Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for demand-driven development in place of supply-driven development. He has also appealed to Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) to adopt a village on the lines of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).

“In Delhi, Lucknow or Gandhinagar, a scheme is prepared and then an attempt is made to inject it everywhere. Through this ‘Adarsh Gram’ (scheme), we want to shift from a supply-driven to a demand-driven model,” he said while launching SAGY here on Saturday. The scheme talks about every Member of Parliament (MP) adopting one village in his constituency by 2016 and two more by 2019. The PM dreams of the ‘Adarsh Gram’ as the nucleus of health, cleanliness, greenery and cordiality within the community.

The scheme aims to ensure that every MP takes responsibility for developing physical and institutional infrastructure in villages. The Prime Minister feels that development in one village will have a ‘viral effect’ on the surrounding villages, as others will also try to be on a par with the ‘Adarsh Gram’ or model village.

“We are nearly 800 MPs. If before 2019 we develop three villages each, we reach nearly 2,500 villages. If in the light of this scheme, the States also create a similar scheme for MLAs, then 6,000 to 8,000 more villages can be added,” Modi added. The MP will be free to choose any village in his constituency. However, he cannot choose his own village or that of his in-laws (sasural) , he clarified.

MPs from the Rajya Sabha can select any village of the State that he or she represents. At the same time, a nominated member can choose any village in the country. “This is not a scheme about money. It is people-driven and guided by people's participation, guided by the MPs. Those elected from the cities, I urge you to look at a village that is close to your city,” he said.

Talking about himself, he said he too has to select a village for Varanasi. “I have received the guidelines. I will go there, discuss and decide in the next 15-20 days,” he said, while coaxing MPs to take interest and create an atmosphere where every person is proud of his or her village.

The Prime Minister said schemes are for every village, but why was it that only a few villages stood out? Because some people there had different ways of thinking, he said. "There are several villages that make us proud. But this also means there is a lot more beyond Government schemes. We have to keep changing with the times and this is a journey that cannot stop. We need to keep adding new elements,” he said.

He also mentioned that he has not taken a small risk, as the new scheme will bring out shortcomings in the existing Government system and that will help improve the system.

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