Mumbai: The collective contribution made through CSR, government funds, and public participation has speeded up the rate of transformation happening through the Village Social Transformation Movement. The enthusiasm showed by the corporate sector and its contribution in this regard is commendable.
“Through the Maharashtra Village Social Transformation movement, there will be not only all-round development of 1,000 villages but also many villages will draw inspiration through this medium and rural development in the State will accelerate,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Fadnavis said this at the third meeting of the Maharashtra Village Social Transformation Governing Council, held in Mumbai on Monday.
The meeting was attended by senior industrialists Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra, Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde, Skill Development Minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar, Water Conservation Minister Ram Shinde, entrepreneurs Ronnie and Zarina Screwvala, Ajay Piramal, Amit Chandra, Parth Jindal, Shikha Sharma, Sanjeev Mehta, Hemendra Kothari, Nikhil Meswani, Sakal Strategic Head Bobby Nimbalkar, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Praveen Pardeshi and Popatrao Pawar of ideal village ‘Hiware Bazaar’.
Secretaries of several departments, collectors of various districts and chief executive officers reviewed the overall progress so far in the meeting, and were instructed on the way forward.
This project is aimed at creating a model for holistic development via several departments of the State government, Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum, business conglomerates, NGOs and through the public’s participation.
Employment, health and hygiene, sewage treatment, agriculture and training will be the key areas of focus. Nilangekar said modern technology and skills are imparted to farmers to stop their migration. Speakers had suggested that efforts should be made to stop the migration of farmers to cities, which is a concern. Therefore, farmers are trained in modern technology and taught various skills. Efforts are also being made to give them jobs, in cooperation with industries, said Nilangekar.
Infrastructural facilities and digitalisation, along with the draft development plan, will be presented to villages on October 20.
The rural housing programme will be put forth in the next Governing Council meeting. Munde expressed confidence that the gap between villages and cities would be filled if health, education, and means of livelihood are provided.
Tanishkas as guides at district and village levels
† Members of Sakal Media Group’s Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum will also play an important role in the Maharashtra Village Social Transformation Scheme.
† Tanishka members will work as guides at the district and village levels in this resolve, to transform villages in the State.
† They will work alongside village development members appointed by the government in the five villages under the Smart Village project.
† Tanishka members have studied issues in the villages and have provided solutions for them as well.
† They will guide rural development fellows (RDFs) of the scheme and take responsibilities of the conference at the block and district levels.
† Sakal Media Group will train three lakh farmers in various skills at 1,873 locations in the State, in which RDFs will have a major share.
Mahindra mentions good work done by Tanishka forum
† Praising the scheme, industrialist Ratan Tata said these villages will progress if consistency is maintained in the development work. He also mentioned that the implementation of the scheme should be strictly monitored. Industrialist Anand Mahindra mentioned the good work done by Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum. He said that this would be the first such experiment in simultaneously mobilising government departments, NGOs, industries, villages and a forum like Tanishka.
