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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why the Centre wants QR codes on roads built under PM Gram Sadak Yojana
Earlier this month, the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) asked states to attach QR codes on all maintenance information display boards for roads built under the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The first phase of the PMGSY was launched on December 25, 2000, by the then NDA government headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to improve rural infrastructure through road construction. The second phase was launched in 2013. Another component, called the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA), was launched in 2016 for the construction of rural roads in LWE-affected areas. The third phase was launched in 2019. On September 11, 2024, the Central government approved phase IV to provide all-weather road connectivity to 25,000 unconnected habitations of population size 500+ in plains, 250+ in northeastern and hill states/UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule V, Aspirational Districts/Blocks, Desert areas) and 100+ in LWE-affected areas (notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs in nine states), as per Census 2011. Starting as a totally Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the funding pattern was modified from 2015-16 to 60:40 between the Centre and states (except for northeastern and Himalayan states). A total of 62,500 km of road length is proposed to be constructed for Rs 70,125 crore from 2024-25 to 2028-29. Since the scheme was launched, a total road length of 8,36,850 km has been sanctioned, of which 7,81,209 km has been completed, as per information available on the scheme dashboard. What has the government planned now? The National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), which comes under the MoRD and provides technical support for implementing the PMGSY, has written to all states about QR codes. The aim is to get public feedback about the quality and maintenance of roads. Under the PMGSY, all roads after the completion of construction are maintained by the contractor for five years. This is done using a mobile-cum-web-based e-MARG (electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads) system. It is an e-governance solution for managing and monitoring rural road maintenance. The contractor carries out the routine maintenance and submits bills on eMARG. The field engineering staff carry out Routine Inspection (RI) to verify the maintenance by the contractor, and based on geo-tagged photographs captured during RI, the Performance Evaluation (PE) is done based on 12 parameters of Routine Maintenance activities, according to the NRIDA. As a whole, maintenance comes under the ambit of state governments, with rural roads being a state subject. The NRIDA also deploys its National Level Monitors (NLMs) to check the construction quality of roads. The NLMs reports have flagged substandard works under the PMGSY in the past. However, there was no existing mechanism to capture people's feedback about the quality of maintenance. How will the new system work? To enable easy sharing of feedback, a utility has been created in eMARG. A QR code can be generated for each road, to be displayed on the maintenance information display board on the road. The board can contain instructions for registering feedback in English and the local language. 'Any road user/public can scan the QR code using a mobile phone and will get all details of the road. Users can click photographs on the road and can flag any maintenance related issue in the feedback window,' according to the NRIDA. The citizens' feedback photos will be integrated with the relevant Routine Inspection. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will be employed to analyse these photographs to advise on Performance Evaluation (PE) marks. All programs implementing units, while giving PE marks, shall be responsible for checking these photos. 'This way not only will the public participate in ensuring maintenance on the roads but, the photographs clicked by the users will also help the engineering staff to do a realistic performance evaluation. Thus, eMARG will be a more transparent system for ensuring Routine Maintenance for 5 years,' states the NRIDA letter sent to all additional chief secretaries/principal secretaries/secretaries in-charge of the PMGSY of all states and Union Territories on June 2. According to officials, trials were carried out in various states, including a pilot project in Himachal Pradesh. After this, the new facility was made fully functional.
