Context

Five years down the line, official data shows that the progress of SAGY has been sluggish. About two-thirds of Lok Sabha MPs are yet to select gram panchayats under Phase-4 of the scheme.

About

About the Scheme

• It has been launched in 2014 as a village development project, under which each Member of Parliament will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019. 
• It was initiated to bring the member of parliament of all the political parties under the same umbrella while taking the responsibility of developing infrastructure in villages and turn them into model villages
• The goal was to develop three Adarsh Grams 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 distinct feature of this Yojana is that it is demand driven and inspired by society.

Funding for the scheme

No new funds are allocated to this Yojana and funds may be raised through :

1. Funds from existing schemes, such as the Indira Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and Backward Regions Grant Fund, etc.,
2. The Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS),
3. The gram panchayat’s own revenue,
4. Central and State Finance Commission Grants, and
5. Corporate Social Responsibility funds.

Identification of Adarsh Gram

• A Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit.
• 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.
• 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.

 

Values of SAGY

• Adopting people’s participation as an end in itself – ensuring the involvement of all sections of society in all aspects related to the life of village, especially in decision- making related to governance
• Adhering to Antyodaya – enabling the “poorest and the weakest person” in the village to achieve well being
• Affirming gender equality and ensuring respect for women
• Guaranteeing social justice
• Instilling dignity of labour and the spirit of community service and voluntarism
• Promoting a culture of cleanliness
• Living in consonance with nature – ensuring a balance between development and ecology
• Preserving and promoting local cultural heritage
• Inculcating mutual cooperation, self-help and self-reliance

Objectives of SAGY

1. To trigger processes which lead to holistic development of the identified Gram Panchayats
2. To substantially improve the standard of living and quality of life of all sections of the population through
   • Improved basic amenities
   • Higher productivity
   • Enhanced human development
   • Better livelihood opportunities
   • Reduced disparities
   • Access to rights and entitlements
   • Wider social mobilization
   • Enriched social capital
3. To generate models of local level development and effective local governance which can motivate and inspire neighbouring Gram Panchayats to learn and adapt
4. To nurture the identified Adarsh Grams as schools of local development to train other Gram Panchayats.

Recent Issues

• About two-thirds of Lok Sabha MPs are yet to select gram panchayats under Phase-4 of the scheme. The total strength of both Houses is about 790 which include elected as well as nominated members.
• In Phase-1 of SAGY, 703 MPs had adopted gram panchayats but that number went down to 497 in Phase-2 and 301 in Phase-3, showing a gradual decline in subsequent phases.
• Since the launch of the scheme on October 11, 2014, less than two months after the Prime Minister’s announcement, only 1,753 gram panchayats have been selected across four phases, way below the expected figure.
• According to data available on the Ministry of Rural Development, only 252 MPs have adopted gram panchayats under Phase-4 of SAGY — 208 members of Lok Sabha and 44 members of Rajya Sabha.