Background
Alleviation of rural poverty has been a major objective of the Government's Social Sector Programmes. This is being emphasized in successive Five Year Plans. Ministry of Rural Development, therefore, launched various programmes for bringing about rapid and sustainable development as well as socio-economic transformation in rural India. 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. Notwithstanding the efforts made, 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 categorised 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.
Aims and Objectives of PMGSY
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 in crossing the Poverty Line.
Key Objective of the Present Study
Phase I of the PMGSY has already been completed. The Ministry of Rural Development has decided to undertake the Quick Impact Assessment Study of the roads constructed under the scheme in selected States. The objective of this study is to assess the socio-economic impact on the lives of the rural people as a result of enhanced rural connectivity provided through the PMGSY and also to find out the changes/improvements brought about in rural sector.
For this purpose the MoRD assigned RITES Ltd., a Government of India Undertaking, to carry out impact assessment in the State of Tamil Nadu. The present report brings out details of the main observations of the impact assessment exercise.
Methodology and Sampling Plan
For carrying out the quick impact assessment of the PMGSY roads in Tamil Nadu, three districts have been selected and three completed roads in each district have been taken up on random basis. The methodology, as decided by the MoRD, adopted for the present study is to carry out two Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in each of the two connected habitations - one with more than 1000 population and other with 500-1000 population - for each road. The FGDs in each habitation include one for the male and the other for the female participants.
Besides the FGDs, interviews with the village functionaries/PRIs etc have also been conducted and three Case Studies in each district have been carried out.
Parameters used for the Study
Impact assessment of the PMGSY roads has been based on the following parameters:
- Agricultural Production
- Employment
- Industry
- Health
- Education
- Social Aspects
- Transportation
- Urbanisation, and
- Poverty Alleviation
Besides the FGDs, interviews with the village functionaries/PRIs etc have also been conducted and three Case Studies in each district have been carried out.
Coverage
Based on the methodology indicated by MoRD, three districts were selected namely:
- Kancheepuram
- Coimbatore
- Thanjavur
The districts selection was done with a view to reflect the representative geographical coverage of the State. Within the districts three completed roads were selected by adopting random sampling approach. The sample identified for undertaking the FGDs with both the PRis and the villagers is brought out in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1:Sample Details
S. NO. | District | Block | Name of Road | Habitations | Length (kms) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Kacheepuram | Sriperumbudur | Pattumudiyarkuppam road | i) Pichivacum ii) Pattumudiyarkuppam | 2.06 |
Kandrathur | Chethupattu to Manimanglam road | i) Irular Colony ii) Chethupattu | 3.40 | ||
Kattankolathur | Vandalore to Singarathottam Road | i) Smgarathottam ii) Perungkalathur | O.60 | ||
2. | Coimbatore | Avinashi | Dindugal-Bangalore Road to Murugakoundanpudhur | i) Murugakoundanpudhur ii) Connecting to main road | 2.2 |
Avinashi | Sengalipalayam to thimarayanpalayam | i) Sengalipalayam ii) Thimarayanpalayam | 1.8 | ||
Periyanayakanpal | Madhampalayam to Periyamalai Road | i) Madhampalayam ii) Periyamalai | 1.6 | ||
3. | Thanjavur | Oranthanadu | Samypatty-Karamanithoppu | i) Samypatty ii) Karamanithoppu | 1.40 & 2.80 |
Budalur | Kollidakarai Road | i) Alamelupurampoodi ii) Adidravira Colony | 0.92 | ||
Thanjavur | Marungai Road | i) Mariammankoil ii) Marungai | 1.92 |
Limitations of the Study
The limitation of this study is that due to time constraint , the sample considered for this assessment is too small and it will not be justified to generalise the impact of PMGSY in Tamil Nadu State as a whole.
Chapterisation Plan
Besides this Introductory Chapter the present report is drafted in four other chapters. While Chapter 2 gives socio economic profile of area, Chapter 3 outlines the Impact Assessment of PMGSY under various Parameters. Key Findings of the Study are highlighted in Chapter IV and Suggestions Recommendations of the study are presented in Chapter V.