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
SECC of 2011: When caste data was collected but not published
The most recent data on the populations of individual castes and tribes in India were collected between 2011 and 2013 as part of the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), 2011, an exercise that followed the Census of 2011. The SECC collected data on a range of parameters, parts of which were published in 2016. But the data on caste populations, other than the total numbers of SCs and STs, was not made public. The wartime Census of 1941 collected data on individual castes, which were, however, not released. Censuses in independent India have never collected disaggregated caste data. As such, the most recent publicly available data on caste populations at the national level are from the 1931 Census, which will serve as the baseline for the caste data that the government has now decided to collect as part of the upcoming, pandemic-delayed Census 2021. SECC 2011 & Census 2011 SECC 2011 was a study of socio-economic status of rural and urban households, and allowed the ranking of households based on predefined parameters. The Union Ministry of Rural Development began the SECC on June 29, 2011 through a nationwide door-to-door enumeration exercise. It was mainly carried out in 2011 and 2012, but in a few states, enumeration and verification went on until 2013. The data, which were to be used for policy, research, and the implementation of various development programs, were compiled from 24 lakh enumeration blocks, each containing around 125 households. The caste census was under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Registrar General of India (RGI) and Census Commissioner of India. Census 2011 was carried out before the SECC, between February 9 and February 28, 2011. Personal data collected in the population Census are confidential. But all personal information in SECC is open for use by government departments to grant and/ or restrict benefits to households. Questions in exercises COMMON QUESTIONS: Many questions were common to the Household Schedule of the population Census — which collects data on broad demographic characteristics and economic activities of households and their members — and SECC 2011. These included questions on gender, marital status, religion, literacy, date of birth, and relationship to the head of the family. However, the SECC 2011 sought some additional specific details on economic conditions. (See below) HOUSEHOLD SCHEDULE: The questionnaire for the Household Schedule in Census 2011 had 29 questions. They sought information on mother tongue, other languages known, migration characteristics and reasons for migration, surviving children (daughters and sons), children ever born alive, and number of children born alive over the previous year, among other things. DISABILITY & ILLNESS: The questionnaire for the Household Schedule only asked about disability. The SECC sought more details on the nature of the disability — sight, hearing, speech, movement, mental retardation, mental illness, multiple disability, other disability — as also additional information about diseases such as cancer, TB, and leprosy. Specific caste groups The Household Schedule 2011 asked if the person belonged to a Scheduled Caste (SC) or a Scheduled Tribe (ST), but not the name of the caste or tribe within the larger SC/ ST tent. It did not ask respondents if they belonged to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) or to the 'general category'. The SECC sought disaggregated details of caste. It asked for the respondents' 'Caste/ Tribe Status', choosing from 'SC' (Code 1), 'ST' (Code 2), 'Other' (Code 3), and 'No Caste/ Tribe' (Code 4), and for the 'Name of Caste/ Tribe' if the respondent belonged to any of the first three categories. The SECC clarified that 'SC can be only among the Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists', while 'ST can be from any'. This follows from a Government Order from 1990, which says: 'No person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, the Sikh or the Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Caste.' Additional details in SECC ECONOMIC STATUS: The SECC asked for information on housing/ dwelling, such as ownership and the predominant material of wall and roof (grass/ bamboo/ wood/ mud/ brick/ stone, etc). It also collected information on household amenities such as the source of drinking water and lighting (electricity/ kerosene/ solar etc), latrines, waste water outlets, and availability of a separate kitchen, and on assets such as refrigerator, telephone/ mobile phone, computer, motorised vehicles, ACs, and washing machines. IN URBAN AREAS: The SECC sought the names of both father and mother, and main source of income — from begging/ ragpicking to street vending; domestic, construction, shop, transport, etc work; to 'non-work' (pension/ rent/ interest) and no income. IN RURAL AREAS: The SECC sought to know if any member in a household belonged to a primitive tribal group, was a legally released bonded labourer, or a manual scavenger. It collected details of the main source of household income — cultivation, manual casual labourer, foraging, begging, etc — and of land ownership and availability of mechanised agricultural equipment, etc.
