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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | PM's fave village scheme sputters -Anita Joshua

PM's fave village scheme sputters -Anita Joshua

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published Published on Feb 23, 2016   modified Modified on Feb 23, 2016
-The Telegraph

New Delhi: The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, a pet project of the Prime Minister, has found few takers in its second phase with only 32 of over 750 MPs identifying panchayats to adopt: 24 from the Lok Sabha and six from the Rajya Sabha. Some sent in entries after the January 31 deadline.

Narendra Modi adopted Nagepur, a village in his Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency on February 17. In the first phase, which began with the scheme's launch in October 2014 and will continue till March this year, he had adopted Jayapur where the BJP subsequently lost in last year's panchayat elections. Even in the first phase, 98 MPs - 44 from the Lok Sabha and 54 from the Rajya Sabha - did not participate.

For the second phase beginning April this year, rural development minister Birender Singh wrote to all MPs on January 1, requesting them to send their entries to the district magistrates by January 31. This was done so the new phase could start on time.

Each MP is to pick three panchayats by March 2019 - the span almost co-terminus with the term of the Modi government. Subsequently, five more panchayats will be selected and developed by 2024.

The scheme envisages integrated development of a village or a cluster of villages under each panchayat in various spheres, from agriculture, health and education to sanitation, environment and other livelihood sources.

Over 40 days have passed since minister Singh's prod and if the response so far is compared with that in the first 40 days since the plan's launch in 2014 - 362 MPs from both Houses had identified panchayats then - it indicates a flagging of interest. But officials managing the scheme insist it is early days for the second phase.

The lack of separate funding is being cited by several MPs as the main reason for the lukewarm response. "The government wants us to use our MPLADS (MP Local Area Development Scheme) funds for this scheme besides tapping corporate social responsibility funds, but how can we favour just one panchayat?" asked M.B. Rajesh, the CPM MP from Kerala's Palakkad.

Among the early birds in 2014, Rajesh said he would choose a panchayat for the second phase too, but called for more clarity in the scheme.

His party colleagues in Bengal - the lone big state with negligible participation in the programme - have another set of problems: the administration is under Trinamul. This could partly explain why not a single CPM MP from the eastern state has adopted a panchayat. The scheme is implemented by states and the refrain is that political differences can be a damper in the process.

Two Trinamul MPs adopted panchayats in the first phase. Only one has done so this time. "If we choose one panchayat and leave out the rest, discontent will simmer. That's why our policy has been not to pick one but work for the entire area," Derek 'O Brien, Trinamul's leader in the Rajya Sabha, said.

Bihar BJP MP Chhedi Paswan had a different view. "The scheme is beset with problems, especially for us, since we are in an Opposition-ruled state. Still I have worked hard to develop the Malhipur panchayat I adopted into a model one," the Sasaram MP said.

Paswan, among the few from his party to pick a second panchayat for the next phase, dismissed the contention that picking one would be mean neglecting others. "The rationale behind this scheme is to develop a model panchayat in an area so the others in the vicinity see it as an example."

The Telegraph, 23 February, 2016, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160223/jsp/nation/story_70869.jsp#.Vswc8uY1t_k


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