Union Government's Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana is getting overwhelming response in Prime Minister's home State. Apart from Gujarat MPs, the Chief Minister and the MlAs are also coming forward to adopt villages.
Now, DSPs are asked to adopt at least a village in their districts and transform them into a model village so that other villages also follow in the footsteps of the development model.
In fact it was the idea of Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Rajanikant Patel, to involve his department with the Central Government scheme. Patel also mooted the idea before Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and instantly got consent from her.
The Home Minister wants DSPs to address the issue of malnutrition, infant mortality rate, hygiene & cleanliness, water supply and other basic amenities apart from law and order situation in the villages they adopt. The SPs are given a free hand to take up a single issue and make it a model for other villages not only in his district but for entire State to follow.
Sources in the State home department said a proper guideline would be prepared for the DSPs for adoption of villages in their respective jurisdiction. "SPs know their districts very well. If they adopt a village, they are likely to bring excellent result. More importantly, they would have opportunity to work beyond their routine work of maintaining law and order situation," said an Inspector General rank police official, while reacting to the State Government's initiative.
Already SPs in many districts have initiated the process to adopt a village in their respective district. According to sources, the State wants the police officials to adopt villages lacking basic infrastructure and are not matching the State's standard of nutrition, cleanliness, drinking water facilities etc. The State home department plans to promote the best adopted village by the SPs of Gujarat as Model village nationally to set an example for other States.
Though most of the SPs reacted positively, some of the SPs opined that District Collectors were better positioned for such initiatives than the police officials. "Collectors are already taking care of the entire district and are coordinating with various departments," said a DSP requesting anonymity.