"...A village with wi-fi connectivity, a reverse osmosis plant for water purification, security cameras, solar-powered streetlights, a panchayat-run bus service, a sound system with speakers at key junctions and education technology tools in schools. Punsari, a small village in Gujarat, is a shining example of what political will can achieve or rather what one honest public servant can accomplish by simply doing his job well. Six years ago, this village had no sewerage connection, no streetlights, not even concrete roads but judicious use of government grants and revenue has transformed this 6,000-people strong village beyond recognition. The challenges ahead were immense, says Himanshu Patel (29), talking of the time when he took over as the sarpanch. “The panchayat was dependent on grants from various state and central government schemes, and there was a deficit balance of about Rs 40,000. We also did not get NRI finance like some villages do that have a significant diaspora overseas ,” says Patel. “My team and I decided we must make sensible use of state government funds and earn revenue from the land at our disposal,” says the young sarpanch. The panchayat sold part of its land for plotted schemes to create a fund for social development. It installed a reverse osmosis plant, which provides pure drinking water at reasonable rates. Patel also started a bus service which can be used by women to get to the local market and for transporting milk and other essentials. After completing school in Punsari, Patel went to Modasa, a nearby town, to complete his graduation. After college, he started a business in Modasa and was elected sarpanch in 2006. Patel believes that along with providing good infrastructure, creating awareness among the villagers about various welfare schemes is also essential. “We have installed waterproof speakers at strategic locations in the village. The speakers not only broadcast bhajans, shlokas and Gandhian philosophy, but also keep people informed about the new schemes, government regulations and projects that they can avail of,” he says. The village is also increasingly becoming tech-savvy, says Patel. “When we made Punsari a Wi-Fi village, only a few youngsters used the Internet. Now a sizeable number uses computers and smart phones,”says Patel. “A lot of villagers have also started applying for recruitment and various schemes online,” he says. Dropouts are almost unheard of in Punsari, says Patel. To keep a check on quality and ensure regularity of classes, CCTVs have also been installed in all schools. “The classrooms are well-equipped and also have education technology aids such as projectors. We are now planning to provide air-conditioning.” The village has earned recognition for its landmark schemes and overall development, which includes several awards from the Central and Gujarat state governments. But the spirited sarpanch is not the kind to rest on past laurels. He now intends to focus his energies on exploring new methods of plantation..."
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 18:34:15 +0000
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