The Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi will launch tomorrow an ambitious village development project,
called Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, SAGY, under which each Member of Parliament
will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure
in three villages by 2019. The goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams or model
villages by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter,
five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.
The Project to be launched on the occasion of birth anniversary of Lok Nayak
Jai Prakash Narayan aims to keep the soul of rural India alive while providing
its people with quality access to basic amenities and opportunities to enable
them to shape their own destiny. Inspired by the principles and values of
Mahatma Gandhi, the Scheme places equal stress on nurturing values of national
pride, patriotism, community spirit, self-confidence and on developing
infrastructure.
The Scheme is unique and
transformative as it has a holistic approach towards development. It envisages
integrated development of the selected village across multiple areas such as
agriculture, health, education, sanitation, environment, livelihoods etc. Far
beyond mere infrastructure development, SAGY aims at instilling certain values,
such as people’s participation, Antyodaya, gender equality, dignity of women,
social justice, spirit of community service, cleanliness, eco-friendliness,
maintaining ecological balance, peace and harmony, mutual cooperation,
self-reliance, local self-government, transparency and accountability in public
life, etc., in the villages and their people so that they get transformed into
models for others.
The Members of
Parliament (MPs) are the pivots this Scheme will run on. Gram Panchayat would
be the basic unit for development. It will have a population of 3000-5000 in
plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas. In districts
where this unit size is not available, Gram Panchayats approximating the
desirable population size may be chosen. If each MP adopts three villages, the
scheme will be able to develop 2,379 `gram panchayats` over the next five
years. The Lok Sabha has 543 MPs and the Rajya Sabha 250, 12 of which are
nominated. The MP would be free to identify a suitable gram panchayat for being
developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her
spouse. There are 2,65,000 gram panchayats in India.
The scheme will be
implemented through a village development plan that would be prepared for every
identified gram panchayat with special focus on enabling every poor household
to come out of poverty. The constituency fund, MPLADS, would be available to
fill critical financing gaps. The planning process in each village will be a
participatory exercise coordinated by the District Collector. The MP will play
an active facilitating role in this exercise.
SAGY gives focus to
community participation. Social mobilization of village community can trigger a
chain of other development activities in the village. For instance, reducing
risk behaviours like alcoholism, smoking, substance abuse (drugs/tobacco/gutkha
etc) among all age groups of population.
Strengthening of local democracy through strong and transparent Gram Panchayats and active Gram Sabhas and facilitating good governance is also an important objective of SAGY. Women participation in the decision-making process will be encouraged. In fact the Scheme envisages holding Mahila Sabhas and Bal Sabhas to discuss women and children specific issues and concerns. E-governance will also be given a push
Strengthening of local democracy through strong and transparent Gram Panchayats and active Gram Sabhas and facilitating good governance is also an important objective of SAGY. Women participation in the decision-making process will be encouraged. In fact the Scheme envisages holding Mahila Sabhas and Bal Sabhas to discuss women and children specific issues and concerns. E-governance will also be given a push
Ensuring universal
access to education facilities, adult literacy, e-literacy are also important
goals of SAGY. Apart from education, these villages will have quality health
care. The outcomes will include 100% immunization, 100% institutional delivery,
reduced IMR, MMR, reduction in malnutrition among children etc.
Adoption and adaptation
of technology and introduction of innovations are critical to this programme.
This will include use of space application and remote sensing for planning,
mobile based technology for monitoring, agriculture technology for increasing
productivity etc.
At the national level, a
separate, real time web based monitoring system will be put in place for the
scheme covering all aspects and components. The Ministry will put in place a
specially designed capacity building programme for Government functionaries at
different levels including Gram Panchayats. At the state level there will be an
Empowered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary consisting of the relevant
Departments and including experts, as required with at least two Civil Society
representatives. The district Collector will be the nodal officer for
implementing the SAGY. He will conduct a monthly review meeting with
representatives of the participating Line Departments. The Members of
Parliament concerned will chair the review meetings. The rural development
ministry has made grand plans for its launch, inviting all 750-odd MPs to the
event to be presided over by the PM. The Rural Development Minister Shri Nitin
Gadkari and the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Upendra Kushwaha
will address the gathering on the occasion.
//copy// PIB
