GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, RURAL DEVELOPMENT,

5^th FLOOR, INSURANCE BUILDING, TILAK ROAD, ABIDS, HYDERABAD.

Ph.No.040-24754666, 24760910, Fax.No.040-24754976

 

Circular No.CLDP-1, dated 31-08-2004

 

Sub:- Comprehensive Land Development Project – Clarification – Reg.

* * *

A draft implementation plan on Comprehensive Land Development Project has already been communicated to all the District Collectors and the District Officers.  A no. of issues have come up in the discussion during the recently held videoconference with the District Collectors on 19^th & 21^st August, 2004.  Clarifications have been given to no. of questions that were raised in the conference.  The District Collectors have contributed many ideas for enriching the quality of the project.  Following is the circular that contains all these matters to guide the District Collectors and the District Officers for effectively implementing project.

 

I.                 Objectives:

 

1)         The objective of the Comprehensive Land Development Project is to provide an integrated and comprehensive livelihood options, centred around development of compact blocks of assigned lands and the lands owned by the poor to ensure that these lands become productive assets for the poor.  The project targets the individuals (i.e. small and marginal farmers) to develop their un-productive lands so that food security and livelihood are ensured by appropriate on-farm and off-farm interventions.

 

The end results of the project shall be:

s        The lands covered under the project are completely treated with good vegetative cover and all measures to enhance productive capacity of the lands.

s        The lands covered under the project are fully brought into a diversified farming system including livestock rearing – providing for subsistence part of the food, fodder, fuel needs of the households.

 

II.            Coverage of beneficiaries:

 

2)         The project is expected to cover the lands belong to the poor particularly the poorest. There is no objection if in any particular district, the project is dedicated to develop assigned/surplus lands only. 

 

3)         The project targets the poorest of the poor. The coverage is generally in proportion to the population below poverty line.  A minimum of 50% of physical and financial allocations should go to SCs, 10% of physical and financial allocations should go to STs.  Wherever ST population is more the physical and financial allocations can be increased liberally in their favour.

 

4)         In case of north coastal districts, where the percentage of Backward Classes is higher, it is suggested to follow the same percentage as the percentage of BC/SC/STs covering the BPL families in the district.  For example, if in Srikakulam district, 50% of BPL families belong to BC community, the project can be provide 50% of physical & financial support for BCs.

5)         The lands purchased under land purchase scheme of S.C. Corporation, which are productive and fit for cultivation, it is advised that this project money can not be invested again on such purchased lands.

 

III.        Project period:

 

6)         The project provides fund support for a period of three years.  Wherever the comprehensive plan developed for a particular block, requires support beyond three years i.e. in case of Bio-diesel plantation etc., it is advised that the financial input beyond three years may have to be tied up with other programmes.  On the other hand if a project in any block can be completed in a shorter period, it could be completed so, without stretching till the end of project period.

 

7)         It is important to complete the project within the project period. Hence more no. of blocks may be taken up in the first year itself in order to provide hand holding support during the rest of the project period.

 

IV.          Funding pattern:

 

8)         CLDP is funded by NABARD under two streams. Under RIDF-IX for Rs.200 cores and under RIDF-X for Rs.300 crores.  As far as RIDF-IX is concerned, the project is already cleared by NABARD. The Collectors are advised to implement the project within the ceiling fixed for each mandal as already indicated.  As far as RIDF-X is concerned the projects have to be cleared by NABARD.  Hence the Collectors are advised to submit the project proposals in two batches for RIDF-X.  The first batch of RIDF-X can be submitted in one instalment to CRD for obtaining clearance from NABARD.   The Project Report should contain the details indicated in the check list enclosed.  The allocation under RIDF-X to each district will be communicated separately.

 

9)         The project provides 90% of the cost as grant to the beneficiaries and 10% to be mobilized as contribution from the beneficiaries in the form of labour.  However for some components of the project, such as working capital or crop loans, the same may be mobilized through Banks. For providing Animal Husbandry activities, such as milch cattle and sheep etc. the existing funding pattern of the progrmames can be followed.

 

10)   NABARD has permitted utilization of funds for training  & Capacity Building, Survey & Investigation and Monitoring & Evaluation in the proportion as indicated below:

 

a.     Training & Capacity Building  - 5% of the Project cost

b.     Survey & investigation – 1.5%           - do -

c.      Monitoring & Evaluation - 3.5%                        - do –

 

The Collectors are advised to pool this fund at the district level and invest in Training & Capacity Building, Survey & Investigation and Monitoring & Evaluation.  This money can also be used to pay for consultancy fees or to engage subject experts on long term basis.  The Collectors can access the services of reputed Resource Organizations and can meet the cost from the fund pooled at the district level.

