Villages should be economically empowered for Adarsh Gram: Birendra Singh
Bhopal. Union Rural Development Minister Shri Birendra Singh has said that concept of Adarsh Gram can be put into practice only through economic empowerment of villages. For this, major changes should be made in villages’ economy. Shri Singh was inaugurating a National workshop under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana here today. The workshop was presided over by Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Chief Minister said that urbanization is not solution of every problem. Villages need to be developed as complete unit.
Union Minister Shri Singh said that 300 clusters of villages will be formed under RURBAN Mission. Each cluster having 25 thousand to 50 thousand population will be developed to have all facilities. Concept of villages’ development does not cover only extension of basic amenities, but also make villages economically empowered. Better employment opportunities will be available in economically empowered villages. Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana develops a new outlook for villages’ development. Development will be meaningful only when concept of development in the minds of youths is put into practice in villages. He said that mindset of villages will change under patronage of MPs. Members of Parliament should take initiative to become partners in development of villages. Priorities of all Adarsh Grams will be finalised before October 2, 2016. He said that better work in rural development sector has been done in Madhya Pradesh. Its agriculture and economic growth rates are highest in the country.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that India cannot be imagined without villages. Keeping this in view, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has conceptualized Adarsh Gram Yojana. Along with city-like infrastructure, schools, roads, health facilities, hospital, water, power etc, employment opportunities should also be created in villages. Earlier, a village used to be a complete unit. He said that sense of attachment with village should be developed under Adarsh Gram Yojana. Spirit should be instilled among villagers that “My Village is My Prestige”. It is necessary that every child goes to school, villages are clean, addiction-free, have trees and community participation. In Madhya Pradesh, efforts have been made to fully equip villages through convergence of various rural development schemes. Madhya Pradesh is pioneer in the country in growth rate. Suggestions made at the workshop will be implemented in the state.
Union Social Justice Minister Shri Thawarchand Gehlot said that making villages model means making the country model. Both aspects of Adarsh Gram infrastructure and social development & security must be comprehensively developed. Union Social Justice Ministry has selected 200 villages each in 10 districts of the state under the scheme. Under it, Rs. 20 lakh will be provided to each village. Social Justice Department is conducting special drive to abolish manual scavenging. Social security is also necessary for Model Village.
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr. Sitasaran Sharma said that villages have lagged behind in development due to urbanization and are deprived of facilities. India cannot grow without development of villages. All-round agriculture growth will help villages move forward towards development. The workshop will give a new direction to rural development benefiting the country and state.
Union Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Sudarshan Bhagat said that Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana is an initiative for turning self-governance into good governance. Objective of developing Model Villages is that other nearby villages draw inspiration for similar development. A collection of best practices of the scheme has been prepared. Presentation of 31 best practices will be made at the workshop.
Panchayats & Rural Development Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava said that work is being done in Madhya Pradesh for overall development of villages. The state is moving towards Smart Villages. Connectivity of cent percent villages in the state will be completed this year. Roads measuring 62 thousand kms have been constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which is maximum in the country. Under Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 19 thousand km long roads have been constructed. Villages have witnessed development through Panch Parmeshwar Yojana. Awareness about social concerns should be brought about for total development of villages. Public awareness should also be enhanced for cent percent literacy, de-addiction and cleanliness.
ACS Rural Development Smt. Aruna Sharma informed about the workshop. She said that adequate funds have been made available for rural development in the state through convergence of funds made available under 14th Finance Commission, State Finance Commission and amount of stamp duty. MPs have important role in increasing employment opportunities in villages. Model Villages can be developed through social change.
Union Secretary Rural Development Shri Jugal Kishore Mahapatra said in the welcome address that best practices for rural development under the scheme will be presented during the 2-day workshop. The scheme is being implemented in 790 villages.
Collection of 101 best practices under the scheme and e-book were released. Smart Gram-Smart Panchayat booklet of state’s Rural Development Department was also released. Union Panchayat Secretary Shri S.N. Vijayanand, MPs, collectors and Sarpanchs from the country were present on the occasion. Union Joint Secretary Rural Development Smt. Aparajita Sarangi proposed a vote of thanks.
