Question

The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (Universal Rural Employment Programme) was launched in 2001 and was implemented through

• A. Labour offices
• B. Government
• C. Panchayati Raj Institutions
• D. All the above

Hint:

For questions about rural development schemes in India, especially after the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, remember that the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are almost always the key implementing agencies at the local level. This reflects the principle of democratic decentralization.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) was a major rural development scheme launched by the Government of India. The question asks about the primary agency responsible for its implementation at the ground level.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) was launched on 25 September 2001 by merging two ongoing schemes: the Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) and the Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY).
The main objectives of the scheme were to provide additional wage employment in rural areas, create durable community assets, and ensure food security.
A key feature of the SGRY was its decentralized implementation. The programme was implemented through the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The resources (both cash and food grains) were distributed among the three tiers of PRIs: the Zila Parishads (District level), Panchayat Samitis (Block level), and Village Panchayats (Village level). These bodies were responsible for planning, executing, and monitoring the works under the scheme.
While the scheme was launched by the central Government (B) and involved various departments, the direct implementing agencies were the PRIs. Therefore, (C) is the most accurate answer. (Later, in 2006, the SGRY was subsumed into the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act - NREGA, now MGNREGA, which also relies heavily on PRIs for implementation).