Minimum need Programme
TheMinimum Needs Programme (MNP) was introduced in the first year of
the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974-78). The objective of the programme is to provide
certain basic minimum needs and thereby improve the living standards of the
people. It is the expression of the commitment of the government for the "social and
economic development of the community, particularly the underprivileged and
underserved population“.
4.
Minimum need Programme
Theprogramme includes the following components:
a) Rural Health.
b) Rural Water Supply.
c) Rural Electrification.
d) Elementary Education.
e) Adult Education.
f) Nutrition.
g) Environmental improvement of Urban Slums.
h) Houses for landless labourers.
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Minimum need Programme
Twobasic principles are to be observed in the implementation of MNP:
1. The facilities under MNP are to be first provided to those areas that are at present
underserved to remove disparities between different areas.
2. The facilities under MNP should be provided as a package to an area through intersectoral
area projects, to have a greater impact.
In the field of rural health, the objectives to be achieved by the end of the Eighth Five
Year Plan, under the minimum needs programme were: one PHC for 30,000 population in plains
and 20,000 population in tribal and hilly areas; one sub-centre for a population of 5,000 people in
the plains and 3000 in tribal and hilly areas,
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Minimum need Programme
onecommunity health centre (rural hospital) for a population of one lakh or one C.D.
Block by the year 2000. The establishment of PHCs, sub-centres, upgradation of PHCs, and
construction of buildings thereof are all included in the State sector of the minimum needs
programme.
In the field of nutrition, the objectives are:
1. to extend nutrition support to 11 million eligible persons;
2. to expand the “special nutrition programme” to all the ICDS projects; and
3. To consolidate the mid-day meal programme and link it to health, potable water, and
sanitation.
