Initiated by the Government of India in October 2014, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) is a scheme that aims to focus on the development of villages in rural areas. Under this yojana, the parliament members are bound to take responsibility for the development of the institutional and physical infrastructure in three villages.
Introduction of the Yojana
This yojana has been introduced for the cultural and social development of the villages and also to bring all the citizens together to create and raise awareness amongst them.
The Objective of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
The primary objectives of the scheme are as follows:-
- Along with the implementation of the other existing schemes, a few new initiatives would be designed for the development of all the targeted villages. The idea behind the development of these villages can vary from one village to another.
- Development of model villages also known as Adarsh Grams.
- Making models for local development which can be recreated in other villages.
- The idea is to stimulate processes that may lead to comprehensive development for the Gram Panchayats.
- Improve the basic services, resources, and the required equipment.
- To increase productivity.
- To increase and strengthen human development.
- Increase progressive livelihood opportunities for the beneficiaries.
- To reduce the chances of having discrepancy.
Layout of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
Aiming to achieve the objectives, the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana will function according to the following guidelines:-
- Strengthening the commitment, leadership, capacity, and energy of the parliament members to develop the model Gram Panchayats.
- Developing involvement and engagement in and with the community for participatory local-level development.
- Intending to achieve extensive development in the village areas, various government schemes and programs have been merged.
- Structuring and forming partnerships with research institutions, voluntary organizations, academic sectors, and various co-operatives.
- Centralizing on sustainability and outcomes.
Recognizing the Villages
- To maintain and develop a village Adarsh Gram, the members of the parliament are free to choose any gram panchayat aside from their village or excluding the one which comes under their spouse.
- If the citizens are located in plains, then the population should be 3000-5000 people and if the citizens are residing in the hilly areas, then the population should be 1000-3000 people.
- The Lok Sabha parliament members are authorized to choose a village from their constituency, whereas the parliament members of the Rajya Sabha are free to choose the village from the state from which they have been elected.
The Strategy behind this Yojana
The strategy behind the launch of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana is mentioned below:-
- To bring all the parliament members of all the political parties together and give them the responsibility of the development of institutional and physical infrastructure in the villages, enhance them and convert them into model villages.
- Each parliament member is responsible to choose one village each from their constituency.
- In the later run, the parliament members can choose and take two, three, or even more villages for the next general elections.
- Then, the nominated members can choose a village from any district of India.
- Members of parliament who represent the urban constituencies can identify a village from the neighboring constituency.
Funding of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
Under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, no new funds have been issued. The resources are being raised through the following: –
- Funds for the Saansad Adarsh Yojana[1] have been taken from the existing schemes. A few such schemes are: – Backward Regions Grant Fund, Indira Awas Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- MPLADS (Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme)
- Central and State Finance Commission Grants
- The Gram Panchayat’s Revenue
Implementation of the Scheme
Each village is required to develop a list of the activities to be carried out. These activities will be based on the resources of the villages.
The table given below shows the layout of the Key functions, Roles, and responsibilities of the national, state, district, and village levels.
|
Level
|
Functionary
|
Roles and Responsibilities
|
|
1. NATIONAL
|
Parliament members
|
· The role of the members of the parliament is to identify the Adarsh Gram.
· Promoting and practicing smooth functioning of the planning process of the mobilization of the funds.
· The primary role is to monitor the schemes.
|
|
|
Ministry of Rural Development
|
· Monitoring of the process of planning and identification.
· Reviewing the implementation of the yojana.
· Recognizing and identifying the constrictions in the scheme.
· Issuance of the operational guidelines.
· Indicating specific resource support provided by the Ministry itself. |
|
2. STATE
|
A committee led by the Chief Secretary |
· Additional central guidelines for the scheme.
· Reviewing the plans of village development.
· Review the implementation process.
· Creating and developing the layout of the monitoring mechanisms of the scheme.
· Designing the grievance redressal mechanism.
|
|
3. DISTRICT |
District Collector
|
· The role of the district collector is to conduct the baseline surveys.
· To smoothen the preparation of the village development plan.
· To merge all the relevant schemes.
· Ensuring the grievance redressal.
· Maintaining a monthly progress review of the scheme. |
|
4. VILLAGE |
Gram Panchayat and functionaries of the scheme (deployed at different levels)
|
· Implementation of the scheme.
· Identifying the basic needs of the village and the people residing in it.
· Leveraging resources from several programmes.
· Ensuring the participation in the scheme. |
Monitoring of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
- To enable the stakeholders and all the members of the parliament, a web-based monitoring system has been set up to monitor the scheme.
- Results that will be related to the financial and physical targets will be calculated on quarterly basis.
- Also, an independent agency will be allotted to conduct a post-project and mid-term evaluation.
Guidelines to Transform the Villages into Adarsh Gram
Following are the guidelines used by the parliament members to transform the village they have chosen into a model village:-
- Motivating all the people to participate and identify their needs
- Make the best use of all the resources that are granted by the State and Central sponsored schemes
- To encourage the people of the village to achieve the goal of transforming their village into a model village
- To strengthen the Gram Panchayat
Here is the detailed explanation of the points mentioned in the above- given infographic:-
Personal Development:-
- Maintaining and carrying hygienic practices and behavior.
- Encouraging healthy habits amongst the people by arranging interesting exercises.
- Raising awareness for reducing involvement in: – substance abuse, smoking, alcoholism, etc.
Human development: –
- Ubiquitous access to all the basic health facilities.
- These facilities consist of medical treatment and health cards.
- Maintaining the immunity of the village
- Building up and uplifting nutrition for all the people.
Social Development:
- Activities are held for promoting the people of the EWS category.
- Aiding the people by building their capacity to make them able to take part in contributing to the local development.
- Activities are also conducted for elderly people and women.
- Folk songs and dance activities are held.
Economic Development:-
Under this yojana, various diversified agricultural activities are practiced. These activities are as follows:-
- Organic farming
- Collection and value addition to Gobar Bank, cattle hostel, and Non-Timber Forest Produce
- Escalation of crops like SRI
- The soil health cards
- Agro-service centers
- Building up the seed banks
- Micro-irrigation
Role of Aatmnirbhar Sena
Aatmnirbhar Sena is a unit working for the welfare of the country. Our aim is to focus on the needy and the struggling people of our society. Aatmnirbhar Sena is extending hands towards creating awareness and spreading the scheme introduced for the benefit of the lower-class and economically weaker sections of the nation.
Conclusion
The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana was launched as an initiative and stride towards developing the rural areas of the nation. Every member of the parliament is required to choose a village aside from their own constituency. This village must not fall under the constituency of their spouse. The Yojana focuses on the institutional and physical infrastructural development in the villages and converting them into ‘Adarsh Grams’ or ‘Model Villages’.
