts for improvement of drought area

1. Drought Prone Areas Programme Rajinder Kaur Kalra Professor and Head (Retired) PAU Ludhiana 9814067709

2. Drought Prone Areas Programme . Earliest area development programme . Launched by the Central Government in 1973-74 to tackle the special problems faced by those fragile areas which are constantly affected by severe drought conditions. DPAP 9/19/2021 2

3. To minimize the adverse effects of drought on the production of crops and livestock and productivity of land, water and human resources, thereby ultimately leading to the drought proofing of the affected areas . Objectives 9/19/2021 3

4. Aims overall economic development and improvement in the socio-economic condition of the resource poor and disadvantaged sections inhabiting the programme areas through creation, widening and equitable distribution of resource base. Increased employment opportunities. Key Features 9/19/2021 4

5. • 961 blocks of 180 districts in 16 States. • The States are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar , Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Coverage 9/19/2021 5

6. Shared on 75:25 basis between the Centre and State Government. An amount of Rs. 127.26 crores has already been released under the programme upto 31.01.2001. Funding 9/19/2021 6

7. Implemented through the DRDAs/ ZPs at district level. source : (http://www.planningcommission.nic.in) Implementing Agency 9/19/2021 7

8. S tarted in 1977-78, both in the hot-desert areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana, and the cold-desert areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. From 1995-96, covers few districts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Covered 235 blocks of 40 districts in the above 7 states. DDP Desert Development Programme 9/19/2021 8

9. To mitigate the adverse effects of climatic conditions and combat desertification. To restore ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing natural resources. To implement developmental work through the watershed approach, for land, water and pasture developmen t. Objectives 9/19/2021 9

10. The Centre and State governments share in 75:25 ratio. Funding 9/19/2021 10

11. Implemented through the DRDAs/ ZPs at district level. source : (http://www.planningcommission.nic.in) Implementing Agency 9/19/2021 11

12. SWOT Analysis of the programmes - Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats 9/19/2021 12

13. The programmes are conceptualised , keeping in view the needs of the people and overcome the problems associated with the multiplicity of programmes . The area-based needs and abilities are focussed . Strengthening of infrastructure is prime objective. Grass-root level participation is emphasized. People’s participation in groups is an important consideration. Employment generation is the selected means of alleviating poverty. Strengths of the programmes 9/19/2021 13

14. Poor implementation and diverted action. Poor system of audit. Top-bottom approach in the concept. Less collaboration with non-governmental bodies. Poor infrastructure and build-up. Weaknesses of the programmes 9/19/2021 14

15. The programmes provides unlimited scope for development of the poor. The huge share of funds can generate loads of industrial infrastructure. There are ample opportunities in the sector of employment and job creation. The programmes donot only aim to alleviate poverty, but have many-fold secondary benefits – nutritional security, literacy, development of basic infrastructure and overall improvement. Opportunities of the programmes 9/19/2021 15

16. The biggest threat to the programmes is the corruption, prevailing at every step of implementation. Biasness and favourism also put forth problems. Scattered poor populations also hinder the success of the programmes . Irregular and poor efficiency of officials add to the threats further. Uncollaborated efforts at national level also reduce their effectiveness. Threats to the programmes 9/19/2021 16

17. Prevailing systems of caste and other social taboos. Political interference is another important threats. 9/19/2021 17

18. Despite of so many efforts and government schemes, the statistical data shows that in absolute terms there is minute decrease in the number of people living below the poverty line in our country. The rating of our country in the global living indices has shown a declining graph. People in the country are still unable to meet the daily food requirements. Conclusion 9/19/2021 18

19. However, this should not be concluded that work has not been done to combat the situation. A lion’s share in our annual budget goes to these projects. Somehow, the results are not encouraging except in a few cases. The masses are still unable to reap the benefits. 9/19/2021 19

20. Thus, may be we need to shift our view and focus on the other side of the coin. Let our aim be to create wealth than to alleviate poverty. We must keep moving towards the end, as this is the biggest challenge, the country is facing. It needs persistent efforts and long gestation periods, before we visualise, hunger free In d ia. 9/19/2021 20

21. 9/19/2021 21

22. Thank you all! Have a great week ahead! 9/19/2021 22