Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday launched a transformative umbrella scheme called ‘Bikashita Gaon Bikashita Odisha’ with an aim to bridge developmental gaps in the state’s villages.
With an ambitious outlay of Rs 5,000 crore over five years, the scheme is designed to promote inclusive growth by addressing critical infrastructure and livelihood needs in rural areas.
Official sources said that the scheme seeks to boost rural infrastructure, enhance the quality of life in villages, and foster economic growth for the holistic development of the state. The scheme prioritises areas like rural road infrastructure, civic amenities, sports and educational facilities, and micro-tourism development.
Key projects under the initiative will include the construction and enhancement of inter-village and intra-village roads, ensuring better connectivity and accessibility for residents. Additionally, community-driven initiatives will focus on creating sustainable assets tailored to local needs.
The initiative empowers rural communities to not only participate in planning but also oversee the maintenance and quality of these projects, promoting a sense of ownership and accountability.
This will substantially lead to the development of various infrastructure and act as a gateway to achieve the goal of Bikashita Odisha.
The provision of road connectivity to unconnected villages/ habitations to bridge the connectivity gap and development of both inter and intra-village roads will be of prime importance under this scheme. Following are the main features of the scheme:
1. Construction of roads, bridges, culverts, etc. in rural Odisha (both inter and intra-village roads) shall be taken up under the Scheme. Unconnected villages/habitations in PVTGs, Naxal-dominated, remote hilly areas shall be connected through intra and inter-village roads.
2. The road infrastructure in rural areas which requires improvement shall be included in the project list basing on factors like population density, economic activity and geographical challenges.
3. Construction of road up to formation level (wherever required) can be taken up in convergence with MGNREGS subject to availability of suitable soil within head lead.
4. Road projects like black top road, cement concrete road and paver block roads to be taken up.
5. The habitations and villages situated within the reserve forest/forest area having road formation will be improved up to metalling standard.
6. Funds to be utilized for road projects shall not exceed Thirty-Five percentage (35%) of total allotted funds.
7. Based on the requirements, standalone cross drainage works with necessary approach road will also be taken up.
8. The funds will be allocated in such a manner that the road will be completed in all respects within the allotment.
9. A comprehensive technical guideline will be issued to define the specifications and quality standards for the roads/bridges/culverts to be constructed.
10. Construction of civic assets and amenities in villages.
11. Construction of civic assets like kalyan mandap, community center, bathing ghat, changing room near ponds/river banks, market sheds, drains to be taken up wherever needed
12. Construction of Bhoga Mandap, Bhagabata Tungi, Cultural Centres etc. will be taken up to provide basic amenities and services for devotees/ pilgrims in the place of worship of all religions. Toilets and water supply facilities near such projects may be developed out of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) wherever required.
13. Construction & rejuvenation of community pond & water harvesting structure will be taken up.
14. Improvement of infrastructure for education.
15. Construction of additional classrooms, modernization and expansion works of the existing infrastructure.
16. Construction of reading rooms (with cubicles, each cubicle having a small table and chair), with electricity and internet facility and also washroom provision should be taken up in Block Headquarters and other thickly inhabited area. These reading rooms should remain open from 9 am to 9 pm. Students of schools and colleges and pass out students preparing for job examinations should be allowed to read in these reading rooms on payment of nominal charges.
17. Development/Construction of sports infrastructure i.e. small outdoor playful and enjoyable physical activity facilities such as Long Jump & High Jump Pit, Rope Climbing, Horizontal Bar for Monkey-Hanging and such low-cost innovative facilities shall be developed.
18. Improvement of need based micro tourism spots can also be taken up under this Scheme.
19. Maximum upto 5% of the total sanctioned amount can be utilized for new innovative projects for community use.
20. Projects of similar nature taken up by PR & DW Department and other Departments can be dovetailed/converged under the Scheme.
21. Projects with estimates less than Rupees 3 Lakh shall not be taken up.
22. Projects taken up under erstwhile Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha (AONO) can be completed under the new scheme provided minimum 20% (Twenty Percentage) expenditure has been incurred.
