This scheme seeks to provide gainful employment to the Urban Poor through encouraging setting up of self-employment ventures or provision for wage employment. The SJSRY is funded on a 75:25 basis between the centre and the state.The SJSRY is the scheme developed on the old models of Urban Basic Services for Poor (UBSP) and Nehru Rozgar Yojana (NRY) Schemes. Before going into the present state of SJSRY, it is better to examine the financial achievement under the old schemes, wherein the top down method of implementation was in practice.  

As on 1.12.1997, when the present SJSRY, scheme came into effect the unspent balance was as high as Rs. 4888.75 lakhs, wherein unspent central share was Rs.2071.86 and unspent state share was Rs. 2816.89 lakhs. This implies that about three years allocated funds were not utilised as per the programme. 

Including unspent balance of Rs. 4888.75 lakhs, the allocated fund from 1997-98 to 2004-05 totaling to Rs. 13108.88 lakhs.

The CDS is made an independent body to keep free from local political interference. But, in reality in some cases compromises have been reached between project staff and ULBs' members, corporators etc. So much so in some cases CDSs have been sidelined and things take place as per the dictum of members of ULBs. This needs to be examined.

The SJSRY Scheme came into effect from 1.12.1997 and as per the guidelines issued by the Govt.of India, a survey was conducted and the BPL families identified, in the urban areas, by following a matrix of parameters pertaining to the economic status of the family. The Households having an annual income of not more than Rs.23,124/- were enlisted as below poverty line families. The survey was conducted during May 1998.  

For the purpose of identifying an urban poor household living below poverty line, certain non-economic parameters also such as the type of construction of house, facilities available such as water and sanitation, education level and status of children, type of employment etc., were taken into account for assigning weight-age. The annual income for identification of BPL families as per 1991-92 prices was Rs.11,850/-. In view of the inflation and rise in the price index, the annual family income was revised to Rs.23,124/- as per the orders issued by the Govt. of India bearing No.K-11019/103/MIS/UPA/97 dated 8.10.97. As per the Govt of India order, it was stated that in the urban areas of Karnataka an individual is said to be living below the poverty line if his monthly income is less than Rs.385.40. Therefore, taking that monthly income as an index, annual family income of a BPL family household was calculated as follows:  

Rs.385.40 * 12 months * 5 members (of an average family) = Rs.23,124/-  

This annual family income of a BPL household was finalised in a meeting taken by the Secretary-II, Urban Dev. Dept., on 27.10.97 and 28.10.97, vide proceedings NO.UDD/ 51/UPA / 97 . This was reiterated by the Govt. in order No.UDD/67/UPA 97, dt.15.11.1997.  

As per the above guidelines, the survey conducted for identification of BPL families indicated that, there are 8,91,771 BPL households in the urban areas in the state. Subsequently, in the SLSC meeting held on 6.8.99, it was decided to include the left over BPL households by conducting a re-survey. After the re-survey, the list of BPL households has been updated and the total number of BPL families in urban areas as on 31.3.2003 is 900431

   The SJSRY consists of two special components namely,

Under this scheme, unemployed person of the BPL family is eligible to avail individual loan facility of Rs.50,000/- to set up enterprise with maximum subsidy of Rs. 7500/-. The total allocation under this component including old balance is Rs. 1440.77 lakhs i.e. 14% of the total allocation. As of now, an amount of Rs.6337.53 lakhs of loan and Rs.1149.61 lakhs of subsidy has been uitilised.

This scheme provides, the groups of women to set up self-employment ventures. The group should consist of at least, 10 urban poor women.

The project cost is not limited but subsidy is restricted to 50% of the project cost subject to max subsidy of Rs.1.25 lakhs. Under this scheme the total fund released is Rs. 1187.89 lakhs. The no. of groups availed the facility are 1084 with a loan amount of Rs.831.88 lakhs and subsidy of Rs. 772.86 lakhs.  

If groups of women sets up thrift and credit groups, they are eligible for lump sum grant of Rs. 20,000.00 as revolving fund at the rate of Rs.1,000.00 maximum per member. The total money earmarked for the scheme is Rs.1264.41 lakhs. Already there are 9200 groups existing in the State urban areas.

The group earns interest on their savings and also lends money to the members of the society. The total loan availed under TCS is Rs.3800.70 lakhs.  

Total amount released Rs.1129.85 lakhs and the expenditure is Rs.1129.85 lakhs and number of beneficiaries trained are 68345 

The achievement under this component is almost 100% with useful qualitative improvements provided, in the area of child's health, nutrition, health hygiene medical help rendered to women, aged etc.  
            Still more important areas required to be identified during evaluation.  

Most of the families living below poverty line are labour class in unorganised sections without job; these persons often fall into undesired social habits, which drag them into unlawful activities. 

Hence, this programme is very much helpful in creating urban wage employment to the members of the BPL families. These works are selected and implemented by the BPL families; the works help in improving infrastructure facilities like roads, drainages, community halls, etc.  

The total allocation under this component is Rs.5410.57 lakhs and amount spent so far is Rs.4993.29 lakhs.  

The amount released under this component is to be spent on creating infrastructure facilities.

As per the guidelines, Government has constituted, State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC), TUPEC and District Urban Development Authorities (DUDA) to implement the scheme most effectively. The general impression is that, at the DUDA level, the proposals sent by CDS have not been approved on time and this has resulted in delay in the implementation.  

The district level committee also approves the works taken under other schemes like IDSMT, 10th Finance commission. All these sanctions are delayed. Hence, this needs evaluation, on the composition of the committees, modalities to be followed for administrative and technical sanctions required under these schemes

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