xxxi) Media support for transfer of suitable modern agriculture technology and its extension need to be given. A separate special programme at about 1800 or 1900 hours needs to be telecast and broadcast for the hill people who usually go to sleep early.
xxxii) Some of the voluntary organisations doing commendable work in the hills can be encouraged, especially, those engaged in improving the ecological system besides economic and social conditions of the people.
xxxiii) People have to be made aware of the far reaching implications of environmental degradation and their active participation has to be sought for reconstruction of ecology. Environmental aspects can be suitably woven into the curriculum of primary and high school classes.
xxxiv) Regeneration and development of the hill environment cannot be achieved without willing and active cooperation of the people. It will be forthcoming, only if, the benefits from improved land, water and forests resources reach directly and equitably to the people themselves.
xxxv) The hill areas prone to intense tectonic and seismic activities, need to be identified; activities like indiscriminate road and building construction and creation of artificial large water bodies need to be minimised and earthquake-proof construction designs should be used.
xxxvi) Large projects etc. which might endanger the ecological balance and displace large number of people, should be very carefully considered before investment decisions are taken. Families whose agricultural land is acquired should be settled with productive assets.
xxxvii) In many hill areas men folk have migrated to towns and plains in search of employment opportunities. In such areas, women are managing land and other economic assets. The approach and policies should keep this, in view, especially for lightening their burdens of daily chores like collection of fuel-wood, water, and tending to livestock and other domesticated animals and birds. It will be of much advantage if women extension workers are appointed in such villages.
E.Allocation of Special Central Assistance 17.5.1 In the Seventh Plan, out of the agreed outlay of special central financial assistance for HADP, 86.61 % went for the Designated Hill Districts and 13.39% for the Western Ghats Talukas. However, during 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92, additional funds to the tune of Rs. 5.00 crores, Rs. 1.67 crores, Rs. 3.00 crores, respectively were allocated in favour of Darjeeling.
17.5.2 The funds in sight for HADP for the Eighth Plan are Rs. 1450 crores. Out of this Rs. 4.67 crores per annum as additional for Darjeeling are set apart and the balance amount will be distributed in the ratio of 86.61 : 13.39 between Designated hill Districts and Designated Talukas of Western Ghats respectively.
17.5.3 As against Rs. 870 of agreed outlay for the Seventh Plan, the allocation on year-to-year basis aggregated to Rs. 1067.80 crores. For the Annual Plans 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93, the allocations were Rs. 287.00 crores, Rs. 290.00 crores and Rs. 290.00 crores respectively.
17.5.4 In the light of the existing financial constraints, the outlay for the Eighth Plan will be Rs. 1450 crores. The details are as follows:
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Allocation of Special Central Assistance for the Designated Hill Areas during the Seventh and Eighth Five Year Plans.
Seventh Plan Eighth
Plan.
Outlay Allocation Outlay
on yearly
basis.
A. Designated
Hill Districts of 753.50 924.03 1235.62
Assam 118.20 144.34 194.34
Tamil Nadu 33.75 41.53 55.49
Utter Pradesh 553.50 679.19 910.04
West Bengal 44.55 55.04 73.25+
Surveys & Studies 3.50 3.93 2.50
B. Designated Talukas of Western Ghats
Region 116.50 143.77 191.03
TOTAL (A+ B) 870.00 1067.80 1426.65
+
+ Excludes Rs. 23.35 crores provided as additional SCA for Darjeeling hill areas of West Bengal.
F. Western Ghats Development Programme (WGDP) 17.6.1 The Western Ghats hill ranges run to a length of about 1600 kms. more or less parallel to the west coast of Maharashtra starting from the mouth of river Tapti in Dhule district of Maharashtra and ending at Kanyakumari, the southern-most tip of India in Tamil Nadu. The region covers an area of 1.60 lakh sq.kms. supporting a population of 38.85 million (1981 Census). For delineation of the area for coverage by the WGDP, the criteria of elevation (600 metres above MSL) and contiguity with taluka' (a territorial administrative unit) have been adopted.
17.6.2 The region generally receives 2000 mm to 7000 mm. of rainfall. Most of the rivers in peninsular India have their origin in Western Ghats. The Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri, the Kali Nadi and the Periyar are of inter-State importance. These water resources have been harnessed for irrigation and power. Thirty per cent of the area of the 'ghats' region is reported to be under forest. The region is also a treasure house of plant and animal life. The traditional horticulture crops in the region are arecanut in the hills, and cocoanut in the coast along with mango and jack fruit. Tea, coffee, rubber, cashew, tapioca and potato are the other important plantations/crops of the region.
17.6.3 The ecological and environmental problems of the area include increasing pressure of population on land and vegetation; submergence of forest areas under river valley projects, encroachment on forest lands; clear felling of forests for raising tea, coffee, rubber and other plantations; mining operations, soil erosion, land slides; shifting cultivation; and declining wildlife population.
17.6.4 A separate Western Ghats Development programme was launched in 1974-75 as a part of the programme for the development of hill areas.
