With a view to improve quality of life in rural Gujarat, the Vijay Rupani Government has launched ‘Vrundavan Gam’ (VG) initiative under which around 250 villages in different parts of the State will be developed as iconic villages through holistic development and in future these VGs would serve as replicating model for other villages.
Clean India and Digital India initiatives of Narendra Modi Government at the Centre would be the main feature for these VGs as the State Government has envisaged to make Vrundavan villages Open Defecation Free (ODF) and decided to provide internet connectivity to make them Digital Gram.
‘‘VG will have six other elements including natural resource management — efficient and sustainable utilisation of soil and water resources, physical infrastructure — roads, check dam, streetlight, lake etc., skill and livelihood—skill building & market linkage, human development index — improvement in health and education facilities, aesthetics — beautification of villages and ethics — removal of alcoholism, domestic violence and other social evils through scientific approach,’’ said Dr Jayanti Ravi, commissioner and principal secretary, State rural development.
The work to transform the village initiate with a People’s Audit of Health, Education and livelihood (PAHElI) survey, she said, adding that the survey gives data and a pictorial representation of the current status of the village.
The volunteers of PAHElI would stay in the village to identify needs of these villages. Moreover nine interns from prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) have also joined the VG project. They would also visit these villages and give important input to make them Vrundavan Gam. Students from National Institute of Rural Management (NIRM) will assist IIMA interns.
‘‘We will incorporate National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Aavas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sahay Yojana and many other Central Government schemes for VG project,’’ said Bharat Pathak, director of State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD).
According to Pathak, work to make VGs began in some of the villages by ensuring that sustainability would remain top priority.