What is Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana?

The model villages adopted by the Members of Parliament under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana ) will now get rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) on priority basis. Similarly, in these model villages, rural roads constructed or upgraded under PMGSY would have to be maintained by the State Governments up to prescribed standards and even beyond the built in period of first five years.

A decision to issue these amended guidelines was taken in a meeting chaired by Union Minister for Rural Development. This is in accordance with the Cabinet decision wherein all Ministries/Departments of the Central Government have been asked to take necessary action to make suitable changes 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 Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.

The Centre has approved amendments in the PMGSY Guidelines to accord priority in the selection of roads for new connectivity as well as upgradation, leading to the eligible habitations in the Gram Panchayats identified by the MPs under Ssaansad Adarsh Gram Yojana . As per the amended Guidelines, the State Governments shall give priority to all roads leading to the Gram Panchayats irrespective of Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) to include all eligible unconnected habitations in the selected Gram Panchayats.

In the case of upgrading of roads, priority shall be given to the roads which have Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Value-I & II in the Gram Panchayats . The State Governments must ensure PCI of not less than four for all such roads at all times. Adequate funds for this purpose will be provided by State Governments. The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana envisages the adoption of villages for holistic development and their transformation into model villages for wider replication.