New Delhi. The Centre has released a sum of Rs. 55.54 crore to the States of Assam, Bihar and Rajasthan under the the pilot phase of the centrally sponsored “Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana” (PMAGY). The implementation of the Pilot Scheme was approved in March this year for integrated development of 1,000 villages in the country, each with more than 50% Scheduled Castes (SC) population.

PMAGY, in its pilot phase, is to be taken up for implementation in five States, viz. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (225 villages in each state) and Assam (100 villages).

Based on the complete proposals received from Bihar, Rajasthan and Assam, admissible Central assistance to these States has been released. Whereas Bihar and Rajasthan have been allocated a sum of Rs. 22.72 crore each for implementing the scheme in selected 225 villages in each State, Assam has been allocated Rs. 10.10 crore for 100 villages.

PMAGY aims to achieve all-round, integrated development of selected villages primarily, through convergent implementation of all relevant Central and State schemes in them, and by meeting needs through provision of “gap-filling” funds for which central assistance will be provided @ Rs. 10 lakh per village, with State Government also expected to make a suitable, preferably matching, contribution.