PM Modi lays the foundation stone for a Trade Facilitation Centre for weavers in Varanasi (PTI photo)
Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally kicked off his programme of adoption of a village in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, there have been very few MPs who have come forward so far. Out of the total 543 MPs in the Lok Sabha, only 59 MPs have submitted their proposals for adopting a village. In Rajya Sabha, that number is a mere 4.
Interestingly, very few cabinet ministers have sent their proposals for the programme. Senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Kalraj Mishra along with Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete are the exceptions.
This programme is not linked to the MPLADS scheme and the central government plans to converge over 52 central schemes to uplift the infrastructure and development of the model panchayat.
In the last few days, around 672 collectors across the country have been informed. The Centre has also written to the chief secretaries and rural development secretaries of all states. Orientation programmes will be held for MPs in state capitals this month to help them in adopting and understanding the scheme.