Resource information
In 2000, the Government of India
launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (hereinafter
PMGSY) with the primary objective of providing all-weather
road connectivity (with necessary culverts and
cross-drainage structures operable throughout the year), to
eligible unconnected habitations in rural areas. Currently,
about 60 percent of the 170,000 eligible habitations have a
road. By the end of 2010, expenditures for the program had
amounted to about US$14.6 billion, and a further US$40
billion is estimated to be required to complete the program
by 2020 (World Bank, 2010). The PMGSY program is a very
large undertaking with the World Bank also being involved in
its financing and execution all along; the most recent
credit amounted to US$1.4 billion. This report summarizes
findings based on data collected as part of the primary
survey, coupled with findings from the qualitative survey
which included focus group discussions (FGDs). It highlights
findings which answer the six key questions which are
relevant to decision makers as evidence to improve existing
and proposed programs and for further policy dialogue. This
is a short version of a separate detailed report which in
addition to the key findings of the quantitative and
qualitative surveys has annexes on key impacts and detailed
findings by state. The detailed analysis and tables
generated are part of the full statistical analysis report
by international consultants and the preliminary findings
report which will serve as background reports for reference
as required. It is hoped that the report(s) will make a
useful contribution to the process of drawing up
recommendations to improve PMGSY's impact in the sphere
of ascriptive distribution - in short, on its 'inclusiveness'.
