SAGY - GS questions based on daily current affairs

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• Lok Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency and Rajya Sabha MP a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected.
• Nominated MPs may choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country.
• In the case of urban constituencies, (where there are no Gram Panchayats), the MP will identify a Gram Panchayat from a nearby rural constituency.
• The Gram Panchayats once selected by members of Parliament (whose tenures have ended on account of resignation or otherwise) would be continued as such under SAGY irrespective of whether activities have already been initiated in the GP under SAGY or not.
• The newly elected MPs will have the option to select the GP of their choice and two more subsequently by 2019.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Activities under SAGY have a wide range like -

• E-Governance resulting in better service delivery
• Time bound service delivery in line with Department’s Citizens Charter
• Holding of Mahila Gram Sabhas before every Gram Sabha
• Holding of a Gram Sabha at least 4 times a year
• Holding of Bal Sabhas every quarter
• Activities for honouring village elders, local role models especially women, freedom fighters and martyrs
• Village Tourism including eco-tourisme
• Rural Industrialization
• Activities for violence and crime free villages such as: Setting up Citizen Committees; Sensitization, especially of youth, etc.
• Promoting diversified agricultural and micro-irrigation, Organic farming, setting up seed banks, etc.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Various activities under SAGY can be broadly categorized as -

• Personal development - hygienic behaviour and practices, fostering healthy habits, etc.
• Human Development - Universal access to basic health facilities, Total immunization, Universal access to education facilities, etc.
• Social development - Building the capacity of the people to fully participate and contribute to local development, Sensitization, especially of youth, etc.
• Economic Development - Promoting diversified agricultural and allied livelihoods, including livestock and horticulture, rural industrialization, Skill Development of all eligible youth for self-employment and placement, etc.
• Environmental Development - Activities for a clean and green village, providing toilets, solid and liquid waste management, Social forestry, etc.
• Basic amenities and services – Pucca house, all weather roads, community halls, village markets, telecom connectivity, etc.
• Social Security – PDS, Pension and Insurance activities
• Good Governance – e-governance, strengthening local democracy, etc.

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:
No new funds are allocated to this Yojana. Broadly, they could be classified as follows:

• Resources of fully tied schemes – centrally sponsored and State- such as IAY, PMGSY etc
• Resources which are partially tied and permit flexibility of use like MGNREGS, RKVY, NRLM, NHM, SSA etc.
• Resources which are largely untied such as BRGF, MPLADS etc which permit a great deal of flexibility to fill in critical gaps as required. Local Area Development Scheme of MLAs may also be tapped, subject to their consent
• Purely untied resources of the Gram Panchayats like own revenue, Central and State Finance Commission grants etc.
• Resources which could be mobilised locally in cash, kind and labour
• Corporate Social Responsibility funds

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• The outcomes will include 100% immunization, 100% institutional delivery, reduced IMR, MMR, reduction in malnutrition among children etc.
• Adoption and adaptation of technology and introduction of innovations are critical to this programme.
• This will include use of space application and remote sensing for planning, mobile based technology for monitoring, agriculture technology for increasing productivity etc.
• The district Collector will be the nodal officer for implementing the SAGY.
• The constituency fund, MPLADS, would be available to fill critical financing gaps.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• Strengthening of local democracy through strong and transparent Gram Panchayats and active Gram Sabhas and facilitating good governance is also an important objective of SAGY.
• Women participation in the decision-making process will be encouraged. In fact the Scheme envisages holding Mahila Sabhas and Bal Sabhas to discuss women and children specific issues and concerns.
• E-governance will also be given a push.
• Ensuring universal access to education facilities, adult literacy, e-literacy are also important goals of SAGY.
• Apart from education, these villages will have quality health care.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana will work through the leadership of Parliamentarians.
• By 2016, one village will be developed by the MPs, and then by 2019, two more villages will be taken up. If states also encouraged their legislators to take up the scheme - five to six more villages could be added in this timeframe.
• Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit for development. It will have a population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas.
• In districts where this unit size is not available, Gram Panchayats approximating the desirable population size may be chosen. If each MP adopts three villages, the scheme will be able to develop 2,379 'gram panchayats' over the next five years.
• The MP would be free to identify a suitable gram panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse.