State wants digital diary for Ambedkar Grams listed after 2007

The government initially adopted the idea to ensure regular monitoring of schemes in Ambedkar villages,said an official,adding: “Now,the government wants to highlight all development works undertaken in Ambedkar villages during its current regime since 2007.”

This scheme began eight years ago to develop dalit-populated Ambedkar villages. Ever since,the government selects certain villages with substantial dalit population and declares them as Ambedkar Gram. This entitles these villages to basic amenities like roads,drains,power and health facilities on a priority basis.

The government issued the diary guidelines recently and directed the district magistrates to provide details on the area,location,beneficiaries of the projects with pictures. For villages that became part of the scheme since 2007,the diary would have ‘as-on-date’ status for all development and welfare schemes.

Sources said over 2,195 villages were selected as Ambedkar villages in 2009-10,7,412 villages in 2008-09 and 3,755 villages in 2007-08. In the current financial year,2,246 villages have been declared as Ambedkar Gram.

“ In the first phase,digital diary of 2010-11 and 2009-10 would be prepared by the end of June. The diaries of 2007-08 and 2008-09 would be ready by August end,” said Balvinder Kumar,Principal Secretary,Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas Vibhag.

The digital diary would help to regularly monitor the progress of works in each Ambedkar village. It has been decided to prepare the digital diary of every Ambedkar village selected after 2007,said Kumar

Another official added: “In the next three months,the district authorities will survey the villages that were made part of the scheme in the last three years and record the status of works and beneficiaries there.”