CHAPTER IX
ECONOMIC TRENDS
The
state of economic health of a particular region or area within the economy is
judged by the broad trends in economic activities. Economic trends reflect the
general course or the prevailing doctrine in which the long term economic
series move. Economic progress of a region depends upon a number of factors
such as development of natural resources, discovery of new resources, capital
formation, population growth, innovations and technical changes, widening of
markets, improvement of skills and other institutional and organizational
modification. Of all these factors, size and age composition of population
plays an important role in the economic development of an area, because the
human beings are not only responsible for production but are also the final
consumers of the produced goods. Whereas the labour force makes positive
contribution in the development of an area but at the same time a rapid growth
of population adversely affects this pace of development. Alongwith slow and
gradual rise in population, quality of population is also a significant
feature. Further, development of transport and communication facilities
introduced an element of change into the economy, and induced people to adopt
cultivation of commercial crops. Consequently, investments were made both in
agricultural and industrial sectors and the Sirhind and Mandi Gobindgarh towns
were transformed into an important commercial centers. This has helped in improving
the economy of the district, and is reflected in the increased value of land
over the years.
(a) Livelihood Pattern, General Level of Prices and Wages and Standard of Living
Livelihood Pattern.- The livelihood pursuits of the people depend on their occupational set-up, following from the stage of socio-economic development and resource mobilization. The economy and life pattern of the people of the Fatehgarh Sahib District are predominantly agro–based. According to the 2001 Census 71.91 per cent of the population of the district lived in the rural areas, which was much higher than the percentage for the State as a whole (66.05).
According to the 2001 Census, the total population of the district was 5,38,041 out of which 2,06,155 were main and marginal workers, and the remaining 3,33,595 were non workers. The percentage of main and marginal workers to the total population was 38.19 per cent as against the State percentage of 37.06.
The main and marginal workers and non-workers in
rural and urban areas of Fatehgarh Sahib District are shown with following
statement:
|
Classification of Workers in
Fatehgarh Sahib District according to the 1991 Census |
||||||||||
|
Ser-ial No. |
Classification of workers according to their
professions |
Number of persons
according to 1991 Census |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Males |
Females |
|
Males |
Females |
|
Males |
Females |
Persons
total workers |
||
|
1 |
Cultivators |
40,948 |
2,024 |
1161 |
77 |
42,109 |
2,101 |
44,210 24.28 |
||
|
2 |
Agricultural Labourers |
16,640 |
1,338 |
1,383 |
141 |
18,023 |
1,479 |
19,502 10.71 |
||
|
3 |
Household Industry |
1,869 |
602 |
857 |
191 |
2,726 |
793 |
3,519 1.94 |
||
|
4 |
Others |
46,459 |
24,744 |
39,045 |
4,541 |
85,504 |
29,285 |
1,14,789 63.07 |
||
|
|
Total Main Workers |
1,05,916 |
28,708 |
42,446 |
4,950 |
148,362 |
33,658 |
1,82,020 100.00 |
||
|
|
Marginal Workers |
9,341 |
12,043 |
1,669 |
1,066 |
11,010 |
13,109 |
24,119 |
||
|
|
Non -Workers |
92,680 |
1,38,262 |
38,085 |
62,875 |
1,30,465 |
2,01,137 |
3,31,902 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
Grand Total |
2,07,937 |
1,79,013 |
82,200 |
68,891 |
2,90,137 |
2,47,904 |
5,38,041 |
||
(Source:
Director Census Operation, ,Punjab)
In order to create better living conditions in the urban as well as in the
rural areas, various housing schemes such as; construction of houses for
government employees; low income group housing scheme, middle and high income
group housing schemes; village housing project scheme, etc, are being
implemented by the Government.
To make further improvement in the living standard of rural people the Government introduced various developmental schemes for the rural areas from time to time.
