Question

Which of the following programme has considered the "poorest of the poor" people as its target group?

• A. Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)
• B. Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
• C. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)
• D. Jawaharlal Nehru Rozgar Yojana (JRY)

Hint:

Antyodaya = Upliftment of the last person.
IRDP was the "Umbrella" scheme for rural self-employment in the 80s and 90s.
If the question mentions "Self-employment" or "Poorest of the poor," IRDP is the key.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the major rural development program in India that specifically used the "Antyodaya" principle—targeting the most destitute or "poorest of the poor" households.
Detailed Explanation:

• IRDP Background:
Launched on a pilot basis in 1978-79 and extended to all blocks in 1980.
It was a self-employment program intended to raise families below the poverty line (BPL) through the acquisition of productive assets (like livestock, equipment, or shops).

• Target Group Philosophy:
IRDP followed the "Antyodaya" approach. This meant that within the BPL list, the families with the lowest income levels (the bottom of the pyramid) were given priority for receiving loans and subsidies.
The focus was on long-term income generation rather than just temporary wage employment.

• Comparison with other programs:
TRYSEM: A sub-component of IRDP focused specifically on training youth ($18-35$ years).
IAY: Focused specifically on housing for BPL families.
JRY: A wage-employment program (creating manual labor jobs in villages).

• Evolution:
IRDP, along with its sub-schemes, was later merged into the SGSY (Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana) in 1999, and subsequently became NRLM (National Rural Livelihoods Mission).

Step 2: Final Answer:
The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) is classically associated with the strategy of targeting the "poorest of the poor."