About the scheme

• Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) aims for integrated development of selected villages having more than 50% Scheduled Caste (SC) population through implementation of existing scheme of Central and State Governments in a convergent manner and by utilization of gap filling funds provided as Central Assistance. 
• The scheme was launched in 2009-10 on a pilot basis, for the integrated development of 1000 villages in 5 States viz. Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Assam and further extended in 2015 to another 1500 villages in 11 states.
• The Government of India is planning to cover all the eligible 26968 villages by the end of 2024-25.
• Works and programmes taken up under PMAGY in the identified States include inter alia, construction of village roads, community halls/meeting places, community toilets, drainage works, installation of hand pumps, solar powered street lights, drinking water scheme etc.
• As per scheme, for a village to be declared as Adarsh village a minimum of three of the targets listed below have to be achieved by the end of the third year of implementation of PMAGY:-
  • As far as possible, elimination of poverty, but reduction in its incidence by at least 50% within three years.
  • Universal adult literacy
  • 100% enrolment and retention of children at the elementary stage (I-VIII).
  • Reduction of infant mortality rate (per thousand live births) to 30 and maternal mortality rate (per lakh) to 100, by 2012. 
  • Village should fulfill the Nirmal Gram Puraskar norms of the Deptt. Of Drinking Water Supply, M/o Rural Development, ie, these villages should be 100 % open defecation free
  • Access to safe drinking water facility to all villagers on a sustainable basis.
  • 100% institutional deliveries for pregnant women
  • Full immunisation of children
  • Achieving all weather road connectivity to the village
  • 100% registration of deaths and births in the village
  • No child marriages, and child labour
  • No public consumption of liquor and other intoxicating substances
  • 100% allotment of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY) houses to all eligible families

Why in News?

• Several projects have been identified in the Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir under Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana.

Reference:

1. http://newsonair.com/News?title=J%26K%3a-424-PMAGY-works-identified-for-31-villages-of-Udhampur-district&id=396863