The standard of living of a community apart from other things is also judged from the way its members are housed. The provision of cheap and decent housing accommodation is the primary need of human family in civilised life. This means the provision of comfortable shelter and such surroundings that would keep the people healthy, fit and cheerful. It also includes proper arrangement for water supply, drainage, lighting and means of communications in every village and town of the district. In the urban areas of the district, the dwellings are almost entirely pucka and double storeyed and are provided with modern amenities, such as kitchen, bathroom, latrine, etc. Houses constructed in the new townships are provided with all such amenities. But in the rural areas, people are not provided with all such facilities. However, there are still, in some cases kacha dwellings of economically weaker sections of the society. In certain cases houses are provided with a baithak (drawing room) for guests etc. Cattle fodder is generally kept by the villagers in a separate portion or haveli built for the purpose of keeping cattle. Straw fodder is usually kept in Kups (a type of silo) in the field. According to the 2001* Census the total number of occupied residential houses in the district was 69,174 (54,128 rural and 15,046 urban). The average number of persons per house hold was 7.
Prices and Wages.-The comparative study of wages and prices is important to judge the
economic condition of the people belonging to a particular region. The level of
prices has a bearing both on the real income and standard of living of the
people, because it is not the money income but purchases there from that
matter. The prices are the most
important indicators of the nation’s wealth. Prices in the Fatehgarh Sahib District, as in the rest of the country has shown remarkable fluctuation and rising trend. A
steep price rise inhibits growth, distorts all calculations, seriously affects
the poor and transfers the income from the poor to the rich. Inequalities of
income and wealth and concentration of economic power in few hands accentuate
the savings and investment get a serious setback, and capital formation
suffers.
* Provisional
Prices.- The forces of demand and supply effect the
price level. The economic condition of the people in an area are reflected in
the general level of prices prevailing over a period of time. The prices of
food grains and other essential commodities are on increase since the
Independence of the country. This trend continued subsequently and helped to an
extent in improving the economic conditions of the people in the region and
provided an incentive to agriculture in particular. There are a number of other
factors which influence the general
prices in the State. Some of these are: money supply, production of essential
commodities and problem of warehousing, transport, etc. The changes in season,
rainfall and other physical factors are also responsible for temporary
fluctuation in the price. Further, the consumer prices move in sympathy with
the wholesale prices and often the consumer prices are a little higher than the
wholesale prices. From the point of view of common people, the general rise in
the process of consumer goods is a matter of serious concern, as they affect
the level of their standard of living.
The
relative prices of different commodities have undergone considerable change in
the past few years. The fluctuating
trends in the retail price of the
selected commodities in the Fatehgarh Sahib District during 1996 to 2000
is given below:
(
Rs per Kg )
|
Serial No |
Name of the commodities |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
1 |
Wheat |
4.87 |
5.55 |
5.55 |
6.50 |
6.88 |
|
2 |
Wheat Atta |
5.93 |
6.80 |
7.49 |
8.00 |
8.00 |
|
3 |
Rice |
9.00 |
10.17 |
10.92 |
10.98 |
12.00 |
|
4 |
Moong |
22.88 |
22.92 |
26.67 |
26.83 |
26.50 |
|
5 |
Mash |
25.08 |
22.08 |
21.08 |
24.83 |
27.10 |
|
6 |
Gram |
14.08 |
17.04 |
17.67 |
18.00 |
18.10 |
|
7 |
Masar |
23.61 |
23.08 |
20.83 |
24.80 |
26.10 |
|
8 |
Ghee Desi |
107.90 |
114.25 |
125.63 |
127.67 |
126.20 |
|
9 |
Vanaspati Ghee@ |
86.67 |
82.20 |
97.71 |
91.83 |
78.80 |
|
10 |
Tea xx |
45.75 |
56.08 |
85.33 |
96.58 |
80.00 |
|
11 |
Milkx |
10.00 |
10.92 |
11.67 |
12.17 |
12.90 |
|
12 |
Potatoes |
4.67 |
3.60 |
6.66 |
4.33 |
2.45 |
|
13 |
Onion |
5.04 |
6.21 |
16.78 |
7.58 |
5.20 |
|
14 |
Gur |
10.79 |
9.75 |
12.21 |
11.83 |
14.00 |
|
15 |
Kerosene Oil |
3.00 |
3.10 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
5.33 |
(Statistical Abstracts of
Punjab,
1997 to 2001)
@ per two kg tin
x per litre
xx per 500 gms
Wages .-The earliest information about wages available for the present
area of Fatehgarh Sahib District is for the early years of the twentieth
century as recorded in the Phulkian States Gazetteer (Patiala, Jind
& Nabha) 1904. “In towns wages
