National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency

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Research Areas

Chapter III - Impact Assessment of PMGSY

A programme like PMGSY is aimed at bringing many socio-economic benefits to the rural areas which are pivotal for an overall development of these areas and it can be a powerful instrument for the socio-economic transformation of the villages. Understanding of these benefits and their evaluation plays a crucial role for planning such schemes for the future. The impact of developing rural roads infrastructure accrue in various ways resulting in numerous economic and social benefits and all such major indicators which capture the impact on lives of rural people are being evaluated in the Study. An attempt was made to study the impact of the selected roads on the rural people through collecting information using structured questionnaires, focused group discussions and interviews of various key stakeholders.

Impact on Agricultural Production

A well knit rural road network can have a lot of benefits on the economy of the area and its impact on the agricultural economy can be very effective in terms of providing easy and faster access during all seasons to the markets, availability of quality inputs and increase in diversity to more cash crops. The farmers in the village can produce more agricultural product by way of generated incentives for marketing their produce at low transportation cost and importing the fertilizer, manures and seeds at cheaper rate due to the reduced cost of transportation to the village. Thus the productivity of agriculture which is a dominant sector of our economy can be increased. All weather road connection also reduces the time of transporting the perishable products like milk, vegetables, poultry products, etc. and ensures a remunerative price for such commodities throughout the year to the producer and a regular supply to the consumers.

The villages covered under the study have also been mainly based on agriculture and in almost all of them the most visible positive impact of the connectivity was found on the agricultural activity only. This impact assessment is focused on the key indicators which primarily indicate the effects on agriculture. The conclusions drawn are based on the primary and secondary data collected. The data collected through the questionnaires and the respondents suggests that there has been a very significant growth in the agricultural production due to an easier access to the markets and subsequent change in the cropping patterns by the farmers of the area. The Impact of construction of roads on the agriculture sector at the village level in percentage terms is given in Annexure 3.1

Increase in Usage of Fertilizers and Improved Seeds:

The provision of rural roads improves the access to the markets for better quality inputs and information about them. The sourcing and transportation of these inputs also becomes easier after the connectivity is improved.

Barpeta District

It has been observed that the PMGSY roads constructed in the district has impacted the agriculture scenario in a big way. Due to lack of motorized roads in the areas, the access to the markets for sourcing of quality inputs and information about them was very difficult and whosoever was getting these supplies, was paying a heavy cost for transportation and also getting substandard material. The respondents reported that now after the coming up of roads to their villages the access to the markets for pesticides, fertilizers and improved seeds etc has been made easy. Almost 38% of the respondents reported increased use of such inputs in their land. In Dhupguri village farmers reported an increase of 45%.

Morigaon District

In the selected villages of Morigaon district the beneficiary respondents have reported a comparatively less impact in terms of increase in the use of fertilizers and pesticides, which primarily was due to the lack of awareness amongst the farming community regarding the use of such inputs. The accessibility to the markets for such inputs has certainly improved and in a longer period the desired impact may happen. 9% of the farmers reported an increase in the usage of such inputs.

Nagaon District

The Study areas of the district had a very less significant impact in terms of adoption of use of fertilizers post road availability. Only 3% respondents reported such a change. It was also found that available markets for these inputs were still very far from these villages.

Change in Cropping Patterns

The rural roads provide for better flow of inputs and outputs from the farms and it gives an opportunity to the farmers to adopt a more beneficial cropping pattern. The traditional cropping techniques and profiles are shifted to better options.

Barpeta District

Almost 69% of the farming communities in the benefited villages of Barpeta district have switched over to cash crops from paddy and mustard cultivation they were doing before the construction of the roads.

Majid Ali, Resident of Bhalukie Village: "From just paddy we now grow potatoes and tomatoes also and sell them up to Guwahati. I used to be jobless during off season and now I have employed 3 people to assist me in my farms" (NH-31 to Jaipur bazaar Road 2)

A variety of vegetables including large scale production of potatoes and tomatoes has been taken up in the areas. It was observed in Simla and Odalguri villages (Connected by Road 1) that vegetable cultivation is now the biggest farming activity and many farmers also reported increase in their cultivated land after the construction of road. The highest change (79%) in cropping pattern was reported in villages connected through Road No 1 in the district.

Morigaon District

The farmers of the connected villages of Morigaon district have also shifted to vegetable cultivation in some cases but due to lack of availability of large markets in the area the change has not been very enthusiastic. 20% beneficiary respondents reported shifting to cash crops from the traditional paddy cultivation. 35% of Naramari village farmers have reported to have adopted vegetable cultivation.

Nagaon District

The Study areas of Nagaon district have also adopted more cash crop patterns. The villages have a huge number of migrated populations, who have been working as wage labourers for the bigger farmers and are very hard working and enterprising. The rapid change to vegetable cultivation has been primarily because they own smaller land holdings and the accessibility to markets now has come as a blessing to them. Many households were also reported to be selling their produces directly in the markets. 22% respondents were observed to have shifted to cash crops after the improvement in connectivity.

Increase in use of Motorized Agriculture Vehicles and Equipments

Construction of a road providing connectivity can bring a lot of technological changes in the agricultural activities especially in terms of increased use of motorized vehicles and equipments for agricultural purposes.

