MPs’ village scheme loses steam

Only four of 13 LS members and two of 7 RS lawmakers from Punjab have so far adopted villages in Phase 2 of scheme; no BJP MP, including Union minister Sampla, interested

Launched with much fanfare by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana has lost its steam in Punjab as the members of Parliament (MPs) from the state are not showing any interest towards adopting villages for development during the Phase 2 of the scheme.

Though all the 13 Lok Sabha and seven Rajya Sabha members had adopted villages in the first phase, only four Lok Sabha and two Rajya Sabha members have so far adopted villages in the second phase.

None of the remaining 14 MPs have shown interest in adopting any villages.

Union minister and Bathinda MP (SAD) Harsimrat Kaur Badal has adopted Bareh village in Mansa district and Anandpur Sahib MP (SAD) Prem Singh Chandumajra has chosen Lodhipur in Rupnagar. Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi (AAP) and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu (Congress) have adopted Jansua and Alamgir villages in their respective constituencies.

From among Rajya Sabha members, only Naresh Gujral and Samsher Singh Dullo have so far adopted villages under the scheme.

Though the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana was launched by the BJP-led NDA government, none of the BJP MPs from Punjab have so far adopted any villages in the second phase.

The scheme was launched by PM Modi with an aim to develop health, sanitation and educational facilities in the villages being adopted.

Swarn Singh, sarpanch of Dhandi Kadeem village adopted by Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, said, “We have not seen our MP for a long time.”

Meanwhile, Ghubaya said, “I am satisfied with the work done in the village adopted by me in Phase 1.”

Asked about the Phase 2, the MP said, “I have adopted a village but can’t recall its name.”

Faridkot MP (AAP) Prof Sadhu Singh said, “The scheme is just a lollipop. Why should I adopt more villages in the second phase when I am yet to receive funds for the village adopted in the first phase,” he asked.

The villages adopted in Phase 1 across the state have not yet been properly developed.

Sources confirmed to HT that most of the development projects in the adopted villages are far from completion.

When contacted, rural development and panchayats director Sibin C said, “MP’s are not showing any interest in adoption of villages under the scheme. We have written a letter to the MPs and DCs in this regard.”

Talking to Hindustan Times over phone, Dharamvira Gandhi said, “The scheme has proved to be a complete failure as no special funds are provided to the MP for the upkeep of the village. Moreover, an MP has a large number of villages to look after.”

However, he said, all the MPs should adopt villages.

Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa said, “I have not adopted any village and it is of no use to adopt a village. Extra funds should be provided under the scheme”

Several attempts by HT to contact Sangrur MP Bhagwant Maan (AAP) and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa met with no response.

Bharti Kisan Union (Kadian) president Daljeet Singh, said, “It is unfair on the part of the government to have a discriminatory attitude towards certain villages even as all the villages participated in the elections. It is the responsibility of the government to provide better living standards to people everywhere, but it seems that elected representatives are not serious about development.”

The scheme has proved to be a complete failure as no special funds are provided to the MP for the upkeep of the village. DHARAMVIRA GANDHI, MP, Patiala

I am satisfied with the work done in the village adopted by me in Phase 1. I have adopted another village but can’t recall its name right now. SHER S GHUBAYA, MP Ferozepur