Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), a Government of India initiative for the empowerment of deprived sections, aims to achieve integrated development of selected villages through convergent implementation of all relevant Central and State schemes. The scheme was launched in March, 2010 on a pilot basis for the integrated development of 1000 villages each with more than 25% SC population. Presently the scheme is being implemented in five States of the country viz Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

Body:

Objectives:

To ensure integrated development of the selected villages into “model villages” so that, inter alia,

• They have all requisite physical and social infrastructures for their socio-economic development, and satisfy the norms mentioned in the vision of an Adarsh gram to the maximum possible extent.
• Disparity between SC and non-SC population in terms of common socio- economic indicators (e.g. literacy rate, completion rate of elementary education, IMR/MMR, ownership of productive assets, etc.) is eliminated, the indicators are raised to at least the level of the national average, and
  • All BPL families, especially those belonging to SCs, have food and livelihood security, and are enabled to cross the poverty line and earn an adequate livelihood
  • All children complete at least eight years of education, and
  • Incidence of malnutrition, especially among children and women, is eliminated.
• Untouchability, discrimination, segregation, and atrocities against SCs are eliminated, as are other social evils like discrimination against girls/women, alcoholism and substance (drugs) abuse, etc., and all sections of society are able to live with dignity and equality, and in harmony with others

A Model village is one which has adequate physical and institutional infrastructure, in which minimum needs of all sections of the society are fully met; they live in harmony with each other, as also with the environment, and a village which is progressive and dynamic. These villages should be covered with all the facilities necessary for dignified living, creating thereby an environment in which all its residents are enabled to utilise their potential to the fullest. These villages should, inter alia, satisfy the following norms:

Physical Infrastructure:

• Should be connected to the nearest major road by an all-weather road. Likewise, in case of a multi-hamlet village, all hamlets should be connected with each other by an all-weather road.
• Access for all to safe drinking water on a sustainable basis.
• All houses should have electricity

Sanitation and Environment:

• The village should have a high degree of sanitation- it should be free from dry latrines, and open defecation, and should have sanitary toilets, drains and an efficient waste disposal system. It should, as far as possible, fulfil “Nirmal Gram Puraskar” norms.
• The Village should take care of its environment through planting trees, water harvesting and maintenance of water bodies, use of renewable sources of energy, such as biogas, solar energy, wind energy, use of smokeless chulhas, etc.

Social Infrastructure, Human Development and Social Harmony:

• Should have an Anganwadi centre and schools of appropriate levels.
• The village should have adequate and attractive building for its anganwadi, school, health centre, panchayat, and community hall. The village should have adequate facility for sports and other physical activities.
• All children in the age-group of 3-6 should be enrolled in, and regularly attend the Anganwadi. Likewise, all children in the 6-14 age group should be enrolled in, and regularly attend school.
• All adults should be at least functionally literate, and should have access to facilities for continuing education.
• Access for all to primary health care and Reproductive Child Health (RCH) facilities, with proper pre-natal and ante-natal care for mothers.
• 100% institutional deliveries, full immunization of children, and observance of the small family norm.

Conclusion:

The scheme aims at overall development of villages. It is one of the best ways to carry on with the implementation of the existing schemes.