New Delhi, May 16: The Ministry of Rural Development has allocated a sum of Rs 726.71 under Indira Awaas Yojana and Rs 810.88 lakh under Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana to Manipur for the current financial year 2007-08 for the benefit of Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes.

Minister of Rural Development for State Suryakanta replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha today said the Ministry had provided budgetary allocation of Rs 3439.51 crores under SGRY, SGYS and IAY for the year 2006-07 for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Under the IAY scheme 5372 houses were constructed during the year 2004-05 and allotted to 122 SC families and 5250 ST families in Manipur.

In 2005-06, 4489 houses were constructed and allotted to 60 SC families and 4429 ST families while in 2006-07, 2421 houses were constructed in Manipur under the scheme and allotted to 192 SC families and 2229 ST families with an expenditure of Rs 527 lakh.

As per IAY guidelines, at least 60 per cent of the total IAY allocation during a financial year should be utilized for construction or upgradation of dwelling units for SC/ST households living below poverty line.

At present, financial assistance for an IAY house is provided at the rate of Rs.25,000 for plain areas and Rs.27,500 for hilly areas.

The financial assistance provided under IAY may not necessarily meet the total cost of an IAY house.

The beneficiary generally contributes labour component.

The Working Group set up for preparation of 11th Plan proposals have recommended substantial increase in financial assistance for IAY houses in view of increase in cost of construction of houses.

Under Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, 561 Swarozgaris in Manipur were assisted with utilization of Rs 127.35 lakh during the year 2006-07.The SGSY was launched on April 1, 1999 to provide sustainable income to the rural poor families (Swarozgaris).

It aims at establishing a large number of micro-enterprises in the rural areas, building upon the potential of the rural poor.

It is envisaged that every family assisted under SGSY will be brought above the poverty line in a period of three years. Under the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana, 19.98 lakh mandays of employment were generated in Manipur utilizing a sum of Rs 1333.59 lakh during 2006-07.Launched on September 25, 2001, the SGRY provides greater thrust to additional wage employment, infrastructural development and food security in the rural areas.

It provides facility to all the rural poor who are in need of employment and are willing to take up manual or unskilled work in and around his or her village and habitation.

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