UPA's development report card

The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has completed nine years in power, and the countdown for the next general elections in 2014 has begun. Though in the past four years the government has been rocked by corruption scandals and leadership paralysis, UPA has been hyping its development agenda for rural areas and hopes to come back to power on its strength. Since 2004, the government has been creating legally enforceable entitlements for basic necessities: right to information, rural employment guarantee programme and the Forest Rights Act are in force, while the Right to Food Bill and the new Land Acquisition and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill are pending Parliament approval. Down To Earth has been tracking all the UPA flagship programmes with wide field reportage and incisive analysis. A quick look at the progress of these programmes to help you arrive at your own verdict on UPA's development agenda:

481 million households employed till now, but job demand is coming down

9.5 million works taken up

But only 1.3 million works completed

Verdict: Had huge potential for rural rejuvenation but lack of village-level planning killed it

DTE analysis: 2013

• How MGNREGA blew Rs 10,853 crore
• MGNREGA inefficiently managed, finds CAG
• The poorest shun MGNREGA
• Victim of its success

DTE analysis: 2012

• Centre launches MGNREGA 2.0
• Grains of doubt

DTE analysis: 2011

• A million opportunities lost
• The swing

DTE analysis: 2010

• How women seized NREGA

DTE analysis: 2006

• Rs 85,303 crore bust

32,42,766 claims have been filed

12,98,582 titles have been distributed

0.6 million community rights recognised

But just a few thousand give people the right over minor forest produce like bamboo and tendu

Verdict: The law means a lot for the tribal population, but government wants to dilute it

DTE analysis: 2013

• Gram sabha gets a boost
• Another village, this time in Odisha, gets official permit to sell bamboo
• Bamboo rising

DTE analysis: 2010

• How government is subverting forest rights act

Will benefit 70% rural households through subsidised foodgrains

Entitlements under proposed law still not clear

Pending in Parliament, but states have started enacting their own food security laws

Verdict: Political uncertainty may hinder its passage

DTE analysis: 2013

• A bill to secure food for the poor
• Public Deprived System
• A token gesture for food security
• Activists reject Parliament panels's food security bill recommendations
• Parliament committee proposes no increase in foodgrain entitlement in Food Security Bill
• Parties steal Congress show

Will replace a colonial law and arms government with powers to acquire private land

But the Bill is being opposed vehemently

Pending in Parliament

There is no consensus on the Bill even though main Opposition party supports it

Verdict: A compromised bill may not protect people from unfair compensation and rehabilitation

DTE analysis: 2013

• A compromised consensus
• Long road to justice

DTE analysis: 2012

• GoM clears Land Acquisition Bill
• 'Downsize state's eminent domain powers'

DTE analysis: 2011

• New land acquisition bill will aggravate farmers' distress: legal experts

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