 In September 2007, Bhimrao Ambedkar Rural Integrated Development Programme was started for the integrated development of over 17,000 gram sabhas across the State. The Dr Ambedkar Gram Vikas Yojana scheme was launched for provisioning of essential services like water, electricity, and roads in Dalit-dominated villages. Under this scheme, 24,716 villages received improvements during her four tenures. 2000 villages were chosen in the first phase during 2009-10 for intensive development work ₹ 800 crore (US $ 120 million) were sanctioned for the development of roads, ₹ 260 crore (US $ 39 million) to construct community centres and 10,000 Dalit villages were provided solar sodium street lights. Government reserved 21 percent quota for Scheduled Castes and two percent for Scheduled Tribes in contracts for construction work worth up to ₹ 5 lakh (US $ 7,400) each of various authorities and corporations in the state.
