PRADHAN MANTRI GRAM SADAK YOJANA: EMPOWERING RURAL BHARAT

A highlight that took center stage in the interim Budget 2024-25, as well as in previous decade budgets, was ₹19,000 crore allocated for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Such is the importance of infrastructure development in merging the connected and unconnected parts of Bharat. With the ambition of connecting rural habitations and empowering rural India, PMGSY stands as a significant initiative that has fostered socio-economic progress and development in rural and rough terrain areas. Launched in 2000 as part of the poverty reduction strategy, PMGSY aims to set high, uniform technical and management standards for sustainable management of the rural roads network, leading to increased agricultural incomes and productive employment opportunities across India.

In the year 2023-24, several works cleared are 188570, new connectivity works are 120205, upgradation words are 68365, completed road works 179384, completed lengths in km is 759689 and in-progress road works are 9186. It has 94.19% of road length completion. Even in Hill States (North-East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand), the Desert Areas (as identified in the Desert Development Programme), the Tribal (Schedule V) areas and Selected Tribal and Backward Districts (as identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Planning Commission), the initiative connects the eligible unconnected Habitations with a population of 250 persons and above.

For complete national development, rural areas need to progress at a considerable pace too. Neglect or isolation hinders economic growth, affecting vital services like healthcare and education. Hence, road connectivity is essential for fast-paced development in the nation. Anita Saini, a Secondary School teacher from Baggad, Rajasthan, expressed her joy at a 5 km road connecting her home and school. She said, “When there was no road, there were no options. Women like me had to stay home. This road has provided me with a new sense of freedom and purpose.” Anita belongs to a community of 171,000 people who benefited from the PMGSY program.

The impact of PMGSY is as follows:

⦁ Road connectivity that leads to economic growth – Connectivity between villages, big cities, inter and intra-city routes, and other states facilitates the easy transport of goods and services, trade, and travel for people. Almost 64.5% of goods and commodities are transported via roads, and 90% of India’s passenger traffic relies on roads for travel. Moreover, local markets become easily accessible, allowing farmers to sell their produce with ease. Additionally, local businesses and indigenous products also gain recognition.

⦁ Villages no longer endure isolation – They offer an opportunity for the public to forge connections with larger cities, diverse groups, and communities, thereby fostering the exchange of cross-cultural ideas. In regions afflicted by natural calamities, improved accessibility ensures prompt delivery of emergency services, mitigating heavy losses. Furthermore, the surge in tourism enhances the allure of unexplored areas, infusing them with newfound value and propelling economic growth. As tourism flourishes, the hospitality sector undergoes unprecedented development, enticing even more tourists seeking recreational activities.

⦁ Hospitals, schools, and colleges reap significant benefits – Enhanced road connectivity elevates educational standards in rural areas. Access to superior healthcare and treatments becomes the norm, ultimately improving the overall quality of life. For instance, 86% of people in Kashmir observed improved accessibility to doctors and paramedics at nearby health centers, with 86% crediting the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for facilitating the smooth flow of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 94% noted a substantial improvement in ambulance accessibility following the construction of PMGSY roads. In Palghar district, two settlements, Chipatpada and Radhanagari, experienced a positive impact on educational access due to road construction. As a result, children from these areas began attending school regularly and pursued further studies in nearby towns with daily commutes.

⦁ The agricultural sector’s advancement – Reduced transportation costs and improved access to facilities for procuring manure, seeds, fertilizers, and other technological aids have seamlessly reached these small villages, thereby assisting farmers in enhancing their production. Moreover, farmers now transport their produce directly to the market, obtaining fair prices and eliminating middlemen, thus significantly enhancing the agricultural sector. PMGSY roads have contributed to an 8-percentage point increase in the share of crops transported to markets for sale, tripling over pre-PMGSY levels. Furthermore, farmers selling food grains traveled an additional 8.9 kilometers after the construction of PMGSY roads, suggesting that they were traveling to locations where crop prices were higher. For instance, in Kashmir, approximately 89% of the population believed that the agriculture and horticulture sector witnessed remarkable improvement following the construction of PMGSY roads. Additionally, 92% reported better access to markets due to PMGSY roads. Farmers have also gained improved access to purchasing high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, while PMGSY roads have also reduced transportation charges.

PMGSY has been a testament to Bharat’s increasing potential. Thus, the path to making Bharat an economic superpower lies in its roads.