Barpeta District

In the villages covered under Barpeta district the respondents however have not reported a very significant change in the use of motorized equipments after the coming up of the PMGSY road. But it may be emphasized here that these types of impacts also require longer periods of observation. Moreover the significant change happened in the cropping patterns to vegetable crops etc. also does not require much of mechanized interventions except that in some villages, the villagers have reported to have been using tractor-trolleys for transporting their produce to the markets now, thereby saving a lot in terms of cost and time. Simla bazar and Odalguri villages have recorded an increase in the ownership of more tractors and power tillers by 15%.

Morigaon District

In the villages connected through PMGSY roads the agriculturists have started to think about acquiring motorized equipments. The impact has been not very significant because a lot of people do not have the required funds to do so. However a significant amount of people were positive about purchasing such assets. A large number of them have started hiring these equipments for their needs. Only 5% of the respondents have reported to have purchased the vehicles/equipments since the construction of the road.

Nagaon District

The impact of roads in terms of increased use of motorized vehicle has been very less in the district. Main reason for such a slow impact in the study areas has been small average land holdings. An increase in the use of hired equipment has however been observed. 10% of the respondents of Kamuamari and Paghali villages have reported to have acquired power tillers after the road construction.

Road and a Power Tiller - NH 37 to Tekeliputa
Road and a Power Tiller - NH 37 to Tekeliputa

Increase in Production of Dairy, Poultry and allied Activities

Connectivity of rural areas with the market centers does sometimes bring significant improvements in the productivity of such activities. Better backward and forward linkages can be developed with improved roads. Faster transport facilitates the delivery of perishable goods like milk and meat etc.

Barpeta District

Due to lack of other support infrastructure like veterinary centers, availability of finances and potential consumption markets which are essential to develop such activities, there has been a very minimal improvement in the production level of these sectors in all the villages connected through the sample roads. It was found that Borbala village (Road 3) recorded the highest of 10% increase in poultry production.

Morigaon District

A significant impact of rural roads has been observed in the Catchment areas of the Pachatia - Damal, PMGSY road in the Morigaon district. 12% respondents have reported increased production of milk and are selling in to the markets. A large quantity of their production gets lifted from their village and they save a lot on time and cost of traveling to the markets. There has been an impressive growth in goat rearing also for which the markets are faster to access now.

Nagaon District

In the study areas of the district the impact of roads has been impressive on the goat rearing activity. However no clear causal link between the roads construction and this growth was observed.

Increase in Prices for Agricultural Produces

There have been clear causal links between better connectivity and increased prices for the produces supplied by such connected villages. In case of production of perishable and seasonal products this increase can be astounding at times.

Barpeta District

In Barpeta district, the observations of the respondents also suggested that there has been a substantial positive impact on the prices of the agricultural produces of the farmers of the benefited villages and this was also substantiated during the discussions with the traders of the nearby market when they stated that because the vegetables which are brought from these villages are fresh and on time in the early hours of the morning they fetch a higher price for the them and are supplied to larger markets like Guwahati.

All weather roads also have ensured an uninterrupted supply of the produces and the prices are even better in the rainy season when very less supply from other villages reach the markets on time. An average increase of 10-15% in the prices of vegetables has been recorded since the connectivity has improved.

Morigaon District

The benefited habitations of the roads in the district have seen improved prices for their agriculture produces because of faster accessibility to the markets. The respondents however recorded a higher savings due to reduced cost of transportation and easier accessibility to the markets. 13% of the respondents reported increase in the prices for their produces.

Nagaon District

It was observed that the villages connected by the roads covered under the study have drastically benefited in terms of a higher price for their produces specifically vegetables. 18% of the respondents reported to have been getting better price for their produce due to the faster access and better productivity.

Increased Accessibility to markets for Agricultural Products

The provision of rural roads results in the speedier movement of men and material between producing centre and market-place. The surplus of the village produce can be conveniently transported at a cheaper cost of transportation. It also ensures the farmer for the remunerative prices for their products and perishable commodities like vegetables, milk and poultry products etc.

Barpeta District

It was found in Barpeta district that the farmers not just easily supply their produce to the markets of Barpeta but some of them even send their produce to Guwahati, a market they could not even think of reaching in the past because all the connecting kutcha roads to their land were water logged during a major part of the year and there was no motor transport available. 47% respondents reported to have benefited due to the increased accessibility to the markets in the villages covered under the study. It was reported by the respondents that increased availability of public and private transport has also reduced the cost of transportation drastically and has resulted into increased savings and profits to the farmers' community.

Mr Feroze Khan, Member Borbola Bazaar Committee: "There is a drastic increase in the volume of trade in the bazaar now. Earlier it was very difficult to bring or carry goods from here and now almost 8 tempos ply on a daily basis." (Dangarkuchi to Kaljar - Road 3)

Morigaon District

The study areas are connected with all weather roads now and the major problem of water logging on the earlier kutcha roads used to make access to the markets very difficult during monsoon seasons. The villages of Bengalidhara and Naramari can now reach in very less time to the Dandua Market. 20% respondents have reported increased accessibility to the markets.

Nagaon District

The study areas of the district have been significantly benefited by the improved connectivity to the markets. A large farming community into the production of vegetables has now faster access to the whole sale markets of the State. The roads connect the villages to either the NH 37 or to the connecting roads to it, which is the main supply link to the markets of Jorhat, Tezpur and Guwahati. 58% respondents have reported to have been benefited by the improved access.

