POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY TN
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d. Targeting<br />
As far as rural areas are concerned, targeting has to be geographic, moving from blocks<br />
to villages. Within the villages, specific household can be targeted.<br />
e. Efficiency<br />
There is clear scope for obtaining allocation efficiency through construction of relative<br />
deficiency indices in respect of income-poverty, health, education, and gender related<br />
indicators at the level of blocks. An approach similar to one suggested for the state level<br />
(allocation among districts) should be followed for block level allocations. It should<br />
depend on (a) relative extent of deficiency, and (b) share of beneficiary population.<br />
Some of the important reforms for implementation efficiency contemplated by<br />
the Go<strong>TN</strong> include:<br />
a. introduction of scale of pay for Panchayats Assistants who have been working only<br />
on consolidated wages;<br />
b. phone connections to be provided to all the Village Panchayats;<br />
c. computers to be installed in all Village Panchayats with provision for internet<br />
connectivity;<br />
d. providing manpower assistance through Makkal Nala Paniyalargal, technical<br />
assistants and computer assistants for better implementation of <strong>TN</strong> REGS.<br />
Vacancies in all categories to be filled up on war footing; and<br />
e. providing vehicles to all the Block Offices, with increased ceiling limit on fuel every<br />
month.<br />
The Go<strong>TN</strong> aims that the schemes under Panchayat Raj department and other<br />
departments such as Highways, Public Works, Social Welfare, Health, Education,<br />
Agriculture Engineering, TWAD among others will be dovetailed as far as possible into the<br />
Village Panchayats taken up under Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam. The<br />
Go<strong>TN</strong> expects convergence of at least Rs.1 crore of funds under various Governmental<br />
schemes to each AGAMT Village Panchayat.<br />
f. Reforming Programmes<br />
While most programmes are designed from above, there is still scope for the<br />
district/block/village administration to work out specific schemes suited for their<br />
specialised needs. Gram panchayats have a role to play in ensuring that all eligible<br />
children go the schools and that teachers actually are present and teach. Much of the<br />
drop-out problem from primary schools has to be tackled by the local administration.<br />
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