THEME: ROLE OF MOBILITY IN SERVICE DELIVERY. Dr. Vimal Gahlot 1, Ph.D., M.E., B.E. Asst. Professor, Dept. of Technical Education, Bikaner, Rajasthan

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1 THEME: ROLE OF MOBILITY IN SERVICE DELIVERY IMPACT OF PMGSY ON SOCIAL INCLUSION AND SERVICEE DELIVERY Asst. Professor, Dept. of Technical Education, Bikaner, Rajasthan The rural road connectivity is a key component of rural development, which promotes access to economic and social services and thereby generating increased agricultural income and productive employment opportunities in rural India as well as ensures sustainable poverty reduction program. To enable the process of developing rural India, various schemes are being implemented across the districts of the country. As a part of this, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched in year 2000 to increase rural road connectivity with a view to promote greater access to economic and social services and thereby, generating increased economic and social opportunities in rural India. This paper presents the impact of implementation of PMGSY on social inclusion and service delivery in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. 1. Introduction India has a long way to go to achieve inclusive growth. Despite a couple of billionaires, lakhs of rich people and more than five crore middle class becoming the face of India s success story, there is a gap between social security and India s growth. This becomes clear when one considers the plight of over the billion people who are also a part of India. If at all, the link between social security and shining growth is weak and shoddy. To rectify the situation and promote inclusive growth, the need of the time is to (a) pursue infrastructure development like roads, electricity, etc., and (b) improve health and education for every section of population in the country. Promotion of infrastructure can contribute to inclusive growth in several ways. Employment for the needy and poor is created in a big way when infrastructure development is taken up. In addition, the connectivity offered by roads and railroads to the rural areas opens up doors for opportunities to over 75% of the Indians staying there. Improved infrastructure also reduces the suffering of the poor, which is a result of deficient access to basic needs like education, safe drinking water, food security, health care, other forms of 1 vgahlot@rediffmail.com Dr. Vimal Gahlot 1, Ph.D., M.E., B.E. ABSTRACT 1

2 communication etc. The improvement in transportation will help more than the 40 crore of Indians surviving on less than a daily income of Rs.50. The entrepreneurial opportunities that emerge from improved transportation start a virtuous cycle and benefit all. 2. Role of Transportation in Inclusive Growth The transport sector is an important component of the economy impacting on development and the welfare of populations. When transport systems are efficient, they provide economic and social opportunities and benefits that result in positive multipliers effects such as better accessibility to markets, employment and additional investments. When transport systems are deficient in terms of capacity or reliability, they can have an economic cost such as reduced or missed opportunities. Transport also carries an important social and environmental load, which cannot be neglected. Thus, from a general standpoint the economic impacts of transportation can be direct and indirect: Direct impacts related to accessibility change where transport enables larger markets and enables to save time and costs. Indirect impacts related to the economic multiplier effects where the price of commodities, goods or services drop and/or their variety increases. At the microeconomic level transportation is linked to producer, consumer and production costs. The importance of specific transport activities and infrastructure can thus be assessed for each sector of the economy. Transportation accounts on average between 10% and 15% of household expenditures. Mobility is one of the fundamental components of the economic benefits of transportation. People s mobility and transport demands thus depend on their socioeconomic situation higher the income, higher the mobility. The importance of transportation can be justified and referred from various existing facts. 3. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is involved with the task of reducing poverty and bringing about rapid sustainable development and socio-economicc transformation in rural India. To enable the process of developing rural India, various schemes are being implemented across the districts of the country. As a part of this, Pradhan Mantri 2

3 Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched to increase rural road connectivity with a view to promote greater access to economic and social servicess and thereby, generating increased economic and social opportunities in rural India. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25 th December 2000 as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all weather road connectivity in rural areas of the country. The programme envisages connecting all habitations with a population of 500 persons and above in the plain areas and 250 persons and above in hill States, the tribal and the desert areas. According to latest figures made available by the State Governments under a survey to identify Core Network as part of the PMGSY programme, about 1.67 lakh Unconnected Habitations are eligible for coverage under the programme. This involves construction of about 3.71 lakh km. of roads for New Connectivity and 3.68 lakh km. under up gradation. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) is 100% centrally sponsored scheme for providing connectivity to the unconnected habitations by way of all weather roads. In all 32 districts of Rajasthan, 952 number of roads are sanctioned for construction under new connectivity with the total length of kms. and 436 number of roads under up gradation with total length of kms. The total expenditure is Rs lakhs. The number of completed roads under new connectivity is 627 with total length of kms. In case of up gradation, the number of completed roads is 415 with total length of kms. The numbers of 325 roads are ongoing works under new connectivity with total length of 1269 kms. & 21 roads are ongoing under up gradation with length of 335 kms. 4. Case Study: Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan The objective of this study is to asses the socio-economic impact on the lives of rural people as a result of enhanced rural connectivity provided through the PMGSY and also find out the changes / improvement brought about at the household level, habitations level and at the village level. The benefits accrued in different socio economic areas were also to be assessed. The impact assessment of PMGSY is done with certain pre- fixed yard sticks as performance indicators, i.e.: 3

4 Agriculture & allied activities Employment generationn Industry Health & hygiene Education Transportation/Mobility Socio-economic statuss Urbanization Figure 1: PMGSY Performance Indicators 4

