Infrastructure.
Context: A parliamentary panel has found discrepancies including diversion of funds, issuing tenders prior to technical sanctions, incomplete projects, preference to certain villages etc. in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) — a flagship programme of the Central government to provide rural last mile connectivity. The panel also found that some states had deviated from the prescribed procedures. Consequently eligible habitations were either left out or wrongly shown as connected.
About PMGSY:
PMGSY was launched on 25th December 2000 as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all weather road connectivity in rural areas of the country.
The programme’s target is to connect the 178,184 habitations identified as unconnected when the programme was launched. The present government has set an accelerated goal of achieving this target by 2019, ahead of the initial timeline of 2022.
For most intensive Integrated Action Plan (IAP) blocks as identified by Ministry of Home Affairs the unconnected habitations with population of100 and above (as per 2001 Census) are eligible to be covered under PMGSY.
The aim was to provide roads to all villages:
With a population of 1000 persons and above by 2003.
With a population of 500 persons and above by 2007.
In hill states, tribal and desert area villages with a population of 500 persons and above by 2003.
In hill states, tribal and desert area villages with a population of 250 persons and above by 2007.
Background:
Rural Road Connectivity is not only a key component of Rural Development by promoting access to economic and social services and thereby generating increased agricultural incomes and productive employment opportunities in India, it is also as a result, a key ingredient in ensuring sustainable poverty reduction. Notwithstanding the efforts made, over the years, at the State and Central levels, through different Programmes, many Habitations in the country are still not connected by All-weather roads.
Sources: pib.
