The ruling BJD has to reach 51,313 villages, 314 blocks, 6,272 gram panchayats and win the hearts of 3,49,70, 562 rural people as Panchayat elections are due in early next year. Around 70 per cent of the people live in the villages in Odisha.
The marginal workers, agricultural labourers, industrial workers and construction workers are from villages. Western Odisha has more villages than rest part of the State.
Now the question is how to reach themIJ For this, the Government should focus on need-based assessment of developmental policies for the villages, which will geographically and socially be inclusive. Singers, poets, writers, social workers and freedom fighters of the respective villages should be honoured.
Apart from this, the party need to focus on women centered development schemes like education, health, skill development and employment opportunities. It should consider creating post of “Gram Sevika” and train them who will train the rest of the village women in water, sanitation, health and education.
The Government can shape all round developmental policies for village youths, including girls, regarding sports through talent hunt, skill development, education, health, women- related issues and providing information regarding jobs opportunities etc. For this, the Government should publish “Grameen Patrika”, where anybody from the villages can share their experiences and can suggest measures on village’s development programme.
Western Odisha’s lok Sabha constituencies are either agricultural belt or industrial belt. Therefore, for delivering services, the Government should provide total physical connectivity in terms of road and rail, economic connectivity through accessibility to village market, town market, district market and financial connectivity especially for village women entrepreneurs. Special Village Zone may also be created.
The Government can create potential village centre by locating a central village by combining a few number of villages which has got relative advantages as well as comparative advantages and which can provide basic necessities in terms of health , education, market as well as transport facilities for low level settlement or hamlets. The central village should work like the centre of dissemination of ideas for the villagers as well as villages.
The Government should organize “Gram Manch” programme, where villagers can share their experience on village development programme with other villagers in the State. This programme should be broadcast by the All India Radio in local language.