Report of the Steering Committee on Rural Poverty Alleviation, Watershed Development, Decentralised Planning and Panchayati Raj Institutions for the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007)

Abstract

The Report of the Steering Committee on Rural Poverty Alleviation, Watershed Development, Decentralised Planning and Panchayati Raj Institutions for the Tenth Five Year Plan, prepared by the Planning Commission, presents a comprehensive strategy to reduce rural poverty through integrated economic growth, targeted anti-poverty programmes, natural resource management, and institutional decentralisation. Drawing upon findings of multiple Working Groups, the report highlights the decline in rural poverty between 1993–94 and 1999–2000 while acknowledging persistent deprivation among landless and marginalized populations. It emphasizes restructuring self-employment initiatives under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana by merging earlier schemes such as Integrated Rural Development Programme into a holistic, credit-cum-subsidy, group-based microenterprise model centered on Self Help Groups (SHGs), supported by institutions like National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and Rashtriya Mahila Kosh. The report also recommends strengthening wage employment schemes, rationalizing rural housing with targeted assistance for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, expanding social security measures, and promoting land reforms to address structural inequalities. Recognizing the strong link between land degradation and poverty, it advocates participatory watershed development covering extensive degraded areas, integrating agricultural support services and non-farm employment opportunities. A major thrust is placed on empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions through effective administrative and financial devolution to ensure decentralized planning, transparency, and community participation in programme implementation. Overall, the report underscores a shift toward process-oriented, participatory, and credit-linked development strategies aimed at sustainable livelihood generation, inclusive growth, and long-term rural transformation.