 

11)   The rice available in the district intended for creation of wage employment can also be used to cover larger areas within the financial allocation made to the mandal / district under this project.

 

12)   The funding pattern of other ongoing schemes with loan, subsidy and margin money need not and should not impact CLDP. The Collectors can combine all these programmes together with CLDP and offer comprehensive packages to the target groups.

 

V.               Flow of funds:

 

13)   The funds are released to Project Director, D.W.M.A. in the first instance. Project Director, D.W.M.A. will release funds to the agencies / organizations / departments who have adopted the blocks for CLDP. These agencies will in turn release funds to the village organisations combined with the funds of their departmental programmes.  Ultimately the village organization gets it as a single package of all departmental activities pertaining to their lands and people.

 

14)   The agencies of S.C. Corporation, B.C. Corporation, I.T.D.A., Velugu, Forest and other line departments can adopt some blocks of lands / mandals for implementation of Comprehensive Land Development Project. 

 

15)   The project fund will be released to Community Based Organizations such as Village Organizations / Rythu Mitra groups / Common Interest Groups for implementing the project at village level.

 

VI.          Activities:

 

16)   The project will adopt Farming System approach instead of taking up interventions in isolation.  The Farming System envisages integrated and comprehensive approach covering Agricultural, Animal Husbandry and allied activities through which the eco system is managed for sustainable livelihoods.

 

17)   The project envisages the dovetailing of resources under various departmental programmes like Horticulture, Sericulture, S.C. Corporation, B.C. Corporation, Velugu, Forest etc. They can combine their programmes along with CLDP and give as one package to the beneficiaries in the prioritised block.

 

18)   The CLDP is primarily for development of dry and degraded lands. Farm bunds, plantation on the bunds, farm ponds etc. need to be taken up as the lands will be located in slopes and ridge areas.

 

19)   The project is aimed at supporting the rain fed agriculture and the lands located in the backward and ridge areas.  Small scale minor irrigation under tanks can also be taken up.  Drilling of bore wells should be the last priority.

 

20)   The Comprehensive Land Development Project has to provide sustenance to distress migration of small and marginal farmers.  This is a big challenge to the district administration.  Suitable off-farm livelihoods are to be provided depending up on the adoptability of the beneficiary.  Necessary training should be given to the beneficiary in maintenance of the assets.

 

21)   The project looks at providing sustainable livelihoods to the poor along with dry land agriculture and off-farm activities like Diary and rearing of small ruminants. In all such cases fodder raising can be an integral component of the project. Inter cropping and raising of drought resistant crops to be encouraged.

 

22)   The project can support revival of lift irrigation schemes, bore wells, Community Irrigation wells taken up by DRDAs or SC Corporation in the past. Regarding investing project money for taking up repairs to Minor Irrigation tanks of I & CAD or Panahchayt Raj department, the Collectors are advised not to invest the project fund for such repairs.

 

23)   The AP Micro Irrigation Project can be combined with Comprehensive Land Development Project.

 

24)   New supply channels to the existing minor irrigation tanks can be taken up to benefit the lands of SCs / STs / BCs.

 

25)   The Department of Tribal Welfare has specific programmes for           tribes such as Chenchus and Yanadis.  The District Collectors can take advantage and dovetail them with Comprehensive Land Development Project in such districts.

 

VII.      Selection criteria:

 

26)   It is advised that 3-4 blocks of lands may be identified in each mandal instead of thinly spreading the project among many blocks in a mandal.  It is also advised that in the identified 3-4 blocks intensive inputs may given.

 

27)   Along with the assigned and surplus lands, the government lands which have potential to provide sustainable livelihood to the poor can also be taken up.

 

28)   If any of the priority mandal /block falling out side the Velugu mandals can also be considered. In the absence of Village Organizations, other community based organisations such as Rythu Mitras / Common Interest Groups / User Groups can implement the project.

 

29)   Each project is unique for each block.  The project should be combination of activities specific to the local conditions and the needs of the people.

 

30)   While implementing the Comprehensive Land Development Project   care should be taken that the lands identified for development are not alienated to others by the assignees. Proper possession and enjoyment of the land by the beneficiaries should be verified.  Alienated lands should not be taken up under this project.

