Modi inspired by Gandhiji’s ideology on village development scheme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was “deeply inspired” by the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi as he launched his “dream” village development project — Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) – in New Delhi on Saturday.

“I have been deeply inspired by the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi. He had the foresight to realise that you do not only need electricity poles to bring light to a village but that true enlightenment will come from shaping values, community spirit and promoting good education,” the Prime Minister wrote in his message in the guidelines of SAGY.

“I too believe that inspiring values of national pride, patriotism, unity, self-confidence is as important as developing infrastructure,” Mr. Modi said about the scheme launched on the occasion of birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan.

Recalling his Independence Day speech in which he announced the scheme in the name of ‘Saansad’, the Prime Minister said, “I laid out my dream of ‘Adarsh Grams’ as the nucleus of health, cleanliness, greenery and cordiality within the community.”

Under the scheme, each MP will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.

According to the guidelines, 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.

“A Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit. It will have a population of 3,000-5,000 in plain areas and 1,000-3,000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas,” the guidelines said.

Primarily, the goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019 of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such would Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.

At the national level, a separate, real-time web-based monitoring system will be put in place for the scheme covering all aspects and components.

To ensure effective and transparent implementation of the scheme, a mid-term evaluation of performance would be conducted through a competent independent agency. A post-project assessment of performance and outcomes would also be undertaken.