Concurrent Evaluation of Swaranjayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)

Launched on April 01, 1999, SGSY is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Rural Development. This is a holistic programme covering all aspects of self-employment such as organisation of the poor into self-help groups (SHGs), training, credit, technology, infrastructure and marketing. The objective of SGSY is to bring the assisted poor families (swarozgaris) above the poverty line in three years. Subject to availability of funds, the effort is to cover 30% of the poor families in each block in five years.

The Ministry had undertaken a concurrent evaluation of SGSY to assess the impact of the programme in all the districts (581) of the country, where this programme is being implemented. CMD was the nodal agency for the evaluation and entrusted with the task of preparing the All India report. Twenty-nine agencies were involved in data collection through structured schedules and PRA exercises. CMD was also the field agency for data collection in 14 districts in Kerala, 20 districts in Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep. The study was completed and the final report submitted to MoRD.