Government plans to expand project to boost rural income

THE NATIONAL RURAL LIVELIHOOD MISSION WILL BE EXPANDED TO ANOTHER 750 BLOCKS, 102 DISTRICTS, 5 LAKH GRAM PANCHAYATS

NEW DELHI: The government will expand its flagship rural income generation programme to cover 10 million more households across states, officials said on Friday, as the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seeks to tackle growing farm distress ahead of general elections next year.

The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) — a scheme to generate new income avenues and provide financial stability to rural households — will be expanded to another 750 blocks, 102 selected districts and 5 lakh gram panchayats, said a note circulated among rural development ministry officials.

The note, accessed by HT, shows that the mission has set an ambitious target of mobilising 10 million households into 900,000 self-help groups.

Farmers have been hit by a combination of factors in recent years, including two successive droughts and a slump in the prices of agricultural commodities that has forced them to demand loan waivers and other sops. Farmers claim they are earning negative returns and prices below the minimum support price (MSP) set by the government f or most crops. Many states, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp)-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, have witnessed widespread farmer protests in recent months.

“The NRLM was rolled out all over India. In some districts the intensive focus was not given earlier. It will be done now,” said rural development secretary Amarjeet Sinha.

The government’s push for expansion of the livelihood scheme also comes amid Opposition criticism of the ruling party’s oft-repeated promise of doubling farmers’ incomes. The government believes the NRLM could provide an alternative source of income for rural families.