Impact on Employment Generation

A major impact of rural roads manifests in employment generation. The construction and maintenance of roads is itself employment oriented. It generates employment within its own sector i.e., road and road transport. It also opens new opportunities within the rural area by setting up more & new industrial units, and other infrastructural facilities like irrigation, electrification, & other utility services. Another outcome of this impact is reflected in the check of migration of rural population to the urban areas. The Impact of construction of roads on employment generation at the village level in percentage terms is given in Annexure 3.2

I

ncrease in Employment Opportunities in Agriculture Sector

Significant relations are expected between road infrastructure development and increase in agricultural employment opportunities both in own-farm and wage employment.

Barpeta District

In the selected villages of Barpeta district it was found that there has been a great boom in the agriculture sector due to the development of PMGSY roads. Increased cultivated land and multiple crops have significantly impacted the employment scenario in the villages. A lot of villagers were found to have taken up activities like selling of vegetables etc. also. Many respondents observed that due to the improved connectivity a lot more opportunities would develop in future in this sector due to development of the nearby market places. Increase in cropping intensity has resulted into retention of a large number of labourers of the villages and many of them who had only season job opportunities outside the village were happy to be earning their livelihood within their village or nearby farmlands. 25% increase was the highest reported by the beneficiary inhabitants of Road-1.

Morigaon District

The PMGSY roads have resulted into increase in the employment opportunities in the agriculture sector. The change in the cropping intensity has been able to create a lot of demand in labour on farm related activities. 13% increase has been reported by the respondents over all the three study areas.

Nagaon District

The respondents of the benefited villages have given mixed opinion of the increase in employment opportunities in the agriculture sector. The Road 1&2 benefited habitations have shown a much positive impact than Road 3. Overall response was 8%.

Increase in Employment Opportunities in other sectors

Investments in rural road infrastructure do reap a great amount of benefits in terms of accessibility to more job opportunities for the rural folk. Apart from the agriculture sector, the other sectors like rural and agro industries, govt. funded schemes and self employment in terms of setting up of small enterprises also provide a lot of such opportunities. Due to better connectivity the access to and viability of such sectors also improves drastically.

Barpeta District

It was observed in the benefited villages of Barpeta district that the improved connectivity has impacted the employment scenario in a very significant way. There has been a big market for the handicraft/bamboo products from the rural artisans in Barpeta district and a vast majority of the non agricultural workers of the villages connected by Road 2 & 3 were occupied in this activity. Earlier they could only make their products in their villages and traders from outside used to come and buy their products at very low prices but now after the new PMGSY road they have easy access to the urban markets and also find it easier to source better raw material. The change in the status of this activity has created a lot of new jobs for the villagers and benefited the villagers a lot. Overall 5% respondents reported increase in the job opportunities in the other sectors.

Morigaon District

The villages covered in Morigaon district have been greatly benefited by the increase in employment opportunities after the road connectivity. Road 3 villages have seen the maximum impact. The local Brick kilns industry has significantly changed in terms of increased production capacity. The kilns have better access for bringing coal from (Jowai) Meghalaya even in rainy season now. The production capacities have improved 5 times. The employment generation has grown 200%. 50% respondents have reported an increase in the job availability.

Nazi Mulla, Prop. M.H. Brick Kilns: "My seasonal business has become regular for 12 months. Now 500 people work here as compared to only 150-200 before. We produce 20-25 lakh bricks as compared to just 7-8 lakh earlier."

Nagaon District

A comparatively much lesser impact has been recorded on the job opportunities in other sectors in the district. Only 3% respondents reported an increase.

Increase in Employment Opportunities outside the village due to greater mobility

Rural roads also impact the employment situation by increasing accessibility to employment opportunities outside the village area.

Barpeta District

However in the case of the villages of Barpeta district covered under the study the responses of the people does not reflect any significant impact on this parameter.

Morigaon District

The villagers of Morigaon district have reported a very little impact on increase in availability of job outside the village due to greater mobility. Only 2% respondents felt the increase.

Nagaon District

No increase in the job opportunities outside the village due to greater mobility of the villagers has been reported in the district.

Impact on Industry

Rural roads infrastructure investment provides opportunity to the entrepreneurs for setting up industrial units particularly the agro-based industries which are based on the locally available raw materials. It reduces the cost of transportation of raw materials from the outside and marketing of finished products. It reduces the cost of production and an entrepreneur can draw better return on the investment. The production of finished product is increased and the same can be available at a comparatively cheaper rate to the consumer also. Good road connection also helps industries in getting other factors of production like labour, capital, etc. at a cheaper rate and in time. The Impact of construction of roads on the industry at the village level in percentage terms is given in Annexure 3.3

Improvement in access to raw material

Road link can be the lifeline of a rural industry at times. If improved it can impact the supply of inputs in many ways including reduced costs. In an area like Assam where heavy rainfall affects the vehicular traffic for long periods, the improved connectivity can be greatly beneficial on the supply of raw material to the rural industries.

