UP may reject PM’s model village scheme

The Prime Minister had sent letters dated October 29 to Chief Ministers of all states after launching the SAGY scheme for MPs. In the letter, the PM requested the Chief Ministers to make an earnest appeal to their respective MLAs and MLCs to identify suitable gram panchayats and provide necessary leadership for transforming them into model villages.

After receiving no reply from the state government, Aparajita Sarangi, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Rural Development, has sent a reminder along with a letter from Nripendra Mishra, Principal Secretary to the PM, to the UP Chief Secretary on February 4 seeking an update.

Sources in the government confirmed that no appeal has been made to the MLAs to adopt villages so far and it is even considering to turn down the PM’s request.

“We are already running Ram Manohar Lohia Samagra Gram Vikas Yojana in which various development works are being done in the villages. These villages are selected on the recommendations of the legislators,” said Rajneesh Dube, Principal Secretary, Samagra Gram Vikas Vibhag of UP.