 

31)   Commissioner, Rural Development will communicate criteria for select of lands.   The criteria could be the lands located in most backward areas, upland mandals, agency areas, dry and degraded lands, the lands exclusively owned by SCs, STs, BCs etc.

 

VIII. Fixing up a block:

 

32)   The area of the block of land is not exactly 10 acres.  It may vary depending upon local conditions. But it is advisable to have minimum of 10 acres in each block as it would cover at least 4-5 families who can be formed as a Common Interest Group.

 

IX.          Fixing of cost per block or acre:

 

33)   It is clarified that the project does not prescribe a fixed unit cost per acre. It is found that different lands require different levels of investments.  Moreover, since the project envisages a comprehensive package, it is difficult to prescribe a fixed cost per acre.  The District Collectors are advised to assess the reasonableness of the cost with reference to standard unit cost being adopted by various projects and then approve the unit cost based on the actual requirement. 

 

X.               Formation of Teams / Committees:

 

34)   The State Level Resource Group (SLRG) will develop the training modules for the Project Facilitation Teams (PFT).  The members of SLRG will conduct first round of training to the TOTs in the first week of September 2004.  The Collectors are advised to finalize the list of PFTs by the end of August 04.

 

35)   The Collectors have been advised to constitute the District Level Committee.  This committee should be like a “think tank” to stimulate the thinking process at various levels. This committee should be able to select the right persons for Project Facilitation Teams. 

 

36)   These committees to visit collectively to some of the successful & failed of land development projects.  The committee should sit through a no.of brain storming session to learn the lessons from the ground. The committee should develop clarity on the approach to be adopted for CLDP.  Good resource NGOs or experts can also be members of DLC.

 

37)   In addition to District Level Committee, Functional sub-committees on Training, Technical, Financial and Human Resources can be formed by involving the persons who have the necessary expertise in these matters. They should make required arrangements in advance by close monitoring of implementation of the project in each block of land/mandal and district as a whole.

 

38)   Departmental officials having right attitude and proper orientation need to be deployed for this project.

 

39)   The Project Facilitation Teams will have to be constituted by the District Collectors with the members who have experience and expertise in promoting process oriented, community driven participatory development. The members of this team should have right attitude and orientation in facilitating the community participation and help them in formulation of the project, in each identified block of land.

 

40)   The PFT need to be properly trained and oriented to the aims and Objectives of the CLDP. People of right attitude are to be included in the PFT.  The District Collectors can evolve their own options in formulation of PFTs. 10% of the fund earmarked for Survey and Investigation, Monitoring and evaluation, Training and Capacity building can be utilized for payment of remuneration to outsiders if they are farmed part of the PFT.

 

41)   While constituting the Project Facilitation Teams, one functionary of S.C. Corporation who has the knowledge of the land development project taken up by S.C. Corporation earlier can be included in the team.

 

XI.          Implementation arrangements at village level:

 

42)   The success of project largely depends on the capacity of Village Organization to design, implement and monitor the project.  Hence lot of attention has to be paid to build the capacity of Village Organizations.

 

43)   For each block there should be two activists as para-workers (one male and one female). They should be trained for a period of 2-3 months in different spells and their capacities should be constantly upgraded and strengthened so that they provide constant support and guidance at the village level through out the project period.

 

XII.      Preparatory activities:

 

44)   A benchmark survey of the lands and house holds should be made before implementation of the Project so that the changes brought through the implementation of CLDP can be assessed by periodic monitoring and evaluation of the project.

 

45)   All the revenue related problems like issue of Pattas, handing over of possession of land need to be sorted out by revenue officials at the earliest.  Since the availability of adequate no.of surveyors is a problem in all the districts, it is advised that Collectors may use the project funds to train un-employed youth as Surveyors for 3-4 months and utilize their services and pay them on the basis of work done.

 

 

 

XIII. Meticulous Planning for success:

 

46)   7 factors that would guarantee sustainable benefits to the target group

 

1.    Clear understanding among the members of the district level committee-where, what, how, why, when etc

 

o        Evaluate district specific experiences

o        Study successes and failures

o        Identify the critical gaps and processes

o        Identify technical support needed and be clear how to access

o        Recognition that a comprehensive package is to  be delivered to the target group, the components of which flows, not from one, but from various line agencies.

