Mission Antyodaya

In partnership with State Governments, Department of Rural Development has completed the ranking of 50,000 Gram Panchayats on parameters of physical infrastructure, human development and economic activities. The detailed ranking may be seen at missionantyodaya.nic.in. Other relevant data with regard to household deprivations as per Socio Economic Census, physical infrastructure as per the Census 2011 and the updated status of other selected villages are also available in the public domain. This facilitates identification of gaps in a quest for Poverty Free Gram Panchayats.

50,000 Gram Panchayats have been selected in about 5,000 clusters to drive economic activities along with development of physical infrastructure and human development on a priority. Public institutions like Krishi Vigyan Kendras, MSME Clusters, other Skill Development Institutions will all be involved in developing the fullest potential of these clusters for enhancing productive employment and economic activities. The potential of these clusters, inter alia, could be in organic agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing, services, tourism, etc.

Mission Antyodaya is a convergence framework for measurable effective outcomes on parameters that transform lives and livelihoods. Real Difference comes about through Convergence as it alone simultaneously addresses multi dimensions of poverty. Professionals, Institutions and Enterprises make it possible. This seems to be a move in the right direction which aims to ensure the targeted delivery of benefits across schemes as well as prevent any leakages due to the same. The rural economy is a major contributor to the nation’s GDP and has also been impacted to a large extent by the demonetisation move. In order to offset the slowdown in rural consumption as well as alleviate the effects of demonetisation, the focus on larger allocations and newer social welfare schemes targeted at the rural sector is a move along expected lines.

The Mission Antyodaya scheme could go a long way in simplifying the access to benefits of a plethora of social welfare schemes and can also help ensure the greater transmission of the scheme benefits. Since this scheme is expected to encompass schemes from ministries of health, education, employment and social security (insurance schemes under financial services), the recipient can access varied benefits under one umbrella, according to Moneycontrol.com.