17-Mar-2023: Project for Creating 250 Model Gram Panchayat Clusters across India
Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj chaired a meeting in New Delhi held via video conference on 16th March, 2023 to review the progress on ‘Project for Creating 250 Model Gram Panchayat Clusters across India’ and interacted with Young Fellows (YFs) of National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), and State Project Coordinators (SPCs) of 250 Model Gram Panchayat Clusters.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Giriraj Singh emphasized on developing Model Gram Panchayats ensuring holistic development of the Gram Panchayats covered under ‘Project for Creating 250 Model Gram Panchayat Clusters across India’. He stressed that Young Fellows working in remote areas should set an example with community participation to ensure that more children than ever receive quality education and students do not drop out of school. Young Fellows may play significant role in different thematic areas under Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) in Gram Panchayats. Union Minister underlined the need for working on strategy for achieving saturation mode of various schemes implemented in the Gram Panchayats in mission mode, with convergence of available resources and in coordination with all stakeholders for Poverty Reduction and Economic Empowerment of these Model Gram Panchayats. His direction to all YFs for achieving ‘Shiksha Yukt Panchayat’, ‘Gender Rozgar Yukt Panchayat’, ‘Swachhata Yukt Panchayat’, ‘Green Panchayat’, ‘Swasth Panchayat’, and ‘Self-sustainable Panchayat’ by ensuring and conducting 6 Gram Sabhas by direct involvement of the community. The NIRD&PR was suggested to convene a day-long national-level workshop with active participation of all YFs and develop a monitoring dashboard to review the progress and achievements in Gram Panchayats covered under this Project.
Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj also mentioned the importance of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) and encouraged the YFs to formulate an effective holistic plan using relevant parameters for all-round development of the Panchayats. Each Gram Panchayat must strive to achieve the saturation in one or more thematic areas under LSDGs, viz., Clean & Green Village, Healthy Village, Water Sufficient Village, Women-Friendly Village, Child-Friendly Village etc.
The highlight of the meeting was the discussion on future strategies and way forward to overcome the challenges and proper utilization of available resources towards creating Model Gram Panchayats across the country.
14-Mar-2023: Gram Panchayats Adopted Under SAGY
The Hon’ble Members of Parliament (MPs) have adopted 3154 Gram Panchayats under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) from 2014-15 to 2022-23.
The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana has been very effective in ushering all round development in the Gram Panchayats selected by Hon'ble MPs as per guidelines of the scheme. The Gram Panchayats prepare a Village Development Plan (VDP) in which the proposed activities are implemented through convergence of various schemes of the Government of India and the State Governments. It aims to trigger processes which lead to the holistic development of the identified Gram Panchayats. As on 7th March 2023, a total of 2,625 SAGY Gram Panchayats have uploaded their Village Development Plans containing 2,34,404 projects, out of which 1,63,632 projects have been completed. There is continuous development of these Gram Panchayats (GPs) under SAGY.
The steps being taken by Government to develop the Gram Panchayats under SAGY is given below:
- 26 Schemes of 17 Ministries of Government of India have been amended / appropriate advisories have been issued to accord priority to SAGY in respective schemes.
- The Ministry has brought out a compilation of 127 Central Sector and Centrally sponsored and 1806 State Schemes for convergence under SAGY. This document serves as a ready reckoner especially for the Members of Parliament, District and Village level officials about the different schemes for possible convergence at the GP level.
- The SAGY is reviewed periodically by the Ministry of Rural Development, which includes review by the Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development, Performance Review Committee, Common Review Missions, National Level Monitors, Concurrent Monitoring and Impact Assessment studies.
- Ministry has published a document named ‘SAHYOG’ as an indicative guidance document with the essential information on the existing social security schemes collated from respective Ministries to enrich the knowledge of villagers and village level functionaries to achieve 100% enrollment into the social/ financial Security Schemes in SAGY Gram Panchayats.
- The States have been requested to conduct the State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) meetings headed by the Chief Secretary to review the implementation process and to ensure seamless convergence of schemes among different State Government Departments.
- The Ministry provides training on preparation of VDP and the approaches to convergence of schemes to the Charge Officers and other stakeholders of the state who are coordinating the implementation at the local level and are fully responsible and accountable for the implementation of VDP.
- The parameters for dynamic ranking of Gram Panchayats have been recently developed and placed on the portal so as to instill competition amongst the selected SAGY GPs.
- MoRD has been holding orientation workshops of representatives of the Members of Parliament for their capacity building and better coordination with State Governments in implementation of SAGY programme.
- The Ministry has organized a CSR conclave with Corporates and PSUs in collaboration with Transforming Rural India Foundation (TRIF) to leverage funds for SAGY GPs.
- The States/UTs have been requested to direct the officials concerned to organize District Level Committee meetings regularly to gear up the VDP implementation and also to brief the Hon’ble Members of Parliament.
- The Ministry has launched Achhi Aadat Campaign in SAGY GPs to inculcate hygienic behaviour and practices among the villagers of SAGY GPs.
Cabinet approves “Vibrant Villages Programme” for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26
Vibrant Villages Programme, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme has been approved for FY 2022-23 to 2025-26 with a financial outlay of Rs. 4800 Crore.
Objectives
- Comprehensive development of villages of blocks on northern border.
- Improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.
- Encouraging people to stay in their native locations in border areas.
- Reversing the outmigration from these villages.
- Improved security of the border.
- Achieving inclusive growth.
- Retaining the population in the border areas.
Coverage
- 19 Districts and 46 Border blocks in 4 states and 1 UT along the northern land border of the country.
- 663 Villages will be taken up in the first phase.
Key outcomes
- Connectivity with all-weather road.
- Drinking water.
- 24x7 electricity – solar and wind energy to be given focused attention.
- Mobile and internet connectivity.
- Tourist centers.
- Multi-purpose centers.
- Health and wellness centers.
Activities
- Identification and development of economic drivers based on local natural human and other resources of the border villages.
- Development of growth centers on "Hub and Spoke Model".
- Promotion of social entrepreneurship.
- Empowerment of youth and women through skill development and entrepreneurship.
- Leveraging the tourism potential through promotion of local cultural, traditional knowledge, and heritage.
- Development of sustainable eco-agribusinesses on the concept of "One village-One product" through community-based organizations, cooperatives, SHGs, NGOs, etc.
Implementation
- Vibrant Village Action Plans are created by the district administration with the help of Gram Panchayats.
- 100% saturation of Central and state schemes will be ensured.
- No overlap with Border Area Development Programme.
- Out of the financial allocation of Rs. 4800 Crore, Rs. 2500 crore will be used for roads.