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
TN receives Rs 2,999 crore from Centre for MGNREGS
Chennai: Providing relief to lakhs of rural workers, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned Rs 2,999 crore to Tamil Nadu under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for the financial year 2024–25. This allocation ends months of uncertainty over the non-release of funds to the state. Of the total amount, Rs 2,851 crore has been earmarked for clearing wage liabilities. According to a recent communication from Sanjay Kumar, Director (MGNREGS) in the Union Ministry, approximately Rs 740 crore will go to Scheduled Caste beneficiaries, Rs 43 crore to Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries, and Rs 2,068 crore to other workers. A copy of this communication has also been shared with the Tamil Nadu government. So far, the state has received Rs 1,111 crore from the sanctioned funds. Meanwhile, arrears related to the material component stand at Rs 1,246 crore for 2024–25. The state government remains hopeful that the remaining dues will be released soon. The delay in wage payments caused significant distress among rural workers since November last year. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin repeatedly urged the Union government to release the funds, accusing the BJP-led Centre of attempting to dismantle the scheme, which he described as the "backbone and blood of the rural economy". The ruling DMK also staged statewide protests demanding the clearance of arrears. Frustration boiled over in several places. Residents of Thirumani village in Vellore district recently held a road blockade, while workers in Sathyamangalam, Erode district, declared a strike earlier this month, vowing not to resume work until payments were made. Tamil Nadu currently has around 91 lakh active workers from 76 lakh households enrolled under MGNREGS. Notably, 86 per cent of employment is provided to women, and 29 per cent of workers belong to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. Each year, the scheme also covers about 1 lakh differently-abled workers. Meanwhile, the office of the State Rural Development Commissioner has circulated a proforma agenda to all district Collectors to be discussed at the Gram Sabha meetings held on May Day.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre sanctions about ₹2,999 crore to T.N. under MGNREGS
Ending the impasse over the non-release of funds to Tamil Nadu under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during 2024-25, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned about ₹2,851 crore towards wage liability. Totally, the Union Ministry has set aside ₹2,999 crore, which includes allocation for the current year too. The previous year's total arrears is around ₹3,170 crore. Of the ₹2,851 crore sanctioned, beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and others will get approximately ₹740 crore, ₹43 crore and ₹2,068 crore respectively, according to a communication sent by the Union Ministry of Rural Development's Director (MGNREGS) Sanjay Kumar recently to the Pay and Accounts Officer in the Union Ministry. A copy of the communication has been marked to the Tamil Nadu government too. As of now, the State government has received ₹1,111 crore. In respect of material component, the arrears for 2024-25 is ₹1,246 crore. The State government is hopeful of getting the balance from the Union government. Since November last year, non-payment of wages has remained a matter of concern for beneficiaries and the State government. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had also taken up the matter with the Union government. At one stage, Mr. Stalin alleged that the 'merciless' BJP-led Union government was striving to wind up the scheme, launched by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance regime as the 'backbone and blood of the rural economy'. The ruling DMK had also staged demonstrations across Tamil Nadu to press for the release of funds. About a week ago, residents of Thirumani village in Vellore district resorted to a road roko. Early this month, in Erode district, workers of Sathyamangalam decided to abstain from work until the arrears were paid. In Tamil Nadu, nearly 91 lakh workers belonging to 76 lakh households are actively participating in the MGNREGS. As much as 86% of employment is provided to women workers, and nearly 29% of the workers are from SC/ST households. About 1 lakh differently abled workers are covered each year. Meanwhile, the office of State Rural Development Commissioner has sent a circular to all Collectors — a proforma agenda to be transacted at the Gram Sabha's meetings slated for May Day.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Central team visits self-employment training institute in Thiruvananthapuram
A two-member delegation from the Union Ministry of Rural Development visited the Rural Self-Employment Training Institute at Statue Junction here on Monday. The delegation, comprising Lokesh Sukhwani, Mission Manager (Legal Affairs), and Dhriti Bania, Kerala State Point of Contact, visited the institute functioning as part of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) that is being implemented in the State by the Kudumbashree. The visit was intended to review the functioning of the institute and the progress of DDU-GKY. The delegation conducted project implementation agency (PIA)-wise review of ongoing projects under DDU-GKY 1.0, PIA funds, projects under closure, and implementation of DDU-GKY 2.0. Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes are centres functioning under the Union and the State government for imparting training and skill upgrade to poor rural youth with support from banks. Unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 45 are given skill training for a short period.