are paid in cash and kind. A coolie in Patiala may get as much as 6 annas a
day, while in a village he would get 3 annas only. A carpenter earns from 8 to
12 annas a day in Patiala as against 4 to 5 annas and some food in the
villages. Reapers are paid in cash or kind, or both. Cash wages now vary from 6
to 12 annas according to the seasons. Wages in kind consist of bundle of the
cuttings- straw, grain and husk, weighing about 3 kachcha or 1 1/4 pakka
maunds.” Wages are a major contributor to the gross national product as well as
basic support to the working sections of society mainly constituted of manual
labour classes. It is widely accepted that the workers are under-paid in the
developing countries because it generate enough surplus for investment. With
the advent of trade unions, workers in the organised sector could form their
unions to fight out their legitimate share of wages. The skilled labourers like
carpenters, blacksmiths, cobblers, etc. have relatively higher wages. It is the
children who are paid the least. There are discriminatory wages between those
paid to the men and women and the latter is always paid less. Under the Minimum
Wages Act, 1948 minimum wages have been fixed in almost all areas of employment
and these are suitably revised from time to time. It has also been decided that
for male and female workers in the agricultural sector, the rate of wages fixed
on yearly, monthly or daily basis shall be equal for equal work. Wages has
shown a rising trend since Independence. The minimum wages of different categories
of workers in the agricultural and industrial sectors have been increased and
linked with price index. In order to safeguard the interests of the workers the
Government has fixed the minimum wages of
these workers under the Minimum Wages Act.
The wages fixed for agricultural and skilled Labourers for 1992 and 1996
to 2000 are given below:
(As on 1 September)
|
Year |
Agricultural labour |
Skilled
labour
|
|
|
1992 |
41.22 |
60.42 |
|
|
1996 |
58.28 |
89.68 |
|
|
1997 |
61.88 |
93.28 |
|
|
1998 |
65.66 |
97.06 |
|
|
1999 |
69.80 |
101.70 |
|
|
2000 |
73.40 |
104.80 |
|
(Economic Survey of Punjab 2001-2002
issued by Economic Advisor to Government of Punjab .Chandigarh.)
The rates of wages fixed for
Class IV Government employees working in different offices in the Fatehgarh
Sahib District, during 2000-2001 are given in Appendix I on page 244.
Standard of living.-
Standard of living refers to the amount of necessities, comforts and luxuries,
which a person avail. However these are relative terms and differ from place to
place, from time to time and from person to person. Economic prosperity of a
region mainly depends upon the social set up of that area alongwith the social
infrastructure. Information about the standard of living of the various strata [ASD1]of society is useful in understanding the general economic condition of
the people. The standard of living of the people is dependent on two factors,
namely, the total income that a family earns and the total expenditure that it
incures for maintaining a comfortable standard of living. The popular method of
knowing the standard of living is to find out the items of income and
expenditure, that is, to adopt the method of the formation and analysis of the
family budgets. Besides income and expenditure of a family, the standard of
living depends on two factors, viz. the size and composition of the family and
tastes and preferences of the members. The other method to judge the standard
of living of the people is to measure the economic prosperity of the district
in monetary terms is relation to
fluctuations [ASD2][ASD3]in price level.
The Economic and Statistical
Organization, Punjab, conducted a survey* during 2000-2001 regarding the family
budgets of selected cultivators in the State with bullock-operated,
tractor-operated as well as semi-mechanised holdings. During the survey, family
budgets of eleven peasant proprietor’s
having bullock operated holdings, sixty seven tractor-operated holdings
and sixty nine semi-mechanized holdings were studied. The aim of the survey was
to find out the returns accruing to the cultivators and to find out the extent
to which the goods consumed were produced in the farm or purchased from
outside.
In Fatehgarh Sahib
District, under bullock operated holding category only one farmer of village
Dhunda (Tahsil Bassi Pathana ) was selected for survey in 2000-2001. According to the survey the net
income from all sources of the family was Rs 63,257 and the net expenditure was
Rs 75,308, showing a deficit of Rs 12,051 in family budget.
The
survey revealed that the total expenditure incurred on goods consumed by the family (bullock operated
holdings) of village Dhunda was Rs 75,308 out of which goods worth Rs 20,762
(28 per cent) were supplied by the farm and Rs 54,546 (72 per cent) were spent
on goods purchased from market.
