Tata Trusts partner with AP to develop model villages

Tata Trusts to implement programme involving bamboo cultivation, fisheries etc in all 264 villages in Vijayawada Constituency

Tata Trusts on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Andhra Pradesh government to work towards community empowerment and improve the overall quality of living through an integrated multi-thematic approach in the region.

The programme involves intervention in areas of bamboo cultivation, fisheries, nutrition and fortification, along with micro planning and village development based on the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), launched last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Tata Trusts will implement the programme in all the 264 villages in Vijayawada Parliamentary Constituency.

Interacting with the media at a joint press conference along with AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in this connection, chairman emeritus of Tata Group, Ratan Tata, said he was delighted to have been invited to participate in the process of development initiated by chief minister Naidu.

Under the present initiative Tata Trusts will be working in areas of nutrition, health and livelihood issues among other several things, he said.

Terming Ratan Tata as a symbol of India and its industrial might, Chief minister Naidu said he had also invited the Tata Group to make investments in areas including food processing and manufacturing and the details of the same were being worked out in this regard.

"I am delighted that Tata Trusts is partnering with Andhra Pradesh on development of 264 villages. This is the first time such as huge number of villages are being adopted. This will set an example in the country as it will be mentored by industry titan Ratan Tata. I am impressed with the background work and research Tata Trusts has done on these villages," Naidu said.

The thematic areas of the programme will focus on promoting bamboo as a livelihood crop to improve the income of farmers. With a focus on marine fisheries, a comprehensive aquaculture development model will be worked out to enhance the livelihood of small and marginal fishermen.

The trusts will use the government programmes like Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Mid-day meal and Public Distribution System (PDS) as delivery channels and also target micro nutrient deficiencies like anemia.

An adequately staffed Programme Management Unit (PMU) will be set up to ensure effective and timely implementation of the proposed multi-thematic plans. The detailed scope and implementation strategy will be arrived at jointly by the AP government's planning department and Tata Trusts.

"In collaboration with the AP government, we will develop model villages on the lines of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana with innovation and technology as key components, with a broad framework of enhancing social security and infrastructure development through implementation of Central and state-level schemes, improved drinking water and sanitation systems and several livelihood enhancement programmes," R Venkataramanan, executive trustee of Tata Trusts, said.