Barpeta District

In the villages covered in Barpeta district, the impact of the roads has been very positive in terms of accessibility to raw material. In Borbala and Jharabari villages (Road 3) at least 10 small scale enterprises were available which were into fish rearing in their own ponds. There major input is seedlings, which they were having a lot of problem to bring to the village, but with the PMGSY road now they could bring larger quantities on a Mini-truck without any problems. The production has almost doubled since then and because of working on better economy of scale, their profits have also risen. Many villagers into the bamboo craft business have also been benefited and now they get long bamboo easily transported to them on a truck.

Morigaon District

Road and a Power Tiller - NH 37 to Tekeliputa
A Brick Kiln - All weather road's Gift Pachatia - Damal Road, Morigaon

The impact on the industry in terms of better access for raw material has been also very significant in Morigaon District. A lot of Brick Industries have been flourishing here and during the monsoon the water logged kutcha road was a major obstacle in bringing the coal which is used as fuel for the kilns. The overloaded truck loads now come easily all through out the year after the improvement in connectivity. Pachatia- Markalang villages have benefited the most because of this development.

Improvement in access to market for finished goods

Construction of all weather roads can have a very significant impact on the accessibility of markets for the rural industries' products and can help a lot in development of these industries.

Barpeta District

In the surveyed villages of the district the improved accessibility due to the road has provided very huge impetus to the marketability of the rural products. The craft units set up in villages of Road 2 & 3 have opened their sales outlets on the National Highway which is connected through the PMGSY road now and earlier what was sold to the middlemen at low prices is now being sold by the units through their own outlets connected through the road. In one village the enterprise has moved its outlet from the NH to the village because there customers can now easily come to their unit. It's not only improving access to the markets but altogether new markets coming up due to the roads.

Morigaon District

In the villages covered under the study a significant impact was observed only in benefited villages of Road 3, where 75% respondents reported improved access to markets for the finished products of the local industries. The Brick kilns have been the largest beneficiaries of the access in terms of supplying bricks to the markets. Trucks can now easily take heavy loads without any problems.

Nagaon District

Minimal impact in terms of improved access to markets was visible in the benefited villages primarily because of less number of rural enterprises present in the study areas.

Change in number of local industries

Benefits such as lower cost of raw materials, expansion of markets and improved access can result in increase in number of new enterprises coming up in the area.

Barpeta District

In Barpeta district, the change in the number of industries from pre-benefit to post-benefit period has not happened but these types of changes require longer period of observation to have any significant impact. In order to bring about any such change the efforts in terms of ensuring public confidence needs to be brought in about the maintenance of the road infrastructure in the longer terms, which will allow the rural people to take such long term investment decisions and will maximize the positive impact of the roads.

Morigaon District

In the study areas of the district no major industry has come up in the villages after construction of the the PMGSY Road. Pachatia village has reported some increase in the agro industries; however no significant link with the development of road could have been established.

Nagaon District

No change in the number of industries from Pre to Post benefit period has happened in the study areas of the district.

Change in technology and patterns

Better connectivity can enable easier access to better technology and knowledge and can significantly impact the change in the patterns of the production cycle. The improvements in volumes and savings due to connectivity can also catalyze such changes for better productivity.

Barpeta District

In the study areas of the district however no such change has been observed primarily because of the reason that there were very less industries where such change was possible and also due to lack of other support infrastructure.

Morigaon District

Provision of connectivity has brought out certain change in the patterns of development of industries, with flourishing business of the brick industry. Many more are expected in the future. 15% beneficiary respondents reported an expected change in the patterns.

Nagaon District

No significant change has occurred after the construction of the PMGSY Road in the study areas.

Change in Employment Patterns

Rural connectivity can bring an improvement in the industrial sector in the rural areas and consequently the employment situation in the industry.

Barpeta District

However in the district no major impact on the growth of rural industries has taken place and no major changes in the employment patterns has been recorded.

Morigaon District

The construction of rural roads has brought about very impressive increase in the availability of wage employment for the beneficiary inhabitants. Increased productivity and improved business of the brick industry has limited the migration of local population in search of employment to urban areas. 80% of the respondents of Pachatia - Markalang villages have reported significant increase in employment opportunities within the villages.

Nagaon District

Comparatively less significant impact in terms of increased opportunities for employment in the village area was visible in the district. In Nij-Gomuthagaon and Majputani villages 10% of the benefited inhabitants reported increase availability of employment due to connectivity.

Impact on Health Facilities

Investments in rural roads have a lot of other positive impacts which are not quite measurable in terms of economic (more tangible) aspects. These impacts are difficult to be assessed in quantitative terms but ignoring them would amount to failing in providing a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of impacts of the roads.

Development of rural roads to connect the villages with the highway and nearby towns provide for establishing more health centers and dispensaries where the staff can function more effectively and attend more number of persons by increasing their area of operation. It might not result in increase in provision of facilities but can certainly improve access to existing facilities, which can be very beneficial in the case of emergencies and save lives. This better health standard increases the production, and creates better appreciation of family planning programme. With the good connection of roads, more efficient and qualified doctors are also attracted to work in the villages. There can be many indicators to assess the impact of the roads on the health of rural people and an assessment of those indicators was carried out in the study areas. The Impact of construction of roads on the health sector at the village level in percentage terms is given in Annexure 3.4

Change in Access to Health Centres

The availability of all weather roads from the villages to the highways and towns do cause a significant impact on the accessibility to the health facilities. In the State of Assam the network of PHCs and Sub-Centres is also not very organized in terms of locations and therefore rural people have been facing a lot of difficulty in reaching there on time. Improved connectivity from the kutcha roads to all weather roads can have a very positive impact in these conditions.

