Chandigarh, Sep 2 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said the state government is working to provide rural residents with better and essential facilities on par with amenities available in urban areas.
He was chairing a meeting of the State Finance Committee here.
During the meeting, officers proposed establishing 582 Village Knowledge Centres across the state with NABARD support. A total of Rs 514.53 crore would be spent on the project, with around Rs 88.33 lakh to be spent on each centre.
Saini directed the finance department to accord necessary approvals at the earliest so that the project could be implemented in a time-bound manner.
The Village Knowledge Centres will be developed as “all-in-one” assistance centres in rural areas, where officials of the development and panchayats as well as other departments will be available, according to an official statement.
This will enable rural residents to access essential facilities and services linked to different departments in a single location. The centres will also have facilities such as a meeting room, Sarpanch office, Common Service Centre room, digital library and caretaker room.
Saini directed officers to ensure that a tree, along with a ‘chabutra’ (a raised platform), is provided within the premises of every Village Knowledge Centre.
He said chabutras and trees have traditionally been an integral part of social interaction, conversations and community life in villages. Carrying forward this rural culture will ensure that these centres do not remain mere places for accessing government services, but also as convenient community spaces where villagers can sit, interact and socialise.
Stating that better basic amenities are essential for the development of villages, Saini directed officers to make appropriate provisions to repair streets in rural areas.
He said complaints are often received from villagers regarding the level and maintenance of streets. He directed them that if a particular portion of a street requires repair due to subsidence or damage, only the affected portion is repaired instead of unnecessarily dismantling the entire street. This would ensure proper utilisation of government funds while also saving rural residents from unnecessary inconvenience, he said.
Saini also directed officers to pay special attention to improving the ‘phirni’ (village peripheral road) and ensuring that street lighting remains in proper condition.
Small issues related to basic amenities in villages should be resolved on time, he asserted. PTI SUN RUK RUK
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