Rural Development Agency, Ludhiana DRDA

This scheme has been introduced by Govt. of India on April 1,1999 as an integrated poverty alleviation programme in the place of earlier scheme i.e. IRDP . The objective of the scheme is to assist the families below poverty line by providing Micro Enterprises and thus enabling all the rural poor to cross the poverty line .

This programme covers all aspects of self employment such as organisation of poor in to self Help Groups, training credit, technology , Infrastructure and marketing . The eligible families having income upto Rs, 11000/- per annum are issued yellow cards for providing necessary assistance ,Joint verification camps are arranged to form a group of for identification of individual Swarozagaries. Camp is attended by the Assistant project Officer of DRDA, BDPO or his representative , Bank Manager or his loan officer, Mukh Sewika and village level worker besides Gram Panchayat.

The applications of Swarojgaries are scrutinised and sanctioned after joint verification. After the group is formed its members collect voluntary saving of equal amount every month and for six months, which are kept with bank by opening an account there . Group can help its members for their needs of small loans out of this fund, Group selects its economic activity to be undertaken . DRDA provides revolving funds of Rs.10000/- and the loan amount of Rs. 15000/- from the bank to the group to start economic activity. After six months a full loan is provided to the group by the bank and eligible subsidy by DRDA.

DRDA provides 30% of subsidy to Non SC's with a maximum limit of Rs. 7500/- and 50 % subsidy to SC's with a limit of Rs, 10000/- per Swarozgari. Out of the total targets 50% SC's 40% women and 3% physically handicapped are to be recovered.

During the period 2003-04 this agency has assisted 395 Swarozgaries with the subsidy of Rs.29-60 lacs. Out of the which 278 SC Swarozagaries are assisted with Rs. 22.42 lacs, 299 women are helped with 21.97 lacs and four handicapped are provided subsidy of Rs. 0.31 lacs besided loans from bank.

The DRDA has formed 85 self help groups under SGSY . Out of it 61, groups have started its economic activity in Darri Making, Shoe making, Basket making, Sewing &Knitting and Dairy etc.

During these financial years this agency has imparted the training to the rural youth of BPL (Below poverty line) families for self employment in Flat Hosiery and Carpentry training.