Smart initiatives towards ‘smart villages’ would get a fillip as various ideas regarding areas of cooperation, evolving consensus among all the stakeholders, policy planning vis-a-vis Jharkhand’s resources have started pouring in after the Central Government sanctioned Rs5,142-crore for transformation of rural areas.
Social activists active in the image makeover of far-flung areas through people centric activities opine that Jharkhand needs to be treated differently and any model for a smart village must evolve from inside out than vice-versa. Emphasis is now being made on learning from the shortcomings of the Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojna (SAGY) and ironing out those while launching the smart village concept in Jharkhand.
“I welcome the Government’s decision. We have been demanding this from a very long time and a lot of work has been done in Jharkhand in the direction of smart village. But one mistake that has happened in SAGY is that training programmes have been centralised and it should not happen in the case of ‘smart village’. For smart villages the Government needs to take note of the topography and traditional system as these have their own significance,” said member of newly constituted State Development Council and Secretary of Vikas Bharti, Ashok Bhagat.
As the Government is about to release funds for Jharkhand villages, problems like electricity, water, health, education, telecommunication awaits redressal on priority basis and earnest effort to improve villages on these parameters would be one of the determining factors towards the journey to ‘smart village’. Besides, making best use of natural resources, craftsmanship and reinvestment planning for the skilled workforce in the rural economy are being projected as the best way to sustain the momentum that would be built during the course of implementation of the scheme.
“Jharkhand is known for horticulture and herbal farming, its traditional art and craftsmanship. So, artisans need to be trained, made skilled and the skilled labour force must be reinvested in the rural economy to make a village smart,” maintained Bhagat.
Close cooperation among various collaborating agencies and the stakeholders has been suggested to create a robust and village specific plan that would focus on various parameters that defines a ‘smart village’ and would also address the challenges that a diverse State like Jharkhand usually presents during the project planning stage. A concerted effort by Gram Sabha, Panchayat Secretary, villagers and the State government forms the very core of the concept that is all set to change the rural hinterlands of Jharkhand.
“Planning of schemes must be undertaken at village level not at the secretariat so that motivation could come from within. Any development model should evolve from within the village and with the help of rural people rather than imposing tailor-made growth models prepared elsewhere. Considering the diversity of the State, a common model for smart village would not be appropriate,” added the Padam Shri recipient.
Notably, around 100 villages are likely to be the part of the ‘Smart Village’ concept however the selection of villages for the ambitious project of the State government is yet to be undertaken and so as the defining parameters for the villages. The project is likely to cost around Rs 1-crore for each village selected and spread over two years’ time that is claimed to be the minimum duration for achieving all goals for a smart village.