17.6.5 During the Fifth Five Year Plan the WGDP laid emphasis on economic well-being of the population in hill areas and exploitation of the resources of the hilly region. The main programmes during the Fifth Five Year Plan consisted of activities in the areas of horticul- ture, plantation, afforestation, minor irrigation, animal husbandry and tourism.
17.6.6 The Sixth Plan stressed the need for a balance in emphasis between beneficiary oriented and infrastructural development schemes, keeping in view the vital importance of ecological restoration and conservation. During the Sixth Plan the Watersheds Development Pro- gramme was taken up on a pilot basis.
17.6.7 Apart from the shift in the emphasis from beneficiary oriented schemes to eco-conservation And eco-development, a notable step initiated by the Planning Commission during the Sixth Plan was the involvement of universities and research institutions located in the Western Ghats region in the programme.
17.6.8 The following guiding principles were folowed for the WGDP during the Seventh Plan period:
i) Maintenance of ecological balance essential for the life support system.
431
ii) Preservation of the genetic diversity.
iii) Restoration of the ecological damage caused by human interations.
iv) Creation of awareness among the people and educating them on the far-reaching implications of ecological degradation and securing their active participation for the eco-development schemes.
17.6.9 The approach to the WGDP during the Eighth Plan would continue to be substantially the same as for the Seventh Plan. The general approach would be that of taking up integrated development programmes on compact watershed basis keeping in view the overriding priorities of eco-development and eco-restoration as well as the basic needs of the hill people like food, fodder, fuel and safe drinking water. Efforts would be made to adopt a sub-plan approach in the WGDP.
G.Sub-Plan Approach 17.7.1 For the Hill areas covered by the HADP the sub-plan approach has been adopted since the beginning of the Fifth Five Year Plan, under which a separate Sub-Plan for the hill areas in the concerned State is prepared indicating the flow of funds from the State Plan, and the Special Central Assistance (SCA) is provided as an additive to accelerate the pace of their development. In the case of the WGDP, only the schematic approach is being followed, since the 'taluka' (which is the territorial unit of planning in the WGDP) is a unit of demarcation in respect of which the flow of funds from the State Plan are difficult to be quantified. Efforts are being made to follow the sub-plan approach in the WGDP also.
II. North Eastern Council (NEC). 17.8.1 The NEC was set up in August, 1972 under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971 with its Secretariat at Shillong (Meghalaya) as an advisory body and is empowered to discuss matters of common interest of two or more States and to advise the Central Government and the concerned State Governments in matters of common interest, inter-alia, in the fields of economic and social planning; inter-State transport and communication; power and flood control.
17.8.2 For securing balanced development, the NEC can formulate proposals of common interest for the States, coordinate regional plans, recommend priorities and location of projects which will serve common interest of more than one State of the Region. The NEC can recommend the manner in which the expenditure will be incurred and benefits apportioned, etc.
17.8.3 A number of projects requiring substantial funds are already in hand. Due to financial constraints, it may be possible to take up only new projects that have identifiable advantages to a number of States, i.e., having interState ramifications and that too with the consent of the concerned States regarding implementation, cost of maintenance and benefit sharing.
17.8.4 During the earlier Plan, the NEC had taken up small schemes and projects that could have been taken up under the State Plans or by the concerned Central Ministries or Departments. Such schemes and projects could, perhaps, be considered for transfer to the concerned States or Central Ministries.
17.8.5 Funds are provided by the Government of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs which is the 'nodal' Ministry for the NEC. The NEC by itself is not an implementing agency. The Plan outlay and expenditure of NEC since 1973-74 are given in Table 17.3
17.8.6 The outlay for the Eighth Plan of NEC would be Rs. 1160 crores as compared to the Seventh Plan agreed outlay of Rs. 675.00 crores (including Rs. 100.00 crores of L.I.C loans) and the yearly allocations aggregating to Rs. 835.00 crores. The allocation for 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93, were Rs. 202.00 crores, Rs. 230.00 crores, Rs.232.00 crores (including Rs. 5.00 crores, Rs. 20.00 crores, and Rs. 10.00 crores of loan ) respectively.
III. Boarder Area Development Programme (BADP) 17.9.1 A new programme for the development of border area was started under the Seventh Plan. It was funded entirely by the Central Government. Its objective was balanced development of the sensitive border areas in the Western Region through provision of infrastructure facilities and promotion of a sense of security among the local population. To start with,
432
the programme covered the States of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Subsequently, it was extended to Jammu and Kashmir. The outlay provided under the Seventh Plan was Rs. 200 crores.
17.9.2 The actual execution of schemes under the Programme could begin only from 1986-87. Initially, it was to be administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Later, the principal thrust of the Programme was changed to development of human resources, particularly, education -- school, technical and Vocational in the Community Development Blocks adjoining the border. In its final form, the Programme comprised four elements: issue of photo identity cards to the population in the target areas; education; irrigation and research studies on socioeconomic development of these areas. The outlays in the Annual Plans of 1990-91 and 1991-92 were Rs.86 crores and Rs.85 crores respectively. The Programme will be continued in the Eighth Plan. However, its coverage will be extended to the Eastern Region and the scope reviewed so that problems occasioned by the existence of an international border are taken care of and not general development schemes which in the normal course are part of State Plans. The Eighth Plan contemplates an outlay of Rs. 640 crores under this Programme.
