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Issue: January-June 2010, Vol.14 No.1&2

Issue Title: Mid-Term Evaluation of Eleventh Five Year Plan of Daman and Diu

Author: Pramod K Singh

MID-TERM EVALUATION OF ELEVENTH FIVE YEAR PLAN OF DAMAN AND DIU
Pramod K. Singh

Most employment is generated through small scale industries and all these industries together employ about 71,000 workers. More than 80% of the workers in this UT are engaged in non-farm and industrial sector. Due to rapid industrialization poverty levels in the UT have gone down.
The thrust of the Eleventh Five Year Plan is social inclusion coupled with provision of improved livelihood opportunities. Out of the total 535 BPL families, only 147 HHs demanded employment under NREGS till October, 2009. However, only 65 HHs got opportunity to work under NREGS. In all, 385 employment days were generated. In the same vein, budget utilization is also 78.35%. Only 3-4 villages are covered under this scheme. As compared to other states, Daman and Diu has hardly shown any progress in this scheme. Under PMGSY total 98.37 km of roads have been developed and the majority of the UT habitation is covered. The UT of Daman and Diu has covered all the beneficiaries under IAY. Since 1997 to 2009 they have achieved 94% success against the target. Daman and Diu has considerably done well under NSAP.
The Eleventh Plan looks at education as the most vital and crucial investment in human development. The overall literacy rates in Daman and Diu are impressive. The total literacy rate as per the census stands at 78.18 per cent. However, the gap between male literacy rate (86.76%) and female literacy rate (65.61%) is a matter of concern. Daman and Diu has the lowest sex ratio in the country - 710 women for every 1,000 men. Dropout rate has decreased by 2% during last 3 years. The dropout rate in Daman and Diu has decreased over the years and a proper and efficient execution of the MDM scheme in the UTs is partially credited with this particular achievement. However, students are receiving quality food under MDM. There is a need to focus on skill development of the teachers, and education tools and library. The SSA should be made more focused to target the tribal populations.
It is increasingly recognized that good health is an important contributor to productivity and economic growth, but it is, first and foremost, an end in itself. NRHM program has been implemented to its full extent for the last 4 years and by now the UTs have attained the requisite level of quality, technology, institutional strength as per the guidelines of NRHM. The UT has one hospital, 2 primary health centers, 1 rural medicine dispensary and 6 sub centers. Thus, as per the norms, Daman and Diu have high quality of health infrastructure and adequate staff members. Daman and Diu have witnessed a very low infant mortality rate of 31 per 1000 birth as against 57 for India, a maternal mortality rate of 50 per 1000 birth as against 254 for India and a total fertility rate of 2.1 as against 2.72 for India. Levels of malnutrition and anemia are also very low. The good state of public health in Daman and Diu is due to less unemployment, high education level, high per capita income and the success of MSY, ICDS and NRHM programmes. The government is also distributing folic acid tablets and de-worming tablets, which are easily available in all health service centers. The study was conducted by IRMA team comprising Pramod K. Singh (Coordinator), Ajay Dandekar, and SN Biswas.
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The author can be contacted at : pramod@irma.ac.in
Based on the requests of the Planning Commission, Government of India, Mid-Term Evaluation of Eleventh Five Year Plan of Daman and Diu was undertaken by IRMA. The study had two components: (i) study of monitorable indicators, and (ii) performance of flagship programmes. Performance of Daman and Diu on the basis of 12 monitorable indicators was done. These indicators were agriculture growth rate, new work opportunities, poverty ratio, dropout rate in elementary school, literacy rate, gender gap in literacy rate, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, and total fertility rate. Data on industry and tourism, which contribute a major share in GDP of Daman and Diu, is maintained in Daman and Diu. Hence it was also not possible for the study team to arrive at any GDP estimate for Daman and Diu. Eight flagship programs are in implementation stage in Daman and Diu. They are Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Mid Day Meal (MDM), and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
Food grains production in Daman and Diu showed a steady decline since 1997-98. From a high of about 9000 tonnes of food grains production in 1997-98, it declined to about 4000 tonnes in 2007-08 due to small fragmented holdings, land use diversion from agriculture to industrial and residential purpose, water pollution due to industrial development, and lack of irrigation facility. The UT has not implemented any centrally sponsored programmes/schemes in agriculture. Milk production in the UT increased from about 400 tonnes annually in 1997-98 to about 900 tonnes in 2008-09. Production of eggs in Daman and Diu showed a decline of about 70% since 1997-98. The district of Daman witnessed a decline in fish catch from an annual catch of 3.50 tonnes to 1 tonne whereas the district of Diu saw an increase in fish catch from 13.87 tonnes in 1997-98 to 17 tonnes in 2008-09.