A time-bound plan for rural infrastructure by the Government of India in partnership with State Governments and Panchayat Raj Institutions from year 2005-2009. Under Bharat Nirman, action is proposed in the areas of irrigation, road, rural housing, rural water supply, rural electrification and rural telecommunication connectivity. It have set specific targets to be achieved under each of these goals so that there is accountability in the progress of this initiative.
Bharat Nirman: Tasks
• Every village to be provided electricity: remaining 1,25,000 villages to be covered by 2009 as well as connect 2.3 crore households
• Every habitation over 1000 population and above (500 in hilly and tribal areas) to be provided an all-weather road: remaining 66,802 habitations to be covered by 2009
• Every habitation to have a safe source of drinking water: 55,067 uncovered habitations to be covered by 2009. In addition all habitations which have slipped back from full coverage to partial coverage due to failure of source and habitations which have water quality problems to be addressed
• Every village to be connected by telephone: remaining 66,822 villages to be covered by November 2007
• 10 million hectares (100 lakhs) of additional irrigation capacity to be created by 2009
• 60 lakh houses to be constructed for the rural poor by 2009 While the agenda is not new, the effort here is to impart a sense of urgency to these goals, make the programme time-bound, transparent and accountable. These investments in rural infrastructure will unlock the growth potential of rural India.
Goal 1:- ELECTRICITY
The Ministry of Power has the responsibility of providing electricity to the remaining 1,25,000 villages through the programme instrument of Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana. In addition it will also provide 23 million households with electricity. As per the Census of 2001,1,25,000 villages remained uncovered.
Goal 2:- ROADS
The Ministry of Rural Development has the responsibility of ensuring that every habitation over 1000 population and every habitation with more than 500 in hilly and tribal areas is connected with an all-weather road by 2009. This is expected to generate multiplier effects in the rural economy of linking production to markets and services.This work which is being undertaken under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana since 2000, has been modified to address the above goals within the stipulated time-frame.
Goal: 3- DRINKING WATER
The Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Drinking Water Supply is responsible for meeting this goal in partnership with State Governments.The programme instrument of the Government of India is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme under implementation since 1972-73 which is funded on a 50% matching share basis between the Government of India and the State Government. Since 1972, over 37 lakh hand pumps and 1.5 lakh pipe water supply systems have been set up to provide safe water to over 15 lakh habitations in the country at a cost of over Rs 50,000 crore.
GOAL:4- TELEPHONE
The Department of Telecom in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has the responsibility of providing telephone connectivity to the 66,822 villages that remain to be covered.
GOAL 5:- IRRIGATION
The Ministry of Water Resources in collaboration with State Governments is responsible for creation of additional 10 million hectares of irrigation capacity by the year 2009 through major, medium and minor irrigation projects complemented by ground water development.
GOAL 6:- HOUSING
The Ministry of Rural Development through the Indira Awaas Yojana undertakes this activity as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme where the cost is shared between the Centre and States on 75:25 basis.