Barpeta District

In Barpeta district the study villages have varied problems in terms of accessibility to health services, for some villages distance was the issue and for others the seasonal roads which were not motorable during monsoon. The PMGSY roads have very significantly improved the access to the health facilities in all the villages covered under the study. A majority (78%) of respondents over all the villages observed that the roads have improved access to the health facilities.

Doniram Boro, Prop. Chemist Shop in Simla Bazaar: "The villagers of Odalguri and other villages now come here in large numbers, even I don't mind delivering medicines there and it takes just few minutes now. A Gynecologist visits twice a week and sees 50-60 patients daily." Road - 1

Morigaon District

63% of the benefited inhabitants of the study areas in the district reported improved access to PHCs due to construction of the Road.

Nagaon District

In the villages covered under the study the access to health facilities has drastically improved. Kamuamari and Paghali villages have access to the PHC and hospital at Somaguri in much less travel time now. 68% of the respondents over all the villages in the district replied in affirmative on improved access to health facilities because of the roads.

Improved Access of Health Workers

The provision of better roads results in easier and faster access of health workers for preventive and curative health care. The visits can get more frequent and coverage can be better because the time on traveling gets reduced and comfortable.

Barpeta District

In the villages benefited by PMGSY roads in district, it was observed that the coverage and awareness about health campaigns has drastically improved after the coming up of the roads. 65% of respondents have replied in affirmative on the question about increased visits of health workers in their villages. The highest response (70%) was reported by the villagers benefited by Road-1.

Morigaon District

The villages of Morigaon district benefited by PMGSY Road have reported a significant improvement in the frequency and coverage by health workers after the connectivity. 75% of the respondents in Pachatia village reported better coverage by health workers.

Nagaon District

In Nagaon district the frequency of visits by the health worker have drastically improved. The coverage of child immunization programme has been very successful and overwhelming 80% respondents of Road 2 & 3 have reported to have felt the change.

Changes in Incidences of Major Diseases

Rural areas have been affected by many serious health diseases and epidemics. The study areas also suffer a lot due to the many health related threats like malaria etc. Almost 95% of the rural population of Assam is at risk due to conditions that are conducive for mosquito breeding and in such scenarios timely preventive health care and fast curative facilities help a lot in prevention and spread of such diseases.

Barpeta District

In Barpeta district the benefits of roads were found to be so drastic and quick that it even surprised the study team. The villages of Road 1 & 3 have had free health camps by local NGOs and have seen very aggressive campaigning by government health workers. We certainly would have not tried to establish a clear causal link between the provision of PMGSY roads and this indicator had we not constructed a counter factual scenario by studying the availability of such services in the nearby not connected villages by studying the data of the hospital in Simla Bazaar village of the district. Almost 60% of respondents reported an increase in the awareness and prevention efforts of these diseases.

The real impact of change in the incidences of such diseases is a long term effect and requires a longer observation period.

Morigaon District

The study areas of the district have been seriously affected by Malaria and serious water borne diseases. The availability of all weather roads has significantly improved the effectiveness of awareness campaigns in these villages. 55% of the benefited inhabitants recorded improved health awareness and prevention efforts. No conclusive impact could be drawn regarding the changes of incidences of such major diseases and epidemics since it requires a longer period of observation to establish the causal link between improved connectivity and such an impact.

Nagaon District

The study areas of the district have certainly received better coverage of preventive cure activities and 58% of the respondents reported the same.

Greater Availability of Vehicles to Hospitals

Construction of rural roads improves the mobility level of the beneficiary population and availability of vehicles for access to health related needs and emergencies also improve. The connectivity scenario in the rural areas of Assam has been very bad due to lack of proper roads and the long monsoon periods. The Government hospital emergency services are not equipped to provide ambulances in the rural interiors but other private vehicles have been able help a lot in such emergencies. The availability of such vehicles has certainly improved in the connected villages and the same was reported by the people.

Barpeta District

The beneficiary rural households responded in affirmative in all the habitation connected by PMGSY roads in the district about a greater availability of vehicles for health related emergencies. However a lot of them also pointed at the lack of government's effort in this direction in terms of not providing vehicles.

Morigaon District

The study areas of the district have suffered some very drastic problems in the past in transporting the sick to the hospitals and they see roads as saviors of lives in case of emergencies. Better availability of ambulances from Govt. hospitals and Private clinics and Private vehicles are available in case of emergencies now. Some very heartening incidents were narrated to the study team by the villagers. The impact has been so positive that 100% of the respondents in all the villages reported about the benefit of the Road in terms of providing greater availability of vehicles in case of emergencies.

Nagaon District

The villages of the district connected through PMGSY roads have seen a very significant increase in the availability of vehicles for health emergencies and huge 92% respondents reported the same.

Changes in Maternity and Neo-natal Care

Provision of roads and improved access to health facilities causes a very positive impact on the health status of the mother and child in the rural areas. However an attempt to establish a clear causal link between the improvements in maternity and child health care with the provision of roads requires a longer observation period and proper control measures in the study. An effort was made to study the available data and take opinion of the beneficiary households to get a general impressionistic view on the same.