* Information supplied by Economic and
Statistical Organization, Punjab, Chandigarh.
The survey revealed that on an average, a peasant proprietors family (bullock-operated holdings) in the Punjab spent 42 percent of its
income on food, 25 per cent on housing, 7 per cent on clothing and
remaining 26 per cent was spent on fuel, social, travelling, lighting,
medicine, education, amusement and luxuries, religion and miscellaneous, items.
The families of four
villages (semi-mechanised) viz., Chanarthal
Khurd (Tahsil Fatehgarh Sahib) Samashpur (Tahsil Amloh), Nanowal Kalan
(Tahsil Khamano) and Alampur (Tahsil Bassi Pathana ) in the Fatehgarh Sahib
District were selected for the survey, during 2000-2001.
The findings of the
semi-mechanised cultivator survey pertaining to income and expenditure are
given below:
|
Name of the family/village |
Net income from all sources (Rs) |
Net expenditure (Rs) |
Surplus/Deficit (Rs) |
|
|
Chanarthal Khurd |
1,83,201 |
88,450 |
+94,751 |
|
|
Samashpur |
1,22,838 |
2,37,126 |
-1,14,288 |
|
|
Nanowal Kalan |
1,14,136 |
87,610 |
+26,526 |
|
|
Alampur |
98,762 |
93,107 |
+5,655 |
|
The above figures show
that the families of three villages viz, Chanarthal Khurd (Tahsil Fatehgarh
Sahib) Nanowal Kaland (Tahsil Khamano) and Alampur (Tahsil Bassi Pathana) had surplus
budget, whereas the family of village Samashpur (Tahsil Amloh) had deficit
budget.
The goods consumed by
the families in these villages were as under:
|
Name of the family/ village |
Expenditure (Rs) |
Supplied by the farm (Rs) |
Perc-entage |
Purchased from outside |
Percen-tage |
|||
|
Chanarthal Khurd |
88,450 |
22,651 |
26 |
65,799 |
74 |
|
||
|
Samashpur |
2,37,126 |
16,363 |
7 |
2,20,763 |
93 |
|
||
|
Nanowal kalan |
87,610 |
21,972 |
25 |
5,638 |
75 |
|
||
|
Alampur |
93,107 |
18,944 |
20 |
74,163 |
80 |
|||
The survey also revealed that on an average a peasant proprietor’s (semi-mechanised) family in Punjab spent 39 per cent of its income on food, 23 percent on housing, 7 per cent on clothing, 6 per cent on miscellaneous items 5 per cent on fuel and social ceremonies, 3 per cent each on travelling, lighting, medicine and education, 2 per cent on Amusement and luxuries, 1 per cent each on religion .
During 2000-2001 the families of four villages (tractor-operated) viz. Chanarthal Khurd (Tahsil Fatehgarh Sahib )Jalalpur, (Tahsil Amloh) Dhanola (Tahsil Khamano) and Dhandepur (Tahsil Bassi Pathana) in the Fatehgarh Sahib District were selected for the survey.
The findings of the
tractor-operated cultivators survey pertain to income and expenditure are shown
as under:
|
Name
of the family/village |
Net income from all sources (Rs) |
Net expenditure (Rs) |
Surplus/deficit (Rs) |
|
Chanarthal Khurd |
6,23,580 |
2,61,094 |
+3,62,486 |
|
Jalalpur |
2,98,731 |
1,89,424 |
+1,09,307 |
|
Dhanola |
2,13,133 |
95,186 |
+1,17,947 |
|
Dhandepur |
4,69,340 |
1,46,968 |
+3,22,372 |
The above figures show that the families of all the four villages had surplus budget. Goods consumed by the families in the four villages were as under.
|
Name of the family/village |
Total expenditure (Rs) |
Supplied by the farm (Rs) |
Percen-tage |
Purchased from outside (Rs) |
Percen-tage |
|
Chanarthal Khurd |
2,61,094 |
41,229 |
16 |
2,19,865 |
84 |
|
Jalalpur |
1,89,424 |
39,348 |
21 |
1,59,076 |
79 |
|
Dhanola |
95,186 |
20,641 |
22 |
74,545 |
78 |
|
Dhanderpur |
1,46,968 |
31,858 |
22 |
1,15,190 |
78 |
The survey also revealed that
on an average, a peasant proprietors (tractor operated) family in the Punjab
spent 38 per cent of its income on food, 26 per cent on housing, 7 per cent on
clothing, 5 per cent each on fuel and miscellaneous, 4 per cent each on social
ceremonies and medicine, 3 per cent each on traveling, lighting and education
and 1 per cent each on Amusement & Luxuries and religion.
