To attract corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for the model village scheme of MPs – a pet programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- the Rural Development Ministry will soon hold a conference of business houses. The effort is to rejuvenate the scheme with more funds at a time when MPs, cutting across party lines, have complained about funding.

After the first meeting of the National Level Committee on the scheme, Adarsh Gram Yojana, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh told reporters that there is a good response from business houses on linking their CSR activities with the scheme. “A number of business houses want to work with us. We will call a conclave to take their views,” Singh said. Opposition MPs had complained that only powerful ministers and MPs were getting CSR funds for the scheme.

To address the MPs’ grievances, Singh said 14 programmes under 11 ministries will be linked with the scheme. “We will also talk to State governments so that their schemes can also be included to develop the adopted villages,” he added.

Singh said MPs have been asked to submit village development plans by July and appraisal of the ongoing works will be done after four months. He said the scheme is being changed so that a member can develop three-to-four villages during their tenure in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. So far, six State MLAs have come forward to launch model villages in line with the Centre’s scheme.

He claimed that 86 per cent of the MPs have already selected their model village, 108 MPs are yet to make suggestions, 55 MPs (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) from West Bengal have not opted for the scheme. When asked if there is any politics behind this, Singh said: “Two BJP MPs from the State have enrolled in the scheme. I think others should also join.”

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