Barpeta District

The beneficiary respondents clearly felt that the roads have significantly improved the access to health facilities for the expecting mothers and the child. A large 95% of respondents felt that the frequency of visits to the health centres of the expecting mothers in their families have drastically improved after the roads have come up. The local hospitals serving the villages of Road 1 & 3 have shown significant increase in the number of mothers visiting the facility from the villages after the coming up of the road.

Morigaon District

Provision of all weather roads to the habitations of the district has largely benefited the women and child health in the areas. Despite of a large population the health centres were very far and difficult to access due to bad conditions of roads. With the development of roads and subsequent improvement in the transportation facilities the frequency of visits by the expecting mothers to the health centres have seen a drastic increase. The ideal indicator to assess an improvement in child health is studying the infant mortality rate, however due to lack of village wise data for pre and post benefit period this could not be ascertained. 78% of the respondents reported an increase in the visits of expected mothers of their families to the PHCs.

Nagaon District

The connectivity has improved the access to health facilities for the women and awareness in the villages regarding child health. Majority of inhabitants (85%) recorded an increase in the frequency of visits to health facilities by the women of their families.

Impact on Education Sector

The connectivity of the villages to the road network results in many improvements in education scenario of the villagers. The development of roads can improve the transportation facilities thereby helping the students to reach their schools on time and regularly. The schools in the rural areas always have a serious fall in their attendance during the monsoon. Due to the provision of all weather roads, not only the village students find it easier to go to their place of education, but a good and efficient teaching staff is also attracted to these village schools and thus the literacy level is increased and educational standards are improved. The following indicators were assessed to study the impact of PMGSY roads on the impact of education sector of the study areas. The Impact of construction of roads on the education at the village level in percentage terms is given in Annexure 3.5

Increase in attendance of Primary & Middle Schools

The provision of rural roads can have a very significant improvement on the attendance of students coming from the benefited villages and in case of villages from the area like Assam where the rainy season disrupts the movement for very long periods, the impact can be really great.

Barpeta District

The data of the L.P. and Middle Schools serving the study villages of the district and the opinion of the benefited households was used to assess the impact of the rural roads on the attendance of schools. The school teachers of all the six schools covered reported that the roads have really helped the students coming from the villages. 38% of the respondents felt that the frequency of their children missing schools during the rainy season has gone down. The school data reflects a minor improvement (6.5%) in the overall attendance of the students during June - Oct period as compared to the same period of the previous year.

Mr Bipin Chandra Basumatary, L.P. School Teacher: "The young students could not just make it during rains earlier, they would get wet, clothes soiled but now they come by the mini bus which drops them just outside the school." Road - 1.

Morigaon District

50% of the respondents felt that the frequency of their children missing schools during the rainy season has gone down. The L.P. school data reflects a minor improvement (3%) in the overall attendance of the students during June - Oct period as compared to the same period of the previous year.

Nagaon District

In the study areas of the district connectivity has improved the access for school going children especially during the monsoon season. 23% of the benefited respondents reported that the attendance of their children during the rainy season has improved. The school data reflects a minor improvement (3%) in the overall attendance of the students during June - Oct period as compared to the same period of the previous year.

Increase in enrolment in High and Secondary schools

The rural areas in the State have very less number of High and Secondary schools and with most of them situated in the townships, the children from the rural areas have to travel all the way to these towns to reach the schools. Rural connectivity plays a very big role in the decision of the families for enrolling their children into higher schools. A lot of time is wasted if the villages are not connected to roads and the feasibility of children from such villages going to schools gets very low.

Barpeta District

All the three study areas in the district were located at a distance from the high/secondary schools and the connectivity has certainly made the beneficiary households think more positively about sending their children to these schools. 30% of the respondents observed in affirmative on the question of sending their children to higher school post road rehabilitation.

Morigaon District

The benefited villages of Morigaon district have easier access to high/secondary schools after the construction of the PMGSY roads. The villagers who could not send their wards due to poor road conditions and lack of transport facilities are in better advantageous situation to decide for better/higher education for their children. During the group discussions 57% of the respondents reported increased chances of sending their children to higher schools now.

Nagaon District

The study area of the district has very low education levels amongst the rural masses. Higher education institutions are available in townships which have been difficult to access for the rural people. With the connectivity an enthusiastic response (50%) was observed on the increased chances of sending children for higher schools now. A lot of Madarsas (Islamic education centres), widely popular amongst the migrant population have come up due to the poor accessibility to Govt. schools. The improved connectivity will possibly will also curtail the spread of such institutions

Increase in enrolment of Girl child in schools

The concern of the parents of a girl child is also about the safety and security of their wards in case the child has to walk on foot for long distances.

Barpeta District

In the study areas the respondents reported to be more inclined to send their girl child for higher education however the data does not show any significant improvement in the figures as compared to the previous year(s).

Morigaon District

The villages connected by PMGSY roads have better accessibility through public and private transport to the education institutions. The much desired impact of increase in enrollment of girl child in the schools is expected. On the idea of inclination to send the girls in their families, majority of the respondents were positive. However analyses of the data of the nearest schools show no improvement so far. It maybe understood here that such decisions require longer gestation period to make the required attitudinal changes.

