National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency

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Research Areas

Chapter I - Introduction

Background

India has about 5.89 lakh villages of various population sizes, inhabitant by about 75 percent of its populations, scattered all over its 3.29 million square kilometer area. But, absence of a well knit road network has caused lack of basic facilities such as education, medical assistance, banking, recreational, employment potentiality, inward transport of agriculture inputs and consumer goods, outward transportation of agriculture and forestry products, live stocks and their products in and/or around most of the villages, thereby dragging a large section of country’s rural population including tribal below the property line and keeping them away from the main stream of national development.

A result of this has been large scale exodus of rural population to towns, cities etc., with consequential socio-stresses and law and order problems in the urban areas. In order to prevent this situation the Government of India has embarked on several Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation programmes in the rural areas of the country. However, for achieving their objectives, village roads are a must, because they are the only economical transport means to the villages situated in far away remote areas and difficult terrains. Rural roads provide basic inputs for all-round socio-economic development of the rural areas. The construction of roads brings various socio-economic benefits to the rural areas and result in forming a strong backbone for the agro-based economy. The importance of the rural roads has been emphasized in various plan documents also.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

On the 15th August 2000, the Prime Minister announced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme called the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana with the objective of connecting, within next three years, every village that has a population of more than 1000 through good All-weather roads and every village of more than 500 persons similarly connected by the year 2007. The Scheme was launched on 25th December 2000.

Objectives of PMGSY

The objective of the Government is to provide Road Connectivity, through good All-weather roads, to all Rural Habitations with a population of more than 500 persons by the year 2007 (end of Tenth Plan period). In the process, all unconnected Habitations having a population of more than 1000 persons would be covered in the next three years. Accordingly, for the year 2000-2001, the Programme would cover Habitations having a population of more than 1000 persons. Where a State has no uncovered Habitation of this population size, smaller Habitations may also be covered, subject to the minimum population size being 500. In case of hilly/desert tracts, this may not be less than 250.

PMGSY in Mizoram

Mizoram State which is consisting of 8 Districts and a population of 891,058, almost 50% of which is inhabitants of rural areas. The total geographical area of the State is spread over 21087 Sq. kms. The state of Mizoram is a hilly territory falling between Burma and Bangladesh in the great strategic importance area of North-East India. The hills in the state are steep and are separated by rivers which flow either to the north or south creating deep gorges between the hill ranges. The average height of the hills is about 900 meters and there are a number of hilly streams and rivers. The entire area is under the direct influence of the monsoon.

About 60% of the people of Mizoram are engaged in agricultural pursuits and a very small percentage of work forces are engaged in livestock, forestry and fishery etc. The main pattern of agriculture followed in the state is Jhum Cultivation. Mizoram is a notified backward area and no major industries have been developed in the State. Rural roads network in the State has been almost missing or in a very bad shape. Large numbers of rural habitations have been facing acute restrictions in terms of connectivity due to the difficult terrains, heavy rains and lack of road infrastructure.

A programme like PMGSY was an urgent need of the rural people of the State. Under the programme 789.74 kms of roads have been approved, which covers 82 habitations and for which Rs 97.34 Crore has been released. The State Rural development department is the nodal department for the programme and the State PWD is the executing agency.

Study of Socio-Economic Impact of PMGSY

The Ministry of Rural Development decided to undertake a Rapid assessment of the socio-economic impact of PMGSY on the habitations/villages connected so far under PMGSY. The study aimed assessing that, up to what extent the rural roads under PMGSY have been able to achieve:

  • Socio-economic transformation.
  • Breaking the isolation of village communities.
  • Elimination of the disparity between rural and urban population and bringing about urban – rural integration.

It also was aimed at finding out the benefits of such roads in terms of providing easy access during all seasons to markets, education facilities, health services and increase in employment opportunities and productivity of such areas.

Methodology and Study Areas

An approach which aimed at providing an overall picture of the impacts of the rural roads on the lives of the people of the habitations connected was adopted. Although some of the impacts were quantified, emphasis was also placed on comprehensive reasoning and ‘plausible inferences’. The methodology blended both qualitative and quantitative data with focus on feedback from discussions with the beneficiaries and relevant stakeholders. The four techniques used include:

  • desk review of relevant documents, literature and other study reports;
  • focus group discussions with villagers including women and destitute;
  • household interviews with women beneficiaries; and
  • Semi-structured interviews around key topics with selected villagers, local leaders and PWD officials.

Selection of districts was done on the basis of terms of reference provided by the Ministry for selection of the sample. Aizawl and Champhai districts were selected and three completed roads where at least one of the connected habitations had a population of more than 500 were selected in each district.

S.No District Block Name of the Road Habitations Population
1. Aizawl Thingsulthliah Rulchawn to Mualpheng Rulchawn Mualpheng 1100 1000
2. Aizawl Aibawk Maubuang, Phulpui, Tachhip Approach Road Tachhip Sateek 900 870
3. Aizawl Phullen Saitual to Sihfa Sihfa Phullen 1061 2000
4. Champhai Khawzawl Chawngtlai To Tualte Chawngtlai Tualte 1800 1200
5. Champhai Khawzawl Kawlkulh To Puilo Puilo Chhawrtui 425 900
6. Champhai Khawzawl Hmunhmetha To North Khawburg (Phase I) Hmunhmetha N. Khawburg 1028 1000

Table 1.5.1 Selected Roads/Habitations for Impact Assessment

Basic parameters were identified to measure the impact of the roads. Focused group discussions were conducted in the connected habitations. The number of participants in each village FGDs is given in table below.

S.No. District Block Name of the Road Habitations No. of Partcipants
1. Aizawl Thingsulthliah Rulchawn to Mualpheng Rulchawn 22
Mualpheng 26
2. Aizawl Aibawk Maubuang, Phulpui, Tachhip Approach Road Tachhip 20
Sateek 22
3. Aizawl Phullen Saitual to Sihfa Sihfa 32
Phullen 22
4. Champhai Khawzawl Chawngtlai To Tualte Chawngtlai 20
Tualte 18
5. Champhai Khawzawl Kawlkulh To Puilo Puilo 22
Chhawrtui 25
6. Champhai Khawzawl Hmunhmetha To North Khawburg (Phase I) Hmunhmetha 21
N. Khawburg 30
Suggestions and Recommendations

Table 1.5.2 Participants Size in the FGDs

A village level schedule was also canvassed to capture the pre and post status of the village/community. Focused group discussions and in-depth interviews were also arranged in all the selected habitations. In each focus group discussions representation of all the sections of the village was ensured and all the interviews were conducted in the local language under the overall guidance of our experts. The study was conducted during Jan-Feb’2004.

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