The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have decided to collaborate for the latter’s support to the rural employment and livelihood programmes in the country during the 12th Five-Year Plan, from 2013.
On the priority list is the implementation of the programme _ Governance and Accelerated Livelihood Security (GOALS) _ in 10 backward tribal districts, including four from Odisha. All the tribal districts in Chhattisgarh and Odisha where GOALS will be implemented are Maoist affected.
The four districts from Odisha where the programme will be executed are Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi and Rayagada. The six districts from Chhattisgarh are, Bastar, Kanker, Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur.
During the next five years, the Ministry and the UNDP will work to strengthen and ensure effective implementation of the rural development flagship programmes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGS) and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
The GOALS project activities include scaling up Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) focused livelihoods, improving market linkages and opportunities to market produce through innovative pilots and improving access to financial services for tribal entrepreneurs.
Official sources said the collaboration will help deliver inclusive, sustainable growth and human development outcomes in focus states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
It will also emphasise on improved service delivery and increasing community participation through awareness generation and mobilising youth for participatory planning, education and providing skills for jobs.
Another proposed programme for focus is the Greening Rural Development, a programme to make the ministry’s current schemes more environment friendly through sustainable use of natural resources and promotion of more resource efficient material on construction of roads. Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and UN resident representative Lise Grande signed an intent for collaboration in these fields on October 12 in New Delhi.