Mrida, Mahindra partner to bring holistic development in UP villages

Mrida, a social business venture, in partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra, distributed e-rickshaws, shared soil health cards with villagers and organised a health camp in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district.

The move is part of holistic development initiatives under the Mahindra MPoweredVillage Program across 11 villages in Kaptainganj Tehsil of Kushinagar District.

In the first phase of the initiative, villages had been electrified with solar grids, while in the second phase, using energy access as the base, other initiatives were launched.

On Friday, during the event held at village Khabharabhar, the e-rickshaws and soil health cards were handed over to beneficiaries in the presence of senior officials of the Kushinagar District Administration, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mrida, and the local Mahindra dealer.

Under the first phase of Mahindra MPowered Village Initiative taken up last year in the district, 11 off-grid villages were lit up using solar micro grids. The developmental initiative focuses on providing avenues for livelihood generation, skill training and economic enhancement leading to social change.

With the battery operated e-rickshaws, villagers would be able to commute in a convenient and eco-friendly way. The Soil Health Cards would enlighten the villagers about the condition of the soil - and help in significantly improving agricultural output and productivity. A health camp was conducted to make the villagers aware of the health issues and establish a baseline from which a concerted initiative at improving the villagers' health can be taken up, said a Mrida statement.

Mrida conducted a survey of the villages and came up with the core issues and concerns. The Survey showed that besides electricity, what was required by the people was transport connectivity, agri inputs, education and healthcare - which is what the MPowered Village Program is concentrating upon.

--IANS

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