The Prime Minister today launched Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, SAGY, to improve the standard of living and quality of life of all sections of people through improved basic amenities. The scheme was launched on the birthday of on the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan.

Launching the scheme in New Delhi, Narendra Modi said if nearly 800 MPs develop three village each by 2019, around 2500 villages will be covered. Mr Modi said, whichever party the MP belongs to, he or she has to keep working among people for the development of the rural areas. He said, on the basis of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, the states can also launch scheme for MLAs to make more model villages.

Mr Modi called upon people to take interest and create an atmosphere where every person is proud of his or her village. Mr Modi urged those MPs who have been elected from cities to look at a village that is close to their city.

Speaking on the occasion, Rural Development minister Nitin Gadkari said, only government initiatives and schemes cannot make model villages, each one has to be a part of it.

Our correspondent adds, the scheme will be implemented in selected gram panchayats initially. The objective of SAGY is to trigger processes which lead to holistic development of the identified gram panchayats .