Context: Recently, a study by the Ministry of Rural Development has observed that the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) has not been able to achieve the desired objectives and failed to make a significant impact.
Key Points

• The study was conducted as part of the Fifth Common Review Mission (CRM) for “independent assessment” of the progress of various programmes and schemes of the Rural Development Ministry.
• A team comprising retired bureaucrats, academics and research organisations etc. The team visited around 120 villages, in 21 districts across eights states

Major Findings

• Low selection of Panchayats: Since the launch of the scheme only 1,855 gram panchayats have been selected across five phases, with only seven in Phase 5.

Lack of Interest and Funds: Model villages under the scheme are hit by lack of interest and funds. In many of SAGY villages, the MPs did not give any significant fund from Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). Example:

• In Arood village of Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh, out of 118 activities planned in 2014, only about 60 %have been achieved and the rest are pending for lack of funds.
• Lack of Political Will: The concept of SAGY has not percolated down to field officials due to lack of accountability and political will.
• Issues with Declaration: Even villages declared as Adarsh Grams in some districts were found yet to be declared Open Defecation Free.
• Limited Impact: In some cases, where MPs have been proactive, some infrastructure development has taken place, but the scheme has not made any perceptible impact.
• Low Convergence of MGNREGA with MPLAD: Lesser convergence of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with MPLAD was observed in few villages.
• Rural Roads: The study expressed concern over the quality of roads constructed under schemes of state governments and maintenance of rural roads under central Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
• Positive Impact: Progress of work was better in the Gram Panchayats where the MP has taken keen interest and allocated substantial amounts from MPLAD. Example:
• A village in Bhilwara Rajasthan was found to be very urbanised due the various development schemes taken up at the initiative of the Ex-MP.

Reccomendations

• The report recommended that the Ministry of Rural Development may review the scheme for enhancing its impact.
• It has urged the Centre to frame a “National Rural Road Policy” to ensure uniform norms of construction and maintenance, irrespective of whether the road belongs to a state scheme or PMGSY.
• The Centre should examine if the Finance Commission can provide funds for maintenance of rural roads, as many states have requested that the Centre should share the cost of maintenance.

About Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY)

• It is a project launched in 2014 for rural development under which each parliamentarian has to adopt villages.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
• Aim: all-round development of specific villages.

Objectives

• Holistic development of model villages, called Adarsh Grams
• Substantially improve the standard of living and quality of people in the village
• Generate models of local level development which can be replicated in other villages

Key Features

• MPs has to select gram panchayat (other than their own village or that of their spouse) to be developed as an Adarsh Gram.
• Lok Sabha MP has to choose from within his/her constituency
• Rajya Sabha MP has to choose from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected
• 8 Adarsh grams are to be developed by each MP by 2024.
• No new funds are allocated for the scheme. Resources may be raised through existing schemes, MPLADS, CSR funds, gram panchayat’s own revenue.