Mission Antyodaya

Mission Antyodaya is a convergence framework for measurable effective outcomes on parameters that transform lives and livelihoods.

Background

In India, 8.88 crore households are found to be deprived and poor households as per Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 from the perspective of multi-dimensional deprivations such as shelterlessness, landlessness, households headed by single women, SC/ST household or disabled member in the family. These households require targeted interventions under government’s various schemes and programmes in areas such as wage creation, skill generation, social security, education, health, nutrition and livelihood creation. Already, financial resources to the tune of about Rupees four lakh crore are allocated annually to impact lives of rural poor by several government ministries/ departments including Ministry of Rural Development in schemes spanning rural wages, rural roads, skill development, health, education, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, environment, etc.

In this context, ‘Mission Antyodaya’ seeks to converge government interventions with Gram Panchayats as the basic unit for planning by following a saturation approach by pooling resources - human and financial - to ensure sustainable livelihoods. It is a State - led initiative for rural transformation to make a real difference based on measurable outcomes to the lives of 1,00,00,000 households in 5,000 rural clusters or 50,000 Gram Panchayats in 1,000 days.

Implementation

A Gram Panchayat is the basic unit for monitoring transformation and for ranking on the basis of objective criteria. Given the diverse size of Gram Panchayats, 5,000 Clusters comprising of nearly 50,000 Gram Panchayats have been selected by the States purposively for implementing the 'Mission Antyodaya' Framework. These Gram Panchayats display high level of social capital and have the ability to implement rapid Rural Transformation for poverty elimination.

Mission Antyodaya encourages partnerships with network of professionals, institutions and enterprises to further accelerate the transformation of rural livelihoods. Self Help Groups (SHG) are enablers to convergence approach due to their social capital and their proven capacity for social mobilisation. The thrust is not only on physical infrastructure but also on social infrastructure with strengthening of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry activities with utmost priority given to SHG expansion in Mission Antyodaya clusters. Capacity for financial and social audit would also be built at grassroot level. This would be accomplished by convergence of frontline worker teams, cluster resource persons (CRPs) and professionals at the Gram Panchayats/ Cluster level. Cluster facilitation team would also be provided at the block level.

Mission Antyodaya Framework for Implementation is, thus, based on convergence, accountability and measureable outcomes to ensure that resources are effectively managed in providing sustainable livelihoods for every deprived household based upon SECC, 2011. The Framework makes use of technology to ensure that benefits reach those who are most deserving as per SECC data. Backed by a robust MIS linked to schemes’ data bases using a common Local Governance Directory (LGD) code, it would be possible to ensure end-to-end targeting against defined set of indicators to measure progress against the baseline. Periodic monitoring of such indicators and course correction is expected to lead the households to a threshold level of development trajectory.

Over 25 departments and ministries of Central and State Governments will be participating in this Mission through their specific programmes and schemes. The data from different schemes will also share APIs which would be put in public domain for complete transparency.

The states have selected Gram Panchayats/ Clusters under ‘Mission Antyodaya’ which were covered under schemes such as ODF, DAY NRLM, Mission Water Conservation, SAGY/ Rurban Cluster, Award Winning GPs, crime / dispute free GPs or specific purpose GPs. Most of these GPs are also in the backward districts of the country. ‘Mission Antyodaya’ is expected to unleash the latent potential of participating GPs through convergence and concerted actions of all the stakeholders and propel these GPs in a virtuous cycle of development. To access the State wise List of GPs selected under Mission Antyodaya, click here..

Key processes

• Carry out the baseline survey of households and monitor the progress periodically. 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.
• Ensure convergence of programmes/ schemes targeted towards development of rural areas.
• Institutionalise partnerships at Gram Panchayats/Clusters between PRIs, community organisations, NGOs, SHGs institutions and field-level functionaries of different departments (e.g. , ASHA Workers, Aanganwadi Workers, ANMs, etc.).
• Promote enterprise through partnership with institutions and professionals.

Key outcomes

The outcomes envisioned through Mission Antyodaya are as follows:

• Strong infrastructural base for the selected GPs/ Clusters through prioritised implementation of schemes in line with the GPDP s /Cluster development plans.
• Effective social capital promoting participatory planning and implementation of the schemes engaging wide range of stakeholders at GP/ Cluster.
• Enhanced economic opportunities through diversified livelihoods including non-farm sector, skilling of rural youth and women, development of value chains and promotion of enterprise.
• Strengthened democratic processes though capacity building of PRIs, public disclosures, GP level formal and social accountability measures (e.g. social audit).

For the complete guidelines, click here.

Source : Ministry of Rural Development