Nagaon District

Lack of education of girl child has been a serious issue in the populations of the district. A vast majority has cultural and traditional restrictions on sending the girls outside for education. Improved connectivity may bring the required awareness in the masses for deciding to change this mentality.

Impact on other Social Aspects

Social Impacts of rural roads other than those already mentioned in the report can be many aspects which affect the day to day lives of rural people like security, overall development, cultural and social welfare. The impacts on these aspects are difficult to quantify but an impressionistic study of them does elaborate on the value of connectivity and its appreciation.

Improvement in Access to Government Offices

Rural connectivity provide for easier access to many services including that provided by the government. The rural population has to very frequently travel to these offices for many reasons including applying for benefit, seek redressal and frequent follow-ups etc. Better connectivity provides faster access to towns and the poor and disadvantaged sections also can afford the much needed service because of cheaper mobility.

Barpeta District

The respondents of the villages of Barpeta district have also reported that the connectivity has certainly improved the access to the Block and District offices and 25% of them reported increase in the frequency of their visits as compared to previous year.

Morigaon District

The PMGSY roads covered under the study provide for faster access to the Block and District offices from the connected villages. The villagers have reported a drastic increase in the frequency of visits.

Nagaon District

The habitations connected by the PMGSY roads now have easier access and better transportation facilities to reach Block and District headquarters.

Increase in the frequency of visits of Government Functionaries

The areas here-to-fore inaccessible become easy to reach for administrative and welfare agencies after development of roads. Though the government is committed and bound to reach the interior and inaccessible areas also but the individual's comfort and time factors limit such visits in case of the villages not connected.

Barpeta District

A large number of respondent villagers reported improved frequency of visits by government officials only to some extent.

Morigaon District

In the study areas of Morigaon district, improved accessibility has provided for a better implementation of many developmental programmes. The Govt. functionaries and representatives of implementing agencies have increased the frequency of their visits to the much isolated areas of the past. The respondents also felt the same and expect a fast pace of development after coming up of the PMGSY roads.

Nagaon District

The villages connected through PMGSY roads were almost inaccessible during major part of the year due to water logging and floods. The improvement in road conditions has ensured increased number of visits and larger attention of the development and welfare agencies of the Government.

Changes in Access to Security/Police Stations

The Rural areas suffer a lot in the disturbed areas like Assam due to lack of motorized roads. The travel time to the nearest town and police establishments is high and traveling during night and rainy season becomes next to impossible. In such cases the provision of roads under PMGSY has come as a great relief to the villagers and security agencies. The regular visits by the police and security forces have increased and there is a strong feeling of security amongst the masses now.

Barpeta District

In the villages covered under the study in Barpeta district the access to the nearest police station has become faster an all the cases. Majority of villagers reported that the access to the police stations have become faster now and the response time of the police has also improved significantly.

Morigaon District

The villages of Morigaon district covered under the study have seen a significant change in the security scenario. The accessibility to the police station is faster now. This has also resulted in increase in frequency of police surveillance rounds in most of these villages.

Nagaon District

The rural roads covered under the study have made the accessibility to police and security agencies much faster than before. In the villages of Kamuamari and Paghali the travel time to police station at Somaguri has been reduced to just 15 minutes, which was more than an hour prior to the construction of the PMGSY road.

Changes in Inter-village and child marriages

The rural society has many limitations on socio-cultural front due to the deprivation of accessibility to urban centres and other villages. The cultural reservations and traditional rituals of the society prevail despite of many evils. The improvement in connectivity breaks the cultural barriers among the communities by bringing them together more frequently for interaction, understanding and exchange of ideas. The awareness levels improve with better education and the problems like child marriage etc get reduced.

Barpeta District

The populations in the study areas are basically tribals (Bodos), any drastic change on their traditions requires a longer period to cause any impact due to better connectivity.

Morigaon District

No significant impact on the marriage patterns has been observed in the study areas after the construction of PMGSY Road.

Nagaon District

In the study areas of the district the rural population is pre dominantly Muslim and issues like marriages etc. are influenced more by the traditional and cultural practices. No substantial impact of connectivity was observed on this indicator.

Improvement in access to Banks/Post Offices

Rural Banks and Post offices have been the backbone of the economic development of the rural areas. A large population relies on the banks and post offices to invest their savings securely and provide for finances. The connectivity can have a very positive impact on accessibility to these services.

Barpeta District

In the study areas of Barpeta district the villages of Road 1&2 have significantly benefited due to better connectivity to the institutions. However in case Road - 3 the benefited inhabitants still have to travel a long distance to reach them hence no major impact was observed.

Morigaon District

The PMGSY roads constructed in the district have made the access to post offices much easier than before. It was also observed in the study areas that the transactions with banking institutions have increased.

Nagaon District

All the villages connected through PMGSY roads, covered under the study have direct access to banks and post offices now. The bank at Laokhowa has experienced new accounts of the villagers from Bhomaraguri.

