Coimbatore District has started implementing the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), a Central Government scheme, on a pilot basis at Periyanaickenpalayam.
An official of the District Administration, who handles the Mahalir Thittam, told The Hindu on Friday that four blocks were identified in the district for the scheme and would be extended to all the other blocks by the end of March 2014.
The scheme aimed at poverty reduction at the village-level by supporting and encouraging the local people to take up economic activities that would meet the demand of each panchayat. While some activities would receive grant from the government others would get funds through bank loan.
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The official said that a special gram sabha meeting was held this year at Periyanaickenpalayam and orientation meetings would be organised soon for the elected and non-elected members at every panchayat in the block. Community professionals would conduct a survey and identify the beneficiaries.
Under the scheme, village-level poverty reduction committees would be formed only with the local people as its members and the committees would not have representatives of Government or other organisations.
The committee would identify the needs of the villages.
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Most of the requirements would be met through economic activities taken up by the beneficiaries identified by the committee and they would get financial support through bank loan. The Government subsidy would be used for skill training, livelihood assistance to the needy, grant for some farm activities, etc.
“This is not a target-oriented scheme but a need-based one.”