Per capita income of a particular district is also an indicator of the standard of living of the people residing in the district. The income per head in the district at the current prices for the year 2000-2001 was Rs 29,101 as compared to Rs 24,111 for the Punjab State as a whole. The Fatehgarh Sahib District was at the top amongst all districts of the State during 2000-2001. The table below shows, the district-wise per capita income for the year 2000-2001 at the then prevailing prices:
|
|
District |
Per capita income (Rs) 2000-2001 |
|
|
Gurdaspur |
20,603 |
|
|
Amritsar |
24,071 |
|
|
Kapurthala |
26,347 |
|
|
Jalandhar |
24,059 |
|
|
Hoshiarpur |
18,927 |
|
|
Rupnagar |
22,765 |
|
|
Ludhiana |
25,648 |
|
|
Firozpur |
23,682 |
|
|
Faridkot |
24,848 |
|
|
Bathinda |
23,887 |
|
|
Mansa |
22,422 |
|
|
Sangrur |
25,473 |
|
|
Patiala |
25,273 |
|
|
Fatehgarh Sahib |
29,101 |
|
|
Moga |
28,783 |
|
|
Muktsar |
21,499 |
|
|
Nawashahr |
27,170 |
|
|
Punjab State |
24,111 |
(Source:
Economic Advisor to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh)
The district ranked Ist
in the State in terms of per capita income during 2000-2001.
(b) Employment Situation
On the level or the pattern of employment, no regular or systematic
survey have been conducted and hence no precise information on the occupational
structure could be presented. However, this data and information collected from
industrial establishment falling under the preview of The Factories Act, 1948,
throw some light on the category of industries and the number of workers
employed. During 2001, there were 380 registered working factories in Fatehgarh
Sahib District, providing employment to 14,492 persons.
It has been the
continuous endeavour of the Government to provide job opportunities to all,
especially for weaker and vulnerable sections. The absorption of youth into
gainful work through the creation of varied and greater employment
opportunities has been an important objective of all planning and
programmes.
The major objective of
the economic planning is the optimum utilization of human resources. All round
expansion in various sectors, particularly in the agricultural one has led to
increased employment avenues. In the agricultural sector alone, employment
opportunities have expanded enormously as a consequence of the increase in farm
production on account of mechanisation of agricultural practices, expansion in
marketing and storage and transportation of agricultural produce.
The employment
situation in the Fatehgarh Sahib is in accordance with the general pattern in
the State. The number of unemployed persons registered with the employment
exchange in the Fatehgarh Sahib District has been on the increase.
The number of persons
waiting for employment in the district as on 31 March 2001 was 12,429.
Employment
Exchanges.- Originally, the employment exchanges were started in the
country in 1945 to provide employment to the demobilised personnel of the World
War II. After Independence the administrative control of employment exchanges
was handed over to State Governments.
For the utilisation of man-power resources and to avoid frictional
unemployment, employment exchanges have been started at various places in the
State and in the present area of Fatehgarh Sahib District. A Town Employment
Exchange was opened at Sirhind on 2 November 1979 which has been upgraded as
District Employment Exchange in 1992 on the formation of Fatehgarh Sahib as a
new district on 13 April 1992. The main functions of employment exchange is to
find jobs for job seekers and suitable workers for employers, to register
applicants and to provide employment assistance; to impart vocational guidance
to the youth and adults to choose a better career, to elicit employment market
information to assess the employment trends; impact of government plans on the
employment situations and to collect employment statistics for the Planning
Commission of India.
The work done by the
employment exchanges of Fatehgarh Sahib District has been shown in Appendix II
at the end of this chapter on page 245.
Employment Market
Information Scheme.- To tackle the unemployment, Employment Market
Information Scheme was introduced in the State in 1957-58, under Second Five
Year Plan and is operated under the
guidance of the Director of Employment, Punjab, Chandigarh. Initially, it
covered only the public sector, but from 1960-61, it was also extended to the
private sector.
