Context

The Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana has buckled under questions of jurisdiction confusion and lack of budget, leading to its improper success. 

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana: Background

• Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), also known as the PM model village programme, is a scheme for overall development of villages.
• The scheme was introduced with the motive of promoting culture of cleanliness, affirming gender equality, nurturing local self-governance and promoting local cultural heritage.
• Despite personal promotion, the adoption of villages under SAGY has dropped by 60 per cent in 2023-24 as compared to 2014.

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana: Full Form, Origin, and Mandate

• SAGY Full Form: Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
• About: SAGY is a village development project launched by the Government of India under which each Member of Parliament has to take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in villages.
  • Village development will be undertaken through implementation of existing Government Schemes and Programmes in convergence mode and mobilising community and private resources.

• Origin and History Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana:

  • The scheme came into existence in October 2014 on the birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan with an aim to begin a movement towards good politics, with MPs acting as catalytic agents for ground-level change.
• Mandate: The scheme looks to implement comprehensive development of rural villages through convergence of central government schemes and people participation.

• Values under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

• • Seeking to involve all sections of society in aspects related to the life of village, especially in decision- making related to governance;
  • Adhering to the principles of Antyodaya, which is the upliftment of the “poorest and the weakest person” in the village;
  • Adhering to the principles of social justice and gender equality;
  • Promoting cleanliness culture;
  • Consonance between development and environment protection;
  • Promoting cultural heritage;
  • Promoting peace and harmony in villages;
  • Following values given in Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties of the Indian Constitution.
  • Promoting local self-governance;

Objectives of the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

• To fulfil the dream of Mahatma Gandhi about an ideal Indian village into a reality, keeping in view the present context.
• Undertaking the holistic development of the identified Gram Panchayats;
• Improving the standard of living and quality of life through the following;
• Improved basic amenities
• Enhanced human development
• Better livelihood opportunities
• Reduced inequalities
• Access to rights and entitlements
• Enriched social capital
• To ensure that local level development and effective local governance serve as an inspiration of other villages;

Funding for the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

• Since there are no separate funds, following existing funds can be utilised:
  • Funds from existing schemes, such as the PM Awas Yojana, PM Gram Sadak Yojana, MGNREGA, and Backward Regions Grant Fund, etc.;
  • The Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS);
  • The revenue of gram panchayat;
  • Central and State Finance Commission Grants;
  • Corporate Social Responsibility funds.

How is an Adarsh Gram identified under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana?

• The selected village must have a population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas. Village with the desirable population size may be chosen.
• The MP must select a suitable Gram Panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse.
• Lok Sabha MP has to select an Adarsh Gram from within his/her constituency and Rajya Sabha MP an Adarsh Gram from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected.
• A nominated MP has the freedom to choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country. 
• In case of urban constituencies, the MP can identify a Gram Panchayat from a nearby rural constituency.

Implementation of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

• Under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, each Member of Parliament adopts a Gram Panchayat in order to carry out social development at par with infrastructure. 
• These ‘Adarsh Grams’ have to become schools of local development and governance, inspiring other villages in the country.
• By involving villagers and utilising scientific tools, a Village Development Plan is prepared under the leadership of a Member of Parliament. 
• Later, detailed project reports are prepared and submitted by respective departments to the state government. 
• A State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) is responsible for reviewing, suggesting changes and giving priority allocation of resources.
• A district level monthly meeting is carried out, where projects are reviewed in the presence of representatives of the participating line departments and the progress is conveyed to the state government.
• Each District Collector will nominate a Charge Officer to coordinate the implementation at the local level who will be fully responsible and accountable for the implementation of SAGY.

Responsibilities under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

SWOT Analysis

Conclusion

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana can fulfil goals of ‘gram swaraj’ if Parliamentarians implement the scheme with utmost sincerity and dedication. It could further herald a new age of grassroots democracy.