The recent study by the Ministry of Rural Development points out various loopholes in the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY). SAGY was envisioned to create model villages, but the scheme has not made a significant impact nor achieved its goals.
About the Research Methodology
For an independent assessment of various programs and schemes of the Rural Development Ministry, a study on SAGY was conducted as part of the Fifth Common Review Mission. The assessment team comprised retired bureaucrats, academics, and research organizations. This team visited around 120 villages across eight states and in 21 districts.
Major Findings of the Study
According to the study, the scheme has suffered due to low selection of Panchayats, lack of interest and funds, lack of political will, issues with declaration, limited impact, and low convergence of MGNREGA with MPLAD. For instance, in Arood village, Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, only about 60% of 118 planned activities in 2014 have been achieved due to a lack of funds.
Additional Concerns Regarding Rural Roads and Infrastructure
The research also expressed concerns over the quality of roads constructed under state government schemes. This included the maintenance of rural roads under the central Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Positive Impacts Highlighted in the Study
On a positive note, the study observed that progress of work was better in the Gram Panchayats where MPs have shown keen interest and allocated substantial amounts from MPLAD. An example is a village in Bhilwara, Rajasthan that significantly urbanised due to various development initiatives taken up by the Ex-MP.
Recommending Measures for Enhancing SAGY’s Impact
To increase the positive impact of SAGY, the Ministry of Rural Development was recommended to review the scheme. Other suggestions include the proposal for a “National Rural Road Policy” to uniform construction and maintenance norms, and the suggestion that the Finance Commission provide funds for the maintenance of rural roads.
A Glimpse into Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
SAGY is a village development project launched on 11th October 2014 on Jai Prakash Narayan’s birth anniversary. Its objectives revolve around improving living standards and quality of life, generating models of local level development, and nurturing identified Adarsh Grams as schools of local development. Given the responsibility of developing the socio-economic and physical infrastructure of selected villages, MPs play an integral role in the success of this scheme.
What ‘Adarsh Gram’ or Model Village Means under SAGY
Under SAGY, a model village is one with excellent physical and institutional infrastructure. It has minimum needs of all society sections fully met, ensuring they live harmoniously with each other.
Addressing Challenges and the Way Forward
Though SAGY was designed to create model villages through scheme convergence, implementation priority, and the required seriousness seems to be lacking. MPs must shoulder more responsibility, especially considering the focus on community participation that SAGY emphasizes. Further, it’s crucial for the Ministry of Rural Development to ensure that the vision envisaged under the scheme is effectively realized, and the SAGY villages are not left behind.
Last Modified: February 7, 2024