Question : SAANSAD ADARSH GRAM YOJANA

(a) whether the Government has recently launched the Saansad Adarsh GramYojana;

(b) if so, the salient features of the scheme and the criteria laid down for theselection of the villages under the scheme;

(c) whether this scheme is fully funded by the Government, if so, the detailsthereof and the budgetary allocation made for the purpose;

(d) if not, the funds envisaged from various sources including States, CorporateHouses, etc.; and

(e) the time frame fixed for selection and development of an `Adarsh Gram` andthe State/ UT-wise details of villages identified by MPs so far?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the house.

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 72 due for Answer on 27.11.2014.

(a) Yes, Madam. Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana(SAGY) has been launched and its guidelines released on 11th October, 2014.

(b) The salient features of the Scheme are at Annexure I.For identification of Adarsh Gram Panchayats by the Hon’ble Members of Parliament, a Gram Panchayat is the basic unit. It should have a population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas. In districts where this unit size is not available, Gram Panchayats approximating the desirable population size may be chosen. In States which have larger Gram Panchayats, the Hon’ble Member of Parliament (MP) can choose any of them, as Gram Panchayat is the basic unit. The MP would be free to identify a suitable Gram Panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse. The MP will identify one Gram Panchayat to be taken up immediately, and two others to be taken up a little later. Lok Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency and Rajya Sabha MP a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected. Nominated MPs may choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country. In the case of urban constituencies, (where there are no Gram Panchayats), the MP will identify a Gram Panchayat from a nearby rural constituency.

(c) & (d) There is no provision of funding in the Scheme. It is primarily about unleashing the power of people who are expected to inculcate pride in village, encourage societal change/behavioural change, take collective responsibility and initiate People projects. The achievement of this is intended through the convergence and implementation of existing Government Schemes and Programmes without allocating additional funds or starting new infrastructure or construction schemes. With this aim, as approved by the Union Cabinet, secretaries of the relevant Ministries / Departments of the Central Government have been requested by the Ministry of Rural Development to make suitable changes, wherever appropriate, in the guidelines of their respective Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes / Programmes to enable priority to be given to the Gram Panchayats selected under SAGY.

(e) Primarily, the goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024. The broad timelines suggested in the SAGY Guidelines for different activities in the selection and development of Adarsh Grams are as under:-

 Item of work Time from the date of launch Selection of Adarsh Gram One month Awareness generation on the scheme Two months Environment creation and social mobilisation Three months Initialisation of First Stage activities Three months Review of First Stage activities Five months Completion of preparation of Village Development Plan(VDP) Seven months Approvals and sanctions Eight months Activities to begin Nine months Review of progress of VDP at Gram Sabha level and District Level One Year