Impact on Transportation Facilities

Provision of all weather road connection replaces bullock cart the traditional mode of rural transport with the motorized vehicles - the bus, scooter and truck, etc. The mobility level of the persons gets increased. The provision of rural roads results in the speedier movement of men and material between producing centre and market-place. The surplus of the village produce can be conveniently transported at a cheaper cost of transportation. It also ensures the farmer for the remunerative prices for their products and perishable commodities like milk, vegetables, eggs, etc. The inhabitants also acquire other vehicles like cycle, scooter, tractor, etc. The traffic on the road link increases. The Impact of construction of roads on the transportation facilities at the village level in percentage terms is given in Annexure 3.6

Improvement in Public Transport and Commercial Vehicles Services

Over the years sea changes have happened in the field of transportation facilities however the unconnected rural areas have been deprived of such benefits and now provision of all weather roads have created a revolution in the field of transportation field. Public and Private investments become more feasible in the sector and the people stand to benefit a lot.

Barpeta District

In the Study areas of Barpeta the single highest impact after Agriculture Sector has been observed in the transportation sector. The villages connected through Roads constructed under PMGSY have a heavy traffic of local mini buses, trucks, tempos and tractors. A huge 73% of beneficiary respondents felt that the transportation facilities have been improved.

Morigaon District

Study areas of the district have seen enormous changes in the transportation facilities from only bullock carts and bicycles to motorized vehicles. The villages have large number of public transport vehicles and load carriers available for the services required by the people. 50% of the benefited respondents reported improvement in transport service; however some of them expressed concerns on the increased expenditure on travel.

Nagaon District

The villages connected through PMGSY roads have seen comparatively lesser impact on the improvement in transport services primarily because of lack of availability of public transport vehicles. The villages are being served by some local three wheeler tempos. Only 23% of the respondents reported improvement in transport services.

Increase in Ownership of Motorized Vehicles & Cycles

Use of motorized vehicles and Bicycles gets prominently increased after development of all weather roads and same has been observed on the PMGSY roads under the study.

Barpeta District

In Barpeta district the benefited villagers also reported an increase in the use of vehicles and bicycles. Almost 5% of the respondents from the catchments of Road 1 reported to have a bought a two wheeler or had plans to buy one. 5% of beneficiary respondents have decided to buy bicycles in all the villages after the development of roads. In Satbhanitup village two households have also bought a three wheeler tempo after the PMGSY road was built.

Morigaon District

The villagers of Morigaon district having better connectivity through PMGSY roads have increased use of motorized vehicles and bicycles. 2% of respondents reported to have bought two wheelers after the construction of the PMGSY roads.

Nagaon District

Increased frequency of travel on two wheelers and bicycles has also been reported in the villages of the study areas. 4% of the respondents have bought a two wheeler or had plans to buy one. 10% of the beneficiary respondents have purchased bicycles in the post benefit period.

Urbanisation

Rural roads bring a lot of prosperity and improved productivity to the connected habitations. The study areas have seen some rapid changes and diversities from traditional systems to modern systems and a lot of these changes bring an urban scenario to the villages. The increase in the price of land and changes in land use patterns are primarily the most important ones. The improved accessibility to the markets also brings change in the consumption patterns of the beneficiary households.

Increase in Land Prices

An increase in the productivity of the agricultural land and proportionate profits improves the market price of land. An effect on changes in the price of land was studied by taking the opinion of the farm land owners in the benefited villages.

Barpeta District

In the villages covered under the study no major changes (increase) was reported by the respondents. It was also observed by the respondents that these changes are only expected in longer periods and only when the economic conditions of the villagers (who would like to buy more land) improve to that extent.

Morigaon District

It was observed during the study that there has been at least 10-15% increase in the prices of the land in the village areas after completion of the roads.

Nagaon District

In the study areas of the district no increase was reported in the price of land by the respondents.

Increase in sale of land for commercial use

The provision of improved connectivity brings many developments in the rural areas such as increased productivity of agro/rural industries etc can cause demand for commercial use of land.

Barpeta District

In the study areas of Barpeta district no incidence of change of land use for commercial purposes has been reported. However this can happen only with availability of other infrastructure facilities.

Morigaon District

It was found that the demand for land for commercial purposes has increased in some villages. Only one incident of sale of land for commercial has been reported in village Pachatia where the land was sold to the nearby brick industry.

Nagaon District

No major change in terms of sale of land for commercial purposes has been reported.

Changes in consumption patterns of daily needs

The development of rural roads brings improved accessibility to the markets and markets to the villages. The marketing of products has been very aggressively pursued by the supply chains in the rural areas also. The consumption patterns of the villagers have also suitably shifted to the choice of more attractive and better products.

Barpeta District

The connected villages of Barpeta district have also seen rapid changes of consumption patterns in their daily need items. The village shops were seen selling a lot of branded items and the shop owners reported that due to the better connectivity available they could easily bring those items to their shops now. A classic example of this was seen in Odalguri village where the shop was selling Cola drinks which was directly delivered by the distributor's van and it has started only after coming up of the PMGSY road.

Morigaon District

Significant changes in the consumption patterns of the beneficiary villagers have been observed in the villages. There is an increase demand of branded consumer products and availability of them has been visible at the village shops.

Nagaon District

Minimal change in the consumption patterns has been observed by the study team in the selected villages. The awareness about improved products and services is coming to the habitations due to increased interactions between the urban and the rural, however availability of such products is dependent on many other factors like marketing and buying capacity of the potential markets. The appreciation of the impact of rural roads requires development of complimentary infrastructure which has been lacking in the present case.

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