The aim of this
scheme is to watch the trends of employment in the State so as to make
available to the Government and to the Planning Commission, information on the
periodical expansion and contraction of employment in various industries and
occupations in each district and in the State as a whole. The information, thus
collected is also utilized to assist the Government in determining the location
of certain training institutes and the trades to be taught therein. It enables
the Government to assess the impact of development plans on employment.
Under the scheme, the employment exchange is responsible for collecting regular information about the employment situation in the private as well as in the public sectors. This is done by what is known as “Establishment Reporting System.” Under this scheme all establishments in the public sector and selected establishments in the private sector engaged in non-agricultural activities are asked to give details regularly about the number of persons they are employing, the vacancies that have occurred and the type of persons they find to be in short supply. The information is collected from all establishments in the public sectors and those employing 25 or more persons in the private sector under the provisions of the Employment Exchange (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959, which makes it obligatory on them to submit it to the local employment exchange. Information from smaller establishments in the private sector is, however, collected on voluntary basis. The information which is processed at the district level is finally tabulated at the State and National level to know precisely the employment potential at these levels. The total number of employees working in Fatehgarh Sahib District in private and public sector, as on 31 December 2000 was 12,482 where as on 31 December 1996 was 13,345. The number of establishments in private and public sectors as on 31 December 2000 was 283 where as on 31 December 1996 was 273.
The changes in the volume of employment both in private and public sectors in the district as on 31 December 1992 to 31 December 2000 has been given in Appendix III at page 246.
Vocational Guidance
Scheme.- The vocational guidance and employment counselling programmes are
designed to give intensive vocational guidance to those who seek such
assistance. The term “ vocational guidance, more appropriately connotes
assistance to the youth, whereas employment counselling, refers to the
assistance given to adults.
The programme is
jointly operated by the Directorate General of Employment and Training, Union
Ministry of Labour and Employment and Directorate of Employment in the State.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Directorate of Employment
Exchanges, is responsible for the general policies and procedure, which are
devised in collaboration with the State Government through the National Working
Group of the Employment Service. The State Directorate of Employment
administers the service through the employment exchanges and co-ordinates with
the guidance service of the Education Department of the State Government.
The District Employment Officer, Fatehgarh Sahib is responsible for the efficient working and general supervision of the scheme in the district. The functions of a Vocational Guidance Unit are: to provide vocational guidance and employment counselling to youth (boys and girls) and adults (men and women) in groups as well as individually; to assist in the placement of youth in institutions or training centres or in entry jobs, follow up and review the progress of guided youth and adults; to review the records of applicants on the live register and to give them such guidance as would lead to their early and suitable placement; to assist other sections of the exchanges in improving the quality of registrations and submission, and also to assist the exchanges in the collection and compilation of up-to-date information, occupations, training facilities, educational courses, employment trends and employment out look for youth and adults, available scholarships and sources of financial assistance. Its other functions include maintenance of regular information for the use of applicants and visitors seeking information; maintenance of upto date library on occupation literature; and educate the public by undertaking publicity measures in vocational guidance principles with a view to encouraging community consciousness. The guidance procedure at an employment exchange, with a Vocational Guidance Unit, consists of group guidance comprising invitational talks, group discussions and invitational talk-cum-group discussions according to the needs of the groups, individual guidance; and giving information individually.
The Vocational Guidance Unit has been functioning in the district since, April 1992 the date of the establishment of the District Employment Exchange Fatehgarh Sahib. The Vocational Guidance Unit has been providing guidance to the youth especially to the student community. The work done by the Vocational Guidance Unit, Fatehgarh Sahib from 1992 to 2001.is given below:
|
Year |
Number of individuals provided group guidance |
Number of individuals provided individuals guidance |
Number of individuals provided
information |
|
|
1992 |
299 |
120 |
98 |
|
|
1993 |
448 |
106 |
392 |
|
|
1994 |
676 |
124 |
367 |
|
|
1997 |
702 |
133 |
385 |
|
|
1998 |
630 |
150 |
322 |
|
|
1999 |
526 |
221 |
361 |
|
|
2000 |
622 |
188 |
350 |
|
|
2001 |
605 |
168 |
304 |
|
(Source:- District Employment
Officer, Fatehgarh Sahib.)
