Research Journal of Economics & Business Studies - RJEBS - The ...

It may be seen that alleviation of rural poverty has been a major objective of the Government's
Social Sector Programme and this is being emphasized in successive Five Year Plans. In this context,
Ministry of Rural Development, launched various programmes for bringing about rapid and
sustainable development as well as socio-economic transformation in rural India.
Further, transformation of rural India in real senses would also entail provision of basic
infrastructural facilities to rural poor like, transport, electricity road/rail network etc. Despite all these
efforts over the years at the State and Central levels through different Programmes, about 40% of the
habitations in the country are still not connected by all weather roads. It is well known that even where
connectivity has been provided, the roads constructed are of such quality that they cannot be
categorized as all weather roads. In view of above, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has
launched Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a 100 % Centrally Sponsored Scheme, on
25th December, 2000.for providing connectivity to all unconnected habitations in rural areas through
all-weather roads. The main objective of PMGSY is to connect all unconnected habitations in the rural
areas through construction of all-weather roads with necessary culverts and cross-drainage structures,
in a manner that will provide the most economic and efficient connectivity thus promoting access to
economic and social infrastructure as well as assist the habitants who are below poverty line.
It may be brought out that Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25th
December, 2000 with the objective of providing All-weather roads (with necessary culverts and crossdrainage
structures, which is operable throughout the year), to the eligible unconnected habitations in
the rural areas. In addition, the Programme envisages connecting all habitations having population of
500 persons and above (as per 2001 census) in plain areas and in respect of the hill states such as
North-East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand, Desert areas which are
identified under the Desert Development Programme in the Tribal areas and in the Selected Tribal and
Backward Districts under Integrated Action Plan (IAP) as identified by Ministry of Home Affairs /
Planning Commission, having population of 250 persons and above as per 2001 census. In addition, it
also has an element of up gradation, though it is not central to the Programme.
The rural connectivity is essential for the overall development of the rural areas. There is a close
link between rural connectivity and socio-economic aspects, such as, economic growth, employment,
education and health care. In addition, habitations, which are unconnected, do not have availability and
accessibility to several facilities and socio-economic services. There are a number of habitations in the
country, which are still not connected by All-weather roads which or are connected with poor quality
roads due to poor construction or maintenance. They cannot be categorized as All-weather roads and
the rationale for launching PMGSY scheme is thus, to redress this situation so that certain
opportunities and services viz., employment, education, health, transport, marketing facilities etc.,
which are not available in the unconnected habitation, become available to the residents, it is seen that
in addition to Pradham Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the President of India, in his address to Parliament
on 25th February, 2005, announced a major business plan for rebuilding rural India called Bharat
Nirman. The Finance Minister, in his Budget Speech of 28th February, 2005, identified Rural Roads as
one of the six components of Bharat Nirman and has set a goal to provide connectivity to all
habitations with a population of 1000 persons and above (500 persons and above in the case of hilly or
tribal areas) with an all-weather road. A total of 59564 habitations are proposed to be provided new
connectivity under Bharat Nirman. This would involve construction of 1, 46,185 Kms of rural roads.
In addition to new connectivity, Bharat Nirman envisages up gradation/renewal of 1,94,130 Kms of
existing rural roads. This comprises 60% up gradation from Government of India and 40% renewal by
the State Governments. According to latest figures made available by the State Governments under a
survey to identify Core Network as part of the PMGSY programme, about 1.67 lakh Unconnected
Habitations are eligible for coverage under the programme. This involves construction of about 3.71
lakh km. of roads for New Connectivity and 3.68 lakh km. under up gradation. In this context, the
present study makes an attempt to analyse the role of PMGSY and Bharat Nirman in the development
of rural road development in India.
www.theinternationaljournal.org > RJEBS: Volume: 02, Number: 06, April-2013 Page 52