Madhya Pradesh to float Smart Village concept

Concept encompasses available infrastructure, services, social status and livelihood opportunities in villages

With a view to transforming existing rural landscape into 'Smart Villages', Madhya Pradesh government would soon share its concept with the district panchayat heads. The concept of Smart Village would encompass various parameters like available infrastructure, services, social status and livelihood opportunities in the villages.

“We will hold a discussion with District Panchayat heads on June 7. The idea is to encourage them to create facilities on above parameters so that they can claim Smart Village status,” Aruna Sharma, additional chief secretary of Panchayat and rural development department told BS.

The district panchayat heads will be asked to come up to certain level so that maximum number of villages can fall into Smart Village category. For example, if a village has RCC (reinforced cement concrete) roads, internet connectivity, toilets in each house, proper sanitation mechanism and enough livelihood opportunity, the village will score maximum numbers to claim Smart Village status.

“The villagers will have a competition this way. As regards infrastructure, almost all panchayat have RCC roads and internet connectivity. Even if any of them does not have infrastructure or facilities, they can raise demand. We have sufficient fund for them.”

She further said, “almost all Panchayat have their own building, school building, post office, business correspondent for banking, at least primary health center and e-Panchayat infrastructure for connectivity. As regards services most service and processes including payments under MNREGS are now online. The panchayat members will have to manage the fund allocated to them in delivering and arranging services to the people.”

The department has put its functioning pertaining to panchayat online through various software like RuralSoft, RuralWork, Panchlekha, PlanPlus, Jal Abhishek MIS etc.

State has 22,719 gram panchayat. Of them 15,000 have population of 2000 or at least 200 houses in each panchayat. They receive fund with annual increment of Rs 87.17 crore in accordance with the 10th finance recommendations for the last four years.

The twelfth finance commission has made fund allocation of Rs 1,663 crore for five years while the thirteenth finance commission had sanctioned an amount of Rs 4,305.69 crore.

Also the third state finance commission has recommended Rs 490.94 crore (2012-13). Also they get royalty against minor minerals. Besides, panchayat and gram sabhas have rights to impose taxes to generate revenue. 

A gram sabha have drawing and disbursement rights for initiating any new work up to Rs 5 lakh while a district panchayat can sanction works up to Rs 1 crore. “Funds are no constraints for any panchayat for coming up to expected level required for converting into Smart Village,” Sharma added.