The J.G.S.Y. (Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana) was a significant rural employment scheme in India, aiming at the development of rural infrastructure and poverty alleviation.
Primary Objective: The main goal of JGSY was to create demand-driven rural infrastructure. This meant that projects were to be selected based on the felt needs of the rural communities, focusing on assets that would enhance their livelihoods and economic activities.
Secondary Objective: The scheme also had a crucial secondary objective: to generate supplementary employment for the unemployed and underemployed poor in rural areas. This was particularly important for providing income support and reducing rural poverty.
Integration with Other Schemes: JGSY was an improved version of the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY). It was later subsumed into the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) in 1999, which aimed at self-employment rather than wage employment.
Funding and Implementation: The scheme was funded by the Central Government, with funds allocated to Gram Panchayats. Projects were implemented at the village level, with a significant portion of the funds earmarked for specific groups like Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and women.
Focus on Rural Development: JGSY played a role in the broader context of India's rural development strategies, aligning with the principles of decentralized planning and empowerment of local self-governing bodies (Panchayats).
