Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Abdul Haq said that under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) during 2013-14 and 2014-15 the Rural Development Department (RDD) has assisted 18576 beneficiaries to construct their new houses and construction of 16976 such houses is under process. The Minister said that the RDD has been able to improve lives of rural people to a large extent and yielded desired results through implementation of various schemes.The Minister stated this while replying to a question by Mr. S. Charanjeet Singh in the Legislative Council today. The Minister said that under Swachh Bharat Mission against a target of 3 lakh units of Individual Household Latrines (IHHL), 64405 units of IHHL have been constructed during 2014-15 and remaining are being constructed during 2015-16.
While giving details of achievements under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the Minister said that the programme has been implemented in 21 blocks of the State and 8500 Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been constituted. He added that an amount of Rs 14 crore of institutional finance has been disbursed among more than 2700 SHGs, while as an amount of Rs. 21 Crore has been provided as Revolving Fund and Community Investment Fund to SHGs.The Minister said that under MGNREGA, 273307 numbers of works have been completed and about 9.03 crore man-days generated. He added that under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) different works including field channels, protection walls, conservation of water bodies, plantation, construction of paths, check dams and other such works to the extent of Rs. 42.17 crore have been executed in 159 identified Micro Watersheds (villages) during last three years.Meanwhile, the Minister said under 13th Finance Commission (FC) Award about 596 Panchayat Ghars and 364 Common Facilitation Centers are under construction against the General Performance Grant, adding that 143 Block Development Offices are also being constructed out of these grants.