 

2.    Constitution and capacity building of the ‘Project Facilitation Teams’

 

o        Visits the land

o        Holds series of dialogues with the land owners

o        Discuss the possible options for development

o        Develops a comprehensive proposals

o        Discusses the implementation arrangements and fund flow

o        Identifies the activists for each block of land

 

3.    Formulation of a comprehensive package

 

4.    The capacity of the village organization to act as Project Implementation Agency

5.    Building a cadre of activists and developing mechanisms for regular interactions with the activists

6.    Designate one field functionary responsible for providing supportive guidance and linkages to the common interest group

7.    Designate one district level agency for overall supervision and process monitoring

 

47)   The realisation of benefits through CLDP should be multiples of   investments. Therefore, proper implementation and good monitoring system are the key elements for success of this project.

 

48)   The project should be meticulously planed and thoroughly implemented for long term sustainability.

 

XIV.    Energisation:

 

49)   The project can support the energisation of existing bore wells.  The District Collectors can workout the additional requirement of energisation of pump sets and send to Commissioner, Rural Development so as to take up the matter with TRANSCO at state level.

 

 

 

 

XV.        Use of machines:

 

50)   Use of Machines for earth work should be discouraged. However, wherever use of Machines is inevitable, Collectors may engage Machines as an exception after carefully examining each and every such case.

 

XVI.    Partnership with others:

 

51)   Private partnership with corporate firms can be examined but the beneficiary should not lease out or alienate the lands to corporate firms.  The corporate firms can provide technical, marketing and working capital support with back arrangements.

 

 

XVII. Mile stones in the project implementation:

 

52)   The CLDP will have the following milestones in the project cycle.

 

o        Identification

o        First dialogue

o        Umbrella agreement

o        Release of CB money to the CIG

o        Second dialogue

o        Project formulation

o        Appraisal and sanction of the project by the district committee

o        Submission of proposals as 1^st batch to the CRD

o        Release of money by PD DWMA to the VOs

o        Capacity Building

o        Implementation and monitoring

 

XVIII. Timeline of activities / targets:

 

53)   Regarding the time line, it is clarified that no dead lines will be fixed at the state level to reach the mile stones.  The Collectors are advised to develop the time line duly giving adequate time for various processes which are very important.

 

54)   The District Collectors are free to decide their targets. While adopting the targets, care should taken that the process of implementation and the quality of the programme should not be compromised.

 

XIX.    Monitoring mechanism:

 

55)   Village Organization should be trained to closely monitor the project. Mechanism such as Social Audit has to be introduced at village level.

 

56)   Training& Capacity Building, Monitoring& Evaluation should be done in a professional manner. It is desirable to have good resources persons from the line departments, NGOs and Training & Research institutions for Capacity Building, Monitoring & Evaluation etc.10% of the project fund earmarked together for Training & CB, M&E and Survey & Investigation can be utilized for this purpose. Professional services of experts can be hired for technology support.

 

XX.        Submission of proposals under RIDF-X:

 

57)   Proposals under RIDF-X project have to be submitted in one batch by the end of October, 2004.

 

XXI.    Training of officials:

 

58)   The officials of S.C. Corporation, B.C. Corporation and also line departmental officials may be exposed to the Community Based Organizations like Village Organizations, Mandal Samakhyas etc created under VELUGU.

 

XXII. Experiences of sustainable interventions:

 

59)   Community sharing of water was considered as a suitable option instead of every individual desiring to go for a bore well.

 

60)   It is advisable to have a Pilot PFT to be formed with right attitude persons for preparation of model project proposal for the district and also to get the people perceptions about the project before going for the entire district.

 

61)   Providing for life saving irrigation during rice spells and failure of monsoon.

 

62)    Provision for indemnifying the risk taken by the farmer.

 

63)   Guaranteeing of wage even if the farmer worked in his own fields without which sustenance of his family could not be assured.

 

Government have decided to launch the project on November 19^th (Birth Day of Smt. Indira Gandhi).  The Collectors are advised to develop proposals for atleast 25 to 30 blocks at the earliest for launching the project on19^th November, 2004.

 

Sd/- K. RAJU

COMMISSIONER: RD

To

The CEO, Velugu

The Commissioner, Tribal Welfare

The Managing Director, SC Corporation

The Managing Director, BC Corporation

All the District Collectors,

All the Project Directors, DWMA/Velugu

All the EDs of SC Corporation.

All the EDs of BC Corporation.

All the Project Officers, ITDA.