Bhubaneswar: In a major step to achieve the vision of Vikshit Odisha 2036, the Odisha government on Monday launched the Model Village Mission and Mahapurusha Adarsha Grama Yojana (MAGY) across the state.
The two schemes were launched by Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Rabi Narayan Naik, through video conference in all districts of the state.
Officials said the Model Village Mission has been envisaged as a key initiative to saturate the villages in Odisha with access to basic amenities and community spaces. This will not only empower rural areas of the state by providing urban-level amenities, but also transform them into self-sustaining and self-governing engines of prosperity.
In the first phase of the Mission, all headquarters villages of 6,733 Gram Panchayats are proposed to be saturated by 2029. As part of the implementation process, a baseline survey will be conducted to assess critical gaps in infrastructure and essential amenities at the village level.
For this purpose, a comprehensive survey template, developed in consultation with stakeholder departments including Health and Family Welfare, School and Mass Education, Women and Child Development, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Energy and others, was released by the Minister during the programme.
With the initiation of the baseline survey process, the Model Village Mission was formally launched across the State. The Minister emphasised the guiding principles for transformation of rural Od
isha and called upon all districts to ensure coordinated and time-bound implementation of the initiative.
To facilitate effective monitoring and convergence, a State Level Task Force under the chairmanship of Girish S N, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, has been constituted with participation of all stakeholder departments. Similarly, District Level Task Forces headed by the respective Collectors have been formed for supervision and implementation at the district level.
On the occasion, the Minister also launched the Mahapurusha Adarsha Grama Yojana (MAGY), a flagship initiative aimed at holistic development of the native Gram Panchayats of eminent personalities who have made extraordinary contributions to Odisha’s social, cultural, literary and political history.
The scheme will be implemented over a period of three years from 2026–27 to 2028–29, covering around 100 to 150 Gram Panchayats across the State. In the initial phase, the programme will be implemented in 15 Gram Panchayats associated with 16 eminent personalities across 12 districts.
Under the scheme, priority will be given to infrastructure development works including roads, piped water supply, healthcare services, Anganwadi centres, playgrounds, digital connectivity, solar energy infrastructure, memorial parks and restoration of ancestral houses. Focus will also be placed on skill development, digital literacy, social security and livelihood generation.
The scheme will be implemented through convergence of various Central and State Government schemes. Committees constituted at the State, District and Block levels will ensure regular monitoring, coordination and supervision of implementation.
The initiative would not only preserve and honour the legacy of eminent personalities of the state, but also accelerate inclusive and sustainable development in rural areas, the Minister said.