Vijayawada :
Taking another step in the direction of developing Andhra Pradesh as a smart state by developing villages as smart villages, the state government entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tata Trust here on Sunday.
Though the MoU is for the development of 264 villages in the Vijayawada Parliamentary Constituency with focus on human resources development and employment generation avenues, the State Government sees it as a cornerstone for the development of the state as ‘the best state’ by 2029. The MoU was signed by R Venkataraman, CEO of Tata Trust, on its behalf and Shanti Priya Pandey, Additional Secretary (Planning), on behalf of the government.
Launching the Village Development Plans and the website for the Vijayawada Bamboo Mission, along with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Tata Trust Chairman Ratan Tata said he looked forward to a great partnership between the state government and Tata Trust. He said it would be a step in the direction of helping the betterment of quality of life in villages. Recalling his past interaction with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the Tata Trust Chairman said he held the former in great esteem. He wished the CM and the state all successes in the coming years.
Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said it was a start in the direction of Smart AP’ and called upon people of the state settled across the world to chip in with their knowledge and other contributions to make the state a smart one and help in improving the lives of people in the rural areas.
Hailing the initiative of Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas, which saw the Tata Trust becoming a partner in the development of 264 villages of his constituency like never before, the CM said many companies and individuals were also coming forward to partner with the state in its development.
“However, to make such initiatives successful, people’s cooperation and active participation are of paramount importance”, he maintained.
Pointing out at the technologies like geo tagging, GAP analysis to do baseline survey of 10 lakh families in 264 villages in Vijayawada Parliamentary Constituency which was made possible with people’s cooperation, the CM said the government would be launching Pulse Smart Survey in the state to get details of all the people in the state and that the job had been entrusted to Special Chief Secretary S P Tucker.
Stating that technology had become cost-effective, the CM said that using the tablets being provided by the government, VROs and sarpanches in the villages could identify the needs of the people and the gaps in implementation of schemes / programmes and initiate corrective measures. He cited ePOS in the PDS, distribution of pensions using hand-held tabs at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries to emphasis that usage of technology not only ensured transparency but also saved lots of money.
Assuring the villages of the government’s help with regard to matching grants and gap solutions for different programmes to be taken up at the village level, he said the villages doing well in development and the implementation of welfare schemes would be given ‘Best Village’ awards and their sarpanches and officials would be felicitated during Sankranti.
On the occasion, he cited the government initiatives like seven missions and five grids for the overall development of the state.
Earlier, Venkataraman and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) explained the objectives of the Village Development Plans, which were basically focused at nutrition, health, fisheries, skill development and related aspects.
On the occasion, the students of the city-based Siddharta Mahila Kalasala presented a cultural programme and the same was appreciated by one and all.
source : http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / August 25th, 2015