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[Information on this page relates
to the first phase of the PACS
Programme, which ended in April
2008].
The PACS Programme is operational
in an extremely backward
region of central and eastern
India spanning six states:
See the state-wise list
of districts covered by the
PACS Programme and key development
indicators of each district.
Rationale
The PACS Programme area across these
states has been defined on the basis
of a list of 108 'poorest' districts
of India prepared by a committee
of the Government of India's Ministry
of Rural Areas and Employment, in
1997. After new districts were carved
out, this list increased to 108
districts. See India's
poorest districts for a discussion
on this list, a more recent list
prepared by the Planning Commission
and another list prepared by non-government
experts.
From the 1997 list, the PACS Programme
area was carved out in such a way
that it covers the maximum number
of 'poorest' districts in a geographically
contiguous region, so that the programme
could reach the largest number of
poor people in an effective and
manageable way.
The PACS Programme area so created
covers around 85% of the 'poorest'
districts of India, as defined by
the Government of India in 1997.
About 40% of India's population
lives in the programme area. An
estimated 100 million people living
in the programme area are 'extremely
poor'.
Present scope
PACS Programme projects are being
implemented in 93 districts across
six states, covering 19,781
villages.
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