5 4.1 Madhya Pradesh Lack of adequate water seems to be the major hindrance in effecting a change in cropping pattern. The road by itself cannot be expected to influence cropping unless other essential inputs like water and seeds for the crops are made available. However, in the districts of Umaria, Dhar and Datia, which are relatively backward, there has been a perceptible shift in cultivation from traditional crops to vegetables and other cash crops. Further, individual milk producers have found increased accesss to shops and dairies in the vicinity because of the PMGSY roads and they have apparently profited from the road. More people are now going to nearby towns and other villages for odd jobs as well as selling woods, vegetables, and locally made items. A few relatively better off villagers have started repair shops, small grocery shops etc. and in the process s additional employment opportunities have come up. It is somewhat early to expect growth of industries in villages/ habitations covered by PMGSY roads. However, the roads have facilitated the induction of buses and vehicles which in turn has encouraged the setting up of small shops / establishments by relatively better off villagers who are located near the road. Improvement in connectivity has facilitated a greater access to PHCs and hospitals. Perceptible increase in the number of boys and girls going to middle and high school education due to improved transport facilities due to the PMGSY roads. 5

6 The parents are not hesitant in sending their daughters to schools in other villages and towns. The phenomenon of neon light attraction has drawn villagers to town and entertainments. Parents are not apprehensive in sending their wards to schools located near the towns for higher education because of availability of transport. The gap in educational level of boys and girls is narrowing. Remarkable improvement in maternity care due to easier access to hospitals has reduced mortality of newly born children. Women can travel in buses without depending upon the male companions and this has given them a measure of independence. Those who are going for work like Aanganwadi workers can now reach on time to attend to their work and come back safely. Better connectivity has improved social integration through marriages and other festivals. PMGSY roads have provided all-weather connectivity, facilitated induction of public and private vehicles and contributed to mobility of villagers to access markets, medical facilities and other avenues of employment available in and around towns and villages. However, different types of rural-urban integration as told by respondents are taking place due to improved connectivity. Better transport and incidental communication facilities have led to market integration for village products and vice versa. Small vendors from towns now find it easier to visit villages and sell their wares to villagers. Even, peddlers of locally brewed alcoholic beverages have started visiting male villagers at some discrete places for selling their products. PMGSY roads have facilitated mobility to markets and access to markets have opened up avenues of employment both on-farm and off-farm. The replies from the respondents (250 households) show that average income has recorded increase in the past one year by 7.7 percent to 10.6 percent. 6

7 4.2 Rajasthan To evaluate the impact of the PMGSY study was taken up with following objectives: i. To assess the overall socio- lives of economic impact on the the rural people ii. Improvement in the lives of the rural poor at the household level and village level. With the advent of PMGSY project, the employment opportunities have gown manifold. Overall there has been more economic security through new business activities at village level and creation of additional man days in farming activities due to additional crops being cultivated. Increase in employment opportunity outside the village. As with the agricultural sector the change in employment opportunities has not been uniform. There has not been much change in the employment sector in the district of Jaisalmer while in the district of Alwar there has been a sharp-rise in employment opportunities due to greater and easier accessibility to the industrial township. District Ajmer appears to be some where in between. The districts of Rajasthan have a very rough geographical terrain. Prior to the construction of the road, even reaching the nearest health center was a massive task. After the construction of PMGSY road visiting the healthh centers have become easier. Thus, for a remote district like Jaisalmer, even a slightest impact can be termed as impact of the highest degree. There has been a reduction in mortality rate. 7

8 Medical doctors are willing to visit remote villages in the post PMGSY roads construction phase. The advent of PMGSY project has opened the gateway to higher education for majority of the children. The attendance of school teacher is regularized, which in the pre-construction phase remained negligible especially in the monsoon season. The access to education can be directly linked to the improved educational facilities and opening up of private schools in the villages. However the gap between male and female literacy is still very wide. Social interactions and social integrations have increased due to construction of PMGSY roads. Servicee delivery by the Government staff has also improved since now the officials from departments like Bank, health, and family planning visit more frequently. Parents are no longer reluctant to marry their daughters in remote villages. Relatives find it easier to attend marriage ceremonies due to convenience in travel. Women have started coming into the private domain and actively participating in various social activities. With ample income generating activities emerging from various sections, social-status has increased. The PMGSY project has given rise to a much needed transport system. The All Weather roads have offered safer, smoother and quicker mobility round the year, without any resistance. Improved transport facilities have reduced the travel time and the cost of travel. Few of the beneficiarieses are running their own Jeep and Jaguar. The differences in the consumption of diesel can be seen and consequently there is the reduction in freight charges. Goods can be easily transported to the market without any obstacle. Not much impact was noticed with respect to urbanization of the area. However, few of the kuchcha houses have now converted into concrete structures. At some places there is sharp rise in the price of land adjoining motorable road. This has been observed in Alwar district due to rapid industrialization of the area. 8

9 Easier availability raw materials as now brick-klins, cement and masonry services are more accessible for construction of houses. 5. Conclusion The study concludes with the following findings: Social interactions and social integrations have increased due to construction of PMGSY roads. Servicee delivery by the Government staff has also improved since now the officials from departments like Bank, health, and family planning visit more frequently. Parents are no longer reluctant to marry their daughters in remote villages. Relatives find it easier to attend marriage ceremonies due to convenience in travel. Women have started coming into the private domain and actively participating in various social activities. With ample income generating activities emerging from various sections, social-status has increased. Frequency of visit of Government officials increased significantly, because of which there has been improvement in implementation of various development schemes. Reduction in time to respond in emergency cases by Police officials. Improvement in post and telegraph services and commuting to banks has become easier. References www. www. pwd.rajasthan.gov.in/ www