- A recent independent World Bank assessment of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has noted that the scheme led to a shift from farm to non-farm employment particularly among men in the habitations studied between 2009 and 2017.
- The report also noted that due to improved connectivity there has been a positive impact on child immunisation, childbirths in hospitals, and schooling of both boys and girls in rural areas
- PMGSY was launched in 2000. The scheme is under the aegis of Ministry of Rural Development.
- It aims to provide connectivity, by way of an All-weather Road to the eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-East, hill, tribal and desert areas).
- Recently, the government has approved the launch of Phase-3 of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
- Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, the government has proposed to consolidate roads measuring 1.25 lakh km in length in the states.
- Further, construction of bridges of up to 150m in plain areas and 200 m in Himalayan and north eastern states have been proposed.
