Rural Development Programs in Rajasthan

MGNREGS — Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA) guarantees 100 days of unskilled wage employment per household per year in rural areas as a legal right. It is the world's largest employment guarantee program by coverage.

Rajasthan's MGNREGS Performance 2024-25 (April–December 2024):

Parameter	Rajasthan 2024-25 (Apr–Dec)
Total expenditure	₹7,676.98 crore
Man-days generated	2,309.72 lakh
Households employed	53.28 lakh
Households completing 100 days	1.27 lakh
Average wage rate (Rajasthan 2024-25)	₹255/day (notified)

Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 3

Rajasthan is traditionally among the top 3 states in MGNREGS utilization, alongside Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The scheme's significance in Rajasthan is heightened by:

• Large semi-arid and arid geography with limited year-round agricultural employment
• High seasonal migration that MGNREGS works to reduce
• Women's participation rate consistently above 55% in Rajasthan — significantly higher than the national average of ~54%

MGNREGS works prioritize: watershed development (check dams, percolation tanks), rural connectivity (link roads under PM Gram Sadak Yojana convergence), land development, and drought-proofing infrastructure — critical for an arid state.

The social audit mechanism under MGNREGS, mandated by Section 17 of the Act, requires Gram Sabhas to audit all MGNREGS works every six months. Rajasthan has an independent Social Audit Unit (SAU) functioning under the Rajasthan State Employment Guarantee Council.

PMAY-G — Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)

PMAY-G was launched in 2016, replacing the earlier Indira Awas Yojana (IAY). Target: housing for all by 2024 (extended to 2026).

Key features:

• Assistance amount: ₹1.20 lakh (plain areas), ₹1.30 lakh (hilly/difficult/IAP districts)
• Funding pattern: Centre:State = 60:40 (plain states); 90:10 (hill/NE states)
• Additional support: ₹12,000 for sanitation toilet (convergence with SBM-G), 90 person-days MGNREGS wages for unskilled labour
• Beneficiary selection: Based on SECC 2011 data; permanent exclusion criteria for motorized vehicles, income tax payers, government employees
• Technology: Geo-tagging and MIS monitoring through AwaasSoft portal

Rajasthan's arid geography (mud houses degrading faster) and large SC/ST population make PMAY-G particularly significant. The scheme converges with MGNREGS for construction labour wages.

Rajivika — Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)

Rajivika is Rajasthan's state implementation of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), launched by the Government of India in 2011 (replacing SGSY — Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, 1999).

Structure and approach:

• Self-Help Groups: 10-20 women members, meet weekly, save regularly, access credit from banks through linkage
• Village Organisation (VO): Federation of SHGs at village level (50-200 SHG members)
• Cluster Level Federation (CLF): Federation of VOs at cluster/block level

Key components:

• Social Mobilization: Universal coverage of rural poor households into SHGs
• Bank Linkage: Revolving fund (₹10,000-15,000) and community investment fund support
• Livelihood Promotion: Skills training, market linkages for micro-enterprises
• Nutrition and Health: Convergence with ICDS and health departments

Rajivika in Rajasthan has organized lakhs of rural women into SHGs, providing them access to formal credit channels and skill-based livelihoods (handicrafts, animal husbandry, food processing). The mission addresses both income poverty and social exclusion among women.

DDU-GKY — Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana

DDU-GKY was launched in 2014 (replacing SGSY-Special Projects). It targets rural youth aged 15-35 from poor families for placement-linked skill training.

Key features:

• Target group: Rural poor youth, with mandatory 33% coverage for women, 50% for SC/ST/minorities/PwD in certain cases
• Duration: 576 hours (3 months minimum) to 2,304 hours (12 months maximum)
• Wage benchmark: Minimum wages fixed by states
• Post-placement support: Monthly payments to trainees for 2 months post-placement to prevent dropout
• Outcome focus: Guaranteed placement linkage distinguishes DDU-GKY from other skill programs

Rajasthan is a significant DDU-GKY implementation state given its large pool of rural youth with limited formal employment skills.

Swachh Bharat Mission — Grameen (SBM-G) Phase II

Phase I (2014-2019) achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status for all districts. Phase II (2020-2025) focuses on ODF Plus — sustainability and solid/liquid waste management.

SBM-G Phase II in Rajasthan (2024-25):

• Toilets constructed: 1,03,566
• Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs): 1,238
• ODF Plus villages declared: 32,793
• GOBAR-dhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) projects operational: 11
• Total expenditure: ₹74.65 crore

Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 3

GOBAR-dhan converts cattle dung and biodegradable waste into biogas and organic manure — a convergence of rural sanitation, energy, and agricultural inputs.

Svamitva Yojana

Svamitva Yojana, launched by PM Modi on April 24, 2020 (National Panchayati Raj Day), uses drone technology for mapping of inhabited land in rural areas (abadi land) to provide property rights to rural households.

Rajasthan progress:

• Villages covered (drone survey completed): 35,955 out of 36,352 (98.9%)
• Property cards (pattas) distributed: 6,85,935

Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 3

Benefits: Property owners can now use these cards as collateral for bank loans — a major step toward financial inclusion for rural households previously excluded from formal credit due to lack of documented property rights.

Other Key Rural Programs

Shri Annapurna Rasoi: State-run community kitchens providing subsidized meals in rural areas.

• Active kitchens: 891
• Cost to beneficiary: ₹8 per thali; Government subsidy: ₹22 per thali
• Total meals served: 2.27 crore

Mukhyamantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojana (urban analog to MGNREGS):

• Families registered: 6.53 lakh
• Families allocated work: 1.83 lakh
• Human-days generated: 86.48 lakh

GP Bhawan Nirman (Construction of Gram Panchayat buildings): 1,220 new GP buildings completed out of 1,443 sanctioned — ensuring PRIs have physical infrastructure for governance.

Vimukt/Nomadic Communities: 17,156 plots/pattas allotted to de-notified tribes and nomadic communities — addressing the land tenure insecurity of historically marginalized groups.

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