(c) Planning and Rural Development
Planning.-The most important factor that influence the economic prospects in the
country, is the implementation of development programmes and schemes under the
successive Five Year Plans since 1951. The
process of development started in 1951-52 has transformed the economy
significantly during the last five decades of planning and it has helped in the
increased participation of people in the economic development of the State and
the district. Within the fame of National Plans, the State and District Plans
are formulated keeping in view the concept of Welfare State and implemented
through the district administration machinery. For each scheme of development,
there are fixed targets and estimates of expenditure have been worked out to
achieve the desired social and economic goals. During the subsequent plan
periods greater importance was given to the schemes and programmes relating to
agriculture, irrigation and power sector and development of small and cottage
industries. The emphasis was laid on the removal of poverty and upliftment of
Scheduled Caste, Tribes and Backward Classes. Hence, a gradual shift in the
pattern of outlay has been made in favour of social services.
Rural Development.-The
Community Development Programme, (now known as Rural Development) was launched
in the State (also in former State of PEPSU in which this area then falls) as
in the rest of the country on 2 October 1952, with a view to initiate a process
of integrated development of rural areas. It was felt that there should be an
integrated approach to solve the rural problems which are inter related and
could not be taken in isolation. The main emphasis of the programme is on
improvement of agriculture and allied services like animal husbandry and
irrigation, which employ about 70 per cent of the rural population. The
development of small-scale industries also received increasing attention for
creating more employment opportunities. Other features of the programme include
the provision of basic amenities like drinking water, village primary schools,
communications, adult literacy, social education and promotion of community
organizations. The philosophy of Rural Development Programme has helped in
creating the community assets through people’s participation.
With the introduction
of Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) remarkable achievements in
food production were made. Added to it the High Yielding Varieties Programme
resulted in more than two fold increase in food production. As a part of the
strategy to tackle the problem of poverty, specialized agencies like
Development Corporations for Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes and Women came
into being. An independent agency, the District Rural Development Agency in
each district under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner has been organized.
The District Rural Development Agency is
implementing the beneficiary oriented programmes like Swarnjayanti Gram
Swarozgar Yogna (SGSY). All the rural development programmes already in
operation now covered under this programme. A brief description of SGSY is
given below:
Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY).-Launched on 1 April 1999, the programme
replaced the earlier self employment and allied programmes such as
IRDP,DWACRA,SITRA,GKY and MWS, which are no longer in operation.
The objective of SGSY
is to provide sustainable income to the rural poor. The programme aims at
establishing a large number of micro-enterprises in the rural areas, building
upon the potential of the rural poor. The main aim of the SGSY is to bring
every family to whom it assists, above the poverty line in a period of three
years. It is centrally sponsored scheme and the Centre and State Governments
share funding in the ratio of 75:25
SGSY is holistic
programme covering all aspects of self-employment such as organisation of the
rural poor into building, primary of activity clusters, infrastructure build up
technology, credit and marketing. In establishing the micro enterprises the
emphasis under SGSY is on the activity cluster. For these 4-5 key activities
have been identified for each block based on the resources, occupational skills
of the people and availability of markets.
Under this programme a
subsidy at the rate of 30 per cent of the project cost, subject to a maximum of
Rs 7,500 is provided. But for SCs it is 50 per cent and 10,000 respectively. For
a group, subsidy is 50 per cent of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs
1.25 lakhs. Loan is arranged by the District Rural Development Agency from the
banks. Under this scheme 50 per cent assistance is required to be provided to
the SCs, 40 per cent to women and 3 percent to handicapped.
