Mapping development and welfare schemes with SDGs in a village in India, ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad-500059, India, Pp.24.

Abstract

The paper examined the various development and social welfare schemes implemented in a village in India and mapping them to the Sustanable Development Goals (SDGs) to see whether these schemes are helping in achieve the SDG goals. This paper examines the actual benefits accrued to the households in a village and how they have utilized the schemes. The paper assessed share of households benefited and the extent of benefit from each scheme and also at the aggregate level. The research is conducted in Emped village of Telangana state of India by collecting information from all 287 households to get a holistic picture in year 2017. Although more than 50 schemes were implemented in the village, about 29 were active. The study examines 29 schemes from which, at least one household got benefited. The average aggregate benefit from all government schemes is about Rupees 58,095 per household. Some schemes benefit large farmers and pro-rich, while others were pro-poor. Majority of the households benefited from schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS), direct benefit transfer based on agricultural land, MGNREGA, loan waiver, seed and fertilizer subsidy, mid-day-meal scheme but only a modest amount. But very few are benefited from the double-bed room housing scheme, the Chief Minister Relief Fund in huge sums. Schemes addressed to women like the KCR Kits (assistance to pregnant women) and Shadi Mubarak(marriage assistance) were effective. Overall, these schemes help to achieve different targets of the SDGs but need more focus on identification of target beneficiary, reduction of leakages and inordinate delays in implementation. Overall, there is inverted U shape relationship exists between household income and total benefits received, while a positive relationship exists between landholding and benefits from the government schemes. Most of the assistance recived from agricultural development schemes are spent on intended purpose, whereas welfare schemes were spent on consumption purpose.