IV. Desert Development Programme (DDP) 17.10.1 The Desert Development Programme was initiated in 1977-78 on the recommendation of the National Commission on Agriculture. It covers both the hot desert regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana as well the as cold desert areas in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. It is operative in 131 blocks of 21 districts in 5 States, covering an area of about 3.62 lakh sq. kms. and a population of about 150 lakhs.
17.10.2 The objectives of the programme include controling the process of desertification, mitigating the effects of drought in the areas, restoring the ecological balance in the affected areas and raising productivity of land, water livestock and human resources. At least 75 per cent of the allocations have been earmarked for activities which would contribute towards combating the process of desertification. The proportionate weights assigned to sectoral activities in this programme are as follows:
Sector Proportionate weightage
1. Land development, land shaping 15%
2. Water resources development 20%
3. Afforestation and pasture development 40%
4. Other activities 15%
5. Project Administration 10%
100%
17.10.3 This programme is implemented with 100 per cent central assistance. The allocations are made at the rate of Rs.24 lakhs per 1000 sq. kms. with a ceiling of Rs.500 lakhs per district. However, for the cold desert areas a lumpsum provision is made, which is Rs.100 lakhs per district for Himachal Pradesh and Rs.150 lakhs per district for J & K. The Programme Evaluation Organisation of the Planning Commission has been entrusted with the task of evaluating this programme in order to assess its impact on the control of desertification and on improvements in productivity and incomes of life of the people living in these areas.
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Table 17.1
HILL AREAS
States Area(000)Sq Population
Kms. (1981)
Lakhs
(1) (2) (3)
I. Hill states :(Special Category States)1
1. Himachal Pradesh 55.67 42.81
2.Jammu & Kashmir 222.24 59.87
3.Manipur 22.36 14.21
4.Meghalaya 22.49 13.36
5.Nagaland 16.53 7.75
6.Tripura 10.48 20.53
7.Sikkim 7.30 3.16
8.Arunachal Pradesh 83.58 6.32
9.Mizoram 21.09 4.94
Sub-Total (I) 461.74 172.95
II.Designated Hill Areas (Covered under the HADP)
a) Hill Districts
i) Uttar Pradesh
Dehradun 3.09 7.62
Pauri Garhwal 5.44 6.38
Tehri Garhwal 4.42 4.98
Chamoli 9.12 3.64
Uttar Kashi 8.02 1.91
Nainital 6.79 11.37
Almora 7.02 7.57
Pithoragarh 7.22 4.89
ii) Assam
North Cachar 4.88 16.30
Karbi Anglong 10.33
iii) Tamil Nadu
Nilgiris 2.54 6.29
iv) West Bengal
Darjeeling (Most part of the2.47 5.59
District)
Sub-total (a) 71.34 66.54
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HILL AREAS
Table 17.1 (contd.)
States Area(000)Sq Population
Kms. (1981)
Lakhs
(1) (2) (3)
b) Designated Talukas of Western
Ghats Areas 2
i)Maharashtra
Dhule (2) 3.32 4.30
Nasik (8) 9.52 17.28
Thane (5) 4.71 5.56
Raigad (7) 4.30 7.33
Ratnagiri(5) 5.43 8.33
Sindudurg(5) 3.66 5.29
Kolhapur (10) 7.09 18.26
Sangli (1) 0.64 1.11
Satara (8) 6.75 12.87
Pune (9) 9.81 16.09
Ahmednagar (2) 3.17 4.56
ii)Karnataka
Belgaum (5) 6.45 14.88
Chikmaglur (5) 4.41 4.08
Kodagu (3) 4.08 4.60
Dharwar (1) 1.08 1.60
Hassan (4) 3.14 5.94
Mysore (2) 2.79 3.40
North Kanara (9) 8.64 8.81
Shimoga (5) 6.59 8.32
South Kanara (6) 7.07 15.03
(Kanmeda)
iii) Kerala
Cannanore(3) 3.53 17.56
Wynad (3) 2.12 5.54
Kozhikode (3) 2.33 22.45
(Calicut)
Malapuram(1) 2.26 9.44
Palaghat (3) 2.98 10.68
Trichur (1) 1.32 6.74
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HILL AREAS Table 17.1(contd.)
States Area(000) Sq Population
Kms. (1981)
Lakhs
(1) (2) (3)
Ernakulam(3) 1.68 7.91
(Cochin)
Idukki (4) 5.13 9.71
Kottayam (2) 1.07 9.60
Quillon (4) 4.15 16.24
Trivandrum (2) 1.50 11.68
iv)Tamil Nadu
Nilgiris * (4)
Coimbatore (5) 5.92 24.65
Periyar (1) 2.21 4.12
Madurai (6) 8.22 22.27
Triunavelli (6) 5.41 15.81
Ramenathapuram (3) 2.05 8.01
Kanya Kumari (4) 1.67 14.24
v) Goa
Goa (3) 1.72 1.33
Sub-Total (b) 160.49 388.38
Total (HADP)II(a+b) 229.29 448.63
Grand Total (I +II) 691.03 621.58