60 villages in Kangra district declared Adarsh Gram

As many as 60 villages in Kangra district have been declared Adarsh Gram (model villages) under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said here.

A total of 64 villages were selected under the scheme run by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, of which 60 met the criteria to be declared as model villages. An amount of Rs 3.94 crore has been sanctioned for the development of these villages during the current fiscal year.

Chairing a meeting of the PMAGY Convergence Committee Bairwa said the scheme’s goal is to ensure integrated development of villages with over 40 per cent Scheduled Caste population, reducing inequalities and meeting the minimum needs of all sections of the society.

Under the programme, villages were assessed on 50 monitoring indicators across 10 key areas, including drinking water and sanitation, education, health and nutrition, social security, rural roads and housing, electricity and clean fuel, agriculture, financial inclusion, digitalization, and livelihood and skill development. The villages scoring 70 or more points have been given the Adarsh Gram status.

Hemraj Bairwa directed the concerned officials that periodic reviews be held with Gram Panchayats to ensure timely utilisation of funds.

District Welfare Officer Sahil Mandla informed that the Gram Vikas Yojanas for Mohtali (Indora block), Dargela (Rait block), Panyamal (Dehra block), and Badi Khas (Indora block) have also been approved under this scheme.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Vinay Kumar, DWO Sahil Mandla, officers from various departments, Block Development Officers, and concerned Gram Panchayat Secretaries.