Gandhinagar, 2 May 2012

Chief Minister Narendra Modi today handed over incentive grants worth Rs.10.86 crore to 422 villages that became samras in the panchayat elections held in April-2012.

Giving out the grants to samras sarpanchs and panchayat members today in a programme held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar Mr. Modi said that an atmosphere of healthy competition between villages has been created across the state. “Instead of conflicts, the villages are now competing on the front of development”, he said. He asked the sarpanchs to grab this opportunity for putting their villages on the development track.

Congratulating the sarpanchs and the panchayat members the Chief Minister said that there are people who oppose the concept of samras village. “These people suffer from ill mentality and don’t want others to get the fruits of development. Such people hinder the village development. But the village people have now well identified them”, he said.

There are villages which selected woman as their sarpanch. The village elders and leading people should be lauded as they put trust on the abilities of women and gave opportunity to them, he said.

Speaking about ATVT scheme Mr. Modi said the state government has formed clusters of villages under the scheme and achieved success in good governance on the grassroots level. Under ATVT the state government has allotted a significant amount of Rs.800 to 1000 crore for carrying out small and non-budgetary works.

He exhorted sarpanchs to figure out priority of different development works and make their village a model village. Every sarpanch should resolve that they will ensure every house in their village has toilet and the mothers and sisters don’t go for defecation in open.

Speaking about the Nirmal Gram scheme the Chief Minister said the scheme has started paying its dividend as the number of Nirmal Gam in the state has increased from four ten years back to 5,000 now.

He said that government has evolved a transparent system. He exhorted the sarpanchs to take a lead in improving the quality of education in schools and ensure all round development of the villages through unity, consensus and completion of works in time.

As part of Krishi Mahotsav beginning on May 6, Mr. Modi said that the entire government machinery would reach out to the farmers in their talukas, stay with them day and night, to acquaint them with the latest farm techniques and solve their problems too. The agricultural growth rate has been brought up to 11 per cent.

He asked all villages to observe their birthday, clean up the mess, plant trees on either sides of the road for which, he said, no big budget allocation is required. The government is with the people.

The Chief Minister on the occasion distributed prizes totaling Rs.1.03-crore and citations to the best district panchayat, best taluka panchayat and five village panchayats on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Narottam Patel said the scheme has been introduced to ensure development of villages through consensus and cooperation.

Education Minister Ramanlal Vora said that 80,000 new classrooms have been built as well as toilets in schools and 1.23-lakh vidya sahayaks have been during the last decade as part of the Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavni Yatra during the last decade.

Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel said that the government has introduced Apno Taluko, Vibrant Taluko (ATVT) for decentralization of power and transparency. In a short spell of one year, as many as 158 types are applications are received at taluka level at jan seva kendra. In all, 21-lakh out of 22-lakh applications have been disposed off during the last year.

Others present on the occasion included Minister of State for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Vasanbhai Ahir, Minister of State for Health Parbat Patel, BJP State leaders Jayantibhai Barot and Zaverbhai Chavda among others.