Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAANJHI)

The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), popularly known as SAANJHI, is a flagship rural development initiative launched by the Government of India on 11th October 2014 by the Prime Minister of India. The scheme envisions transforming villages into model or Adarsh villages through holistic development driven by the leadership and direct involvement of Members of Parliament (MPs). It represents a paradigm shift in rural governance—moving away from a top-down administrative approach toward a participatory, people-centric model of development that integrates social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

Background and Context

India’s rural sector, home to nearly two-thirds of the population, faces persistent challenges of poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and socio-economic disparity. To address these issues in an integrated manner, the government introduced the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
The idea behind the scheme is to harness the leadership and influence of Members of Parliament in mobilising local resources, government schemes, and community participation to develop model villages that can serve as replicable examples for surrounding areas. The launch date of SAGY—11 October 2014—coincides with the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, symbolising the scheme’s emphasis on participatory democracy and rural upliftment.

Objectives of the Scheme

The core objectives of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana are as follows:

• Holistic Village Development: Achieve integrated social and economic development of selected villages.
• Replication and Inspiration: Create model villages that serve as role models for neighbouring villages.
• Social Mobilisation: Promote community participation and strengthen local governance institutions.
• Improved Livelihoods: Enhance employment opportunities through skill development and sustainable livelihoods.
• Social Justice and Inclusion: Foster equality, harmony, and empowerment of marginalised groups.
• Better Service Delivery: Ensure efficient implementation of existing government schemes through convergence and coordination.

These objectives together aim to achieve Gram Swaraj—self-reliant and self-sustaining villages built on the principles of inclusion, participation, and accountability.

Key Features of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

1. Leadership by Members of Parliament (MPs):Each MP adopts one village in their constituency (in Phase I) and facilitates its transformation into an Adarsh Gram. Over time, more villages can be taken up—one per year until 2024.
2. Voluntary and Convergent Approach:The scheme does not involve new financial allocations; instead, it relies on convergence of existing schemes like MGNREGA, PMGSY, PMAY, NRLM, and others. MPs are expected to mobilise funds from government schemes, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and local contributions.
3. Holistic Development Parameters:Development is envisaged across multiple domains—social, cultural, economic, infrastructural, and environmental—ensuring sustainability and inclusivity.
4. Participatory Planning:The Gram Panchayat and local community play a central role in identifying priorities, implementing projects, and monitoring progress.
5. Phased Implementation:
   • Phase I (2014–2019): One village to be developed by each MP.
   • Phase II (2019–2024): Two more villages to be taken up for transformation.
6. Inclusivity:Emphasis is placed on uplifting disadvantaged sections—Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, and persons with disabilities.
7. No New Bureaucratic Structures:SAGY functions through existing institutions, ensuring minimal administrative overhead and maximum efficiency.

Institutional Framework

The implementation of SAGY involves a multi-tiered structure for coordination and oversight:

• National Level: The Ministry of Rural Development serves as the nodal ministry, responsible for policy guidance, monitoring, and dissemination of best practices.
• State Level: State governments designate State Nodal Departments to support MPs and ensure inter-departmental convergence.
• District Level: The District Collector acts as the key coordinating officer, facilitating project execution and inter-agency collaboration.
• Village Level: The Gram Panchayat, in consultation with the local community, prepares a Village Development Plan (VDP) under the guidance of the concerned MP.

This framework encourages bottom-up planning and collective responsibility.

Components of an Adarsh Gram

An Adarsh Gram (Model Village) under SAGY is expected to achieve progress in several domains of human and infrastructural development. The essential components include:

1. Personal Development:
   • 100% literacy and school enrolment.
   • Access to quality healthcare and nutrition.
   • Skill development and livelihood promotion.
2. Basic Amenities:
   • Safe drinking water and sanitation for all households.
   • Reliable electricity, housing, and clean fuel for cooking.
   • Efficient waste management and cleanliness.
3. Infrastructure Development:
   • All-weather roads, street lighting, and public transport connectivity.
   • Access to digital services, including internet connectivity and e-governance facilities.
4. Economic Development:
   • Promotion of sustainable agriculture, allied activities, and rural enterprises.
   • Access to financial services, markets, and technology.
   • Strengthening of self-help groups (SHGs) and cooperatives.
5. Social Development:
   • Elimination of social evils such as gender discrimination and caste bias.
   • Ensuring participatory governance and community decision-making.
   • Promotion of cultural and sports activities.
6. Environmental Management:
   • Conservation of water and natural resources.
   • Use of renewable energy and sustainable waste practices.
   • Promotion of eco-friendly technologies and biodiversity preservation.

Funding Mechanism

SAGY is not a centrally funded scheme. It operates through convergence and optimisation of resources from:

• Existing Central and State Government schemes.
• MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) funds.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions.
• Philanthropic and community donations.
• Private sector and public–private partnerships.

This model promotes efficient use of available resources and fosters community ownership of development projects.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring of SAGY implementation takes place at multiple levels:

• National Level: The Ministry of Rural Development conducts periodic reviews and publishes progress reports.
• District Level: District Collectors maintain data on development indicators and project completion.
• Online Portal: The SAGY dashboard provides real-time data, photographs, and progress tracking of adopted villages.
• Independent Evaluation: Select villages undergo external audits to assess social and economic impact.

Achievements and Impact

Since its inception, the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana has contributed to tangible improvements in several adopted villages across India. Achievements include:

• Better access to sanitation, drinking water, and electricity.
• Construction of roads, schools, and health centres.
• Establishment of skill training institutes and livelihood centres.
• Enhanced digital connectivity and e-governance systems.
• Strengthened women’s self-help groups and micro-entrepreneurship.

The scheme has also succeeded in mobilising local communities and enhancing accountability in rural governance.

Challenges in Implementation

Despite its successes, SAGY faces several challenges:

• Limited Participation: Some MPs have been slow to adopt or actively pursue projects.
• Funding Constraints: Dependence on convergence often leads to delays or resource shortages.
• Institutional Coordination: Multiple departments and agencies make interlinking efforts complex.
• Monitoring Gaps: Inconsistent documentation and reporting in some states.
• Sustainability Issues: Long-term maintenance of created infrastructure requires continuous community engagement.

Addressing these challenges requires stronger political commitment, capacity building at the grassroots, and improved monitoring mechanisms.

Significance and Future Prospects

The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAANJHI) holds immense significance in India’s rural transformation framework:

• It demonstrates how political leadership can directly influence grassroots development.
• It fosters participatory democracy by involving citizens in decision-making.
• It promotes convergence of multiple schemes for efficient delivery of outcomes.
• It enhances social inclusion, equity, and sustainability in rural areas.

Conclusion

The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY/SAANJHI) symbolises India’s commitment to empowering villages through leadership-driven, community-based development. By blending visionary political guidance with grassroots participation, it aspires to create self-reliant, inclusive, and progressive rural communities. If implemented effectively, SAGY can serve as a catalyst for achieving “Gram Swaraj”, fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of villages as vibrant units of India’s socio-economic strength and democratic vitality.