Number of persons benefited, amount of loan advanced and subsidy granted under the Integrated Rural Development Programme during the years 1992-93 and 1996-97 to 2000-2001 is as under:
(Rs in lakhs)
|
Year |
Number of beneficiaries |
|
Loan
|
|||
|
1992-93 |
551 |
10.82 |
17.04 |
26.18 |
45.98 |
|
|
1996-97 |
221 |
5.63 |
9.66 |
18.91 |
37.47 |
|
|
1997-98 |
383 |
13.92 |
17.23 |
37.48 |
51.78 |
|
|
1998-99 |
350 |
11.10 |
16.02 |
32.70 |
54.41 |
|
|
1999-2000 (SGSY) |
505 |
26.17 |
31.49 |
68.21 |
78.88 |
|
|
2000-2001 (SGSY) |
517 |
29.53 |
41.91 |
79.22 |
112.66 |
|
(Source: Additional Deputy Commissioner
(Development), Fatehgarh Sahib)
Besides,
the above development programmes,
District Rural Development Agency has been entrusted with the work of
all round development of villages through Block Development and Panchayat
Officers. During the period 1996-97 to 2000-2001 Rs 491.64 lakhs were spent in
the Fatehgarh Sahib District to provide basic facilities to the people such as
pakka streets, drainage, dharamshalas, school buildings, sheds for cremation
grounds, etc.
APPENDIX I (Vide page 234)Rates of Pay Fixed for the Class IV Government Employees Working in
the Fatehgarh Sahib District, as on |
||||
|
Serial No. |
Class of
labourers/workers |
Rates of pay (Rs) |
||
|
|
|
Per day |
Part time |
Per month |
|
1 |
Chowkidar, Sewadar,
Mali-cum Chowkidar, Telephone Peon, Peon-cum-Chowkidar,
Sweeper-cum-Chowkidar, Beldars, Mazdoor, Mali, Safai Sewak, Dak runner, Server,
Dak Munshi, Mochi, Assistant Cook, Free Main, Pankha Coolie, Faras Khalasi,
Hospital cook, Welder Boy, Blacksmith 2nd Class, Tailor with
Sewing Machine, Cane Ware, Additional Conductor, Women Labour, Gang man, Gate
man, Fisherman without net, Press Mechanic, Kohar, Gunman, Flagman,
Information Centre Attendant, Misalchi, Barber, Paker, Pump Driver, Dhobi,
Moulders, Fitter, Waiter. |
76.95 |
250.00 |
2000.00 |
|
2 |
Tractor Driver, Tractor
Mechanic |
79.00 |
257.00 257.61 |
2041.35 |
|
3 |
Electrician, Aara Mistri,
Skilled Labour |
87.55 |
284.53 |
2276.25 2262.00 |
|
4 |
Conductor, Clerk |
89.05 |
289.41 |
2315.05 |
|
5 |
Driver Light Vehicle |
93.70 |
304.52 |
2436.25 |
|
6 |
Forman Diploma Holder |
94.45 |
307.00 |
2455.65 |
|
7 |
Clerk, Typist, Crane Operator, Mate, Retired
Patwari, Silai Teacher, Hammer man Labour, |
94.65 |
307.61 |
2461.10 |
|
8 |
Steno Typist, Driver Heavy
Vehicle |
105.15 |
342.00 |
2734.35 |
|
9 |
Painter Grade IInd
Class, Carpenter IInd Class, Fisherman with Net, Bulldozer Mistri,
|
118.00 |
383.50 |
2723.00 |
|
10 |
Carpenter Ist Class |
121.00 |
393.25 |
3005.00 |
|
11 |
Blacksmith Ist Class,
Raj Mistri, Man with Ox, Man with Camel |
139.60 |
454.00 |
3630.45 |
(Source: Deputy
Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib)
APPENDIX- II (Vide page 238)
Work done by the District Employment Exchange
Fatehgarh Sahib during the years 1992-93, and1996-97 to 2000-2001.
|
Year |
Number of registrations during the year |
No.of vacancies notified |
No.of applicants placed in employment during the year |
Applicants on live register at the end of the year |
Monthly No.of employees using the exchange |
No.of vacancies being carried over at the end of year. |
|||||||
|
1992-93 |
10,703 |
503 |
261 |
16,261 |
21 |
152 |
|||||||
|
1996-97 |
4,300 |
228 |
41 |
1,151 |
28 |
68 |
|||||||
|
1997-98 |
3,260 |
165 |
142 |
11,081 |
24 |
43 |
|||||||
|
1998-99 |
2,720 |
184 |
36 |
11,453 |
24 |
54 |
|||||||
|
1999-2000 |
2,773 |
104 |
14 |
11,740 |
26 |
48 |
|||||||
|
2000-2001 |
2,602 |
197 |
40 |
12,429 |
31 |
58 |
|||||||
(Source :- District Employment Officer, Fatehgarh Sahib.)