Centre relents,includes Punjab in PM scheme

Finally,some good news for Punjab. The Centre has approved the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana in the state.

Finally,some good news for Punjab. The Centre has approved the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) in the state. The scheme aims to benefit all those villages in Punjab where the population of SC population is more than 50 per cent.

There are 2,800 such villages in the state and each village will be given Rs 10 lakh each for development. The villages have to fall in the category of adarsh gram,fulfilling certain basis conditions of infrastructure and social development.

Sources in the chief ministers office said that though the scheme was launched on a pilot basis in 2010 in five states,Punjab was not included despite having the largest number of SC population. In 2009-10,the scheme was launched 1,000 villages from the five states each with more than 50 per cent SC population. These were Uttar Pradesh,Bihar,Rajasthan,Tamil Nadu (225 villages in each state) and Assam (100 villages).

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The money given under the scheme are essentially gap-filling funds and the state government is also expected to pitch in.

The highest proportion of SC population at almost 32 per cent is in Punjab. In 2009-10,when the scheme was conceived,this fact was noted in the scheme document. Despite that Punjab was ignored and not a single village from here was chosen for the grant, said a senior official.

According to officials,it has taken almost three years to convince the Centre that if a Central scheme is meant for SC populations,Punjab cannot be ignored.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on this and was able to convey the point. The PM had promised to have the matter looked into and ensure that no injustice is meted out to Punjab, said a source in the CMO.

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The good news is that we have some fair indicators now to show that the scheme will be extended to Punjab. However,a letter from the Centre,listing the modalities that need to be taken care of from our side,is awaited, said an official. The scheme was announced by the then Union finance minister,in his budget speech in 2009-10. The scheme was for model villages that had adequate physical and institutional infrastructure,in which minimum needs of all sections of the society are met.

The chosen villages have to meet certain criteria. They should have all the facilities necessary for a dignified living and the money that comes to these villages is for filling any gaps that might be remaining in turning the village into an ideal or an adarsh village, said an official.

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