Women in Agriculture

Lesson 43 : Government programmes for empowerment of women- II

District Rural Development Agency

Poverty alleviation through self employment and wage employment programme is the major objective. In all the programmes 30percent coverage for women is available. DRDA came into existence with effect from 1- 4 -1980. This is the implementing agency for

• Self-employment programmes.
• Wage-employment programmes

Role of DRDA:

• Principal facilitator for drawing of plans and programmes.
• Allocates funds, maintains accounts and collects utilization certificate.
• Co-ordinates executive agencies, financial institutions, NGOs, government panchayat raj institutions at different levels.
• Supervise and monitors various programmes implemented in the field.
• Ensures successful implementation of the programmes.
• Keeps inform zilla parishad and government through reports and returns.
• Creates awareness and transparency amongst the common people.
• Safe guards the interest of SC/ST, women and physically handicapped persons.

1. Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana(SGSY): programme for self – employment of the poor has been an important component of the anti-poverty programmes implemented through government initiatives in the rural areas in India. The basic objective of the SGSY is to bring the assisted poor families above the poverty line by providing then income – generating assets through a mix of bank credit and governmental subsidy. The programme aims at establishing a large number of micro enterprises in rural areas based on the ability of the poor and potential of each area. The beneficiaries of the programme are called Swarojgaris. Women have 30 percent reservation in the programme.


2. Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA): ATMA is a registered society service of key stakeholders involved in agriculture activities for sustainable agricultural development in the district. It is a focal point for integrating research and extension activities and decentralizing day to day management of the public agricultural technology system. It is registered society, it would be able to receive and expend project funds, entering into contracts and agreements and maintaining revolving accounts that can be used to collect fees and there by recovering operating cost. Women stakeholders has reservation in this agency also.


3. Annapurna: this was launched during this year to provide food security to that poverty – stricken senior citizens who are eligible for old age pension under the national old age pension scheme but are not receiving it at present. The beneficiaries under this scheme are given 10 kg. Of food grains (rice or wheat) free of cost, every month. An amount of Rs.100 crores has been provided for the Annapurna scheme during the year 2000-2001.


4. National Social Assistance Programme (NASP): This came into effect from august 15, 1995, represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the directive principles in article41 and 42 of the constitution of India. The programme consists of three schemes, viz., the national old age pension scheme (NOAPS), the natural family benefit scheme (NFBS), and national maternity benefit scheme (NMBS). The NSAP extends benefits in the form of old age pension of Rs.75 per month to aged destitute. Rs.10,000 to the bereaved (poor) family on the death of the primary bread winner and Rs.500 as maternity benefit to poor women, up to the first two live births.


5. Marketing: The ministry supports the organization of Indian international trade fairs and regional fairs to provide an opportunity to publicize the restructured programme and initiatives taken by the ministry through various exhibits, audio visual aids and personal interaction with visitors. Rural artisans from all over the country can display and sell their products.


6. Information, Education and Communication (IEC): This is to create awareness, mobilizing people and making the development participatory through advocacy and by transferring knowledge, skills and techniques to the people. IEC plays two important roles-informative and persuasive and therefore, communication planning is an integral part of planning for sustainable development.


7. Community Based Pro-Poor Initiatives Programmes: This is assisted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with a thrust on social mobilization and peoples’ empowerment for poverty alleviation and it combines both area-based and issue-based approaches. In AP this programme is being implemented by society for elimination of rural poverty (SERP). All the SHG’s are federated at village and Mandal level, and molded as nodal agencies for implementation of development programme addressing the social, economic, legal, educational, political, health etc issues.


8. Training: as training, research and development are closely linked, continuing education of both policy makers and programme implementers is imperative. Towards facilitating this, national institute of rural development (NIRD) is conducting training programmes, workshops and seminars, at national and international level. These programmes are made more need – based and focused systematically, analyzing the training needs of the various categories of functionaries.