*582 ‘Village Knowledge Centres’ to be Set Up in Haryana, People to Get Multiple Facilities at One Place*

*Government Endeavours to Ensure All Kinds of Facilities are Available in Rural Areas as Well: Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini*

Centres to be Set Up at a Cost of Rs. 514.53 Crore; Decision Taken at State Finance Committee Meeting

Chandigarh, September 2 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said the State Government aims to provide rural residents with better and essential facilities on a par with those available in urban areas. The government is continuously working for the development of villages, and it endeavours to ensure that all kinds of facilities are available in rural areas as well.

The Chief Minister was chairing a meeting of the State Finance Committee at the Secretariat on Wednesday. During the meeting, officers placed a proposal for setting up 582 Village Knowledge Centres across the State with the support of NABARD. A total amount of Rs. 514.53 crore will be spent on the project, with approximately Rs. 88.33 lakh to be spent on each Village Knowledge Centre. Development and Panchayats Minister Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar was also present on the occasion.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini directed the Finance Department to accord the necessary financial approval for the project on priority at the earliest so that its implementation can be ensured in a time-bound manner.

The Village Knowledge Centres will be developed as ‘all-in-one’ assistance centres in villages, where officials of the Development and Panchayats Department, along with officials of other departments, will also be available. This will enable rural residents to conveniently access essential facilities and services related to different departments at a single location. The centres will also have facilities such as a meeting room, Sarpanch office, Common Service Centre (CSC) room, digital library and caretaker room.

The Chief Minister directed officers to ensure that a tree, along with a chabutra (traditional raised platform), is provided within the premises of every Village Knowledge Centre. He said that chabutras and trees have traditionally been an integral part of social interaction, conversations and community life in villages. Carrying forward this traditional rural culture and heritage, arrangements should be made in the premises of the Village Knowledge Centres so that these centres do not remain merely places for accessing government services, but also serve as convenient community spaces where villagers can sit, interact and socialise with one another.

*Special Focus on Repair of Village Streets, Phirni and Street Lighting*

The Chief Minister said better basic amenities are essential for the development of villages. He directed officers to make appropriate provisions for the repair of streets in rural areas. He said complaints are often received from villagers regarding the level and maintenance of streets. It should, therefore, be ensured that wherever only a particular portion of a street requires repair due to subsidence or damage, only that portion is repaired as required instead of unnecessarily dismantling the entire street. This would ensure proper utilisation of government funds while also saving rural residents from unnecessary inconvenience.

The Chief Minister also directed officers to pay special attention to improving the phirni (village peripheral road) in rural areas and ensuring that street lighting remains in proper condition. He said small issues relating to basic amenities in villages should be resolved on time so that rural residents get better facilities and the maximum benefit of development works reaches the people.

Principal Secretary to  Chief Minister, Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Finance Department, Sh. C.G. Rajini Kaanthan, Director, Development and Panchayats Department, Sh. Anish Yadav, and other senior officers of the department were present during the meeting.