Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (Hindi: सांसद आदर्श ग्राम योजना , abbr.: SAGY) is a rural development programme broadly focusing upon the development in the villages which includes social development, cultural development and spread motivation among the people on social mobilization of the village community.[1] The programme was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan, on 11 October 2014.[2]
The distinct feature of this Yojana is that it is (a) demand driven (b) inspired by society (c) based on people's participation.
Objectives
Key objectives of the Yojana include:
The development of model villages, called Adarsh Grams, through the implementation of existing schemes, and certain new initiatives to be designed for the local context, which may vary from village to village.
Creating models of local development which can be replicated in other villages.
The plan
Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana was initiated to bring the member of parliament of all the political parties under the same umbrella while taking the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in villages and turn them into model villages.[3] Under this yojana, each member of parliament needs to choose one village each from the constituency that they represent, except their own village or their in-laws village and fix parameters and make it a model village by 2019.
Thereafter, they can take on two or three more villages and do the same by the time the next general elections come along in 2019, and thereafter, set themselves ten-year-long village or rural improvement projects.[1] Villages will be offered smart schools, universal access to basic health facilities and Pucca housing to homeless villagers.[4]
Funding
No new funds are allocated to this Yojana and funds may be raised through :
The Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS),
The gram panchayat's own revenue,
Central and State Finance Commission Grants, and
Corporate Social Responsibility funds.
Roles and responsibilities of key functionaries
Level
Functionary
Key roles and responsibilities
National
Member of Parliament
Identify the Adarsh Gram
Facilitate the planning process
Mobilise additional funds
Monitor the scheme
Two committees, headed by the Minister of Rural Development, and Secretary, Rural Development, respectively.*
Monitor the process of identification and planning
Review the implementation of the scheme
Identify bottlenecks in the scheme
Issue operational guidelines
Indicate specific resource support which each Ministry can provide
State
A committee headed by the Chief Secretary
Supplement central guidelines for the scheme
Review Village Development Plans
Review implementation
Outline monitoring mechanisms
Design a grievance redressal mechanism for the scheme
District
District Collector
Conduct the baseline survey
Facilitate the preparation of the Village Development Plan
Converge relevant schemes
Ensure grievance redressal
Monthly progress review of the scheme
Village
Gram Panchayat and functionaries of schemes (at various levels)
Implement of the scheme
Identify common needs of the village
Leverage resources from various programmes
Ensure participation in the scheme
Strategies
In order to convert the identified village into an Adarsh Gram through the specified
activities, the following are the possible strategies:[5]
Entry point activities to energize and mobilize the community towards positive common action
Participatory planning exercise for identifying peoples’ needs and priorities in an integrated manner
Converging resources from Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes and also other State schemes to the extent possible.
Repairing and renovating existing infrastructure to the extent possible.
Strengthening the Gram Panchayats and peoples’ institutions within them
Promoting transparency and accountability
Adopted Villages
List of a few important adoptions:
Under the scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has adopted Jayapur village his constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.[6] PM Modi has adopted 6 villages as of now. His first four villages were Jayapur, Nagepur, Kakrahia and Domari. Recently PM Modi adopted 2 more villages, Poore Bariyarpur and Parampur.[7]
Under Phase 1 (2014–16) of the scheme, nearly 500 out of 543 Lok Sabha MPs and 203 out of 253 Rajya Sabha MPs adopted the village. In Phase 2 (2016–18), the number dipped to 326 Lok Sabha MPs and 121 Rajya Sabha MPs adopting the village. The numbers dipped further in Phase 3 (2017–19). As of February 2018, only 97 Lok Sabha MPs and 27 Rajya Sabha MPs had adopted the village.[14][15]