‘Smart Village’ concept fails to attract most MLAs

Visakhapatnam: Going by the state government’s official portal http://www.smart.ap.gov.in/myvillage, set up exclusively for developing AP’s villages as Smart Villages, only a handful of the state’s MLAs believe in Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote ‘The future of India lies in its villages’.

How else would one explain the fact that of the 175 MLAs, only 41 have registered themselves on the porter to partner the government in the programme “Smart Village, Smart Ward, Towards Smart Andhra Pradesh” launched with much fanfare by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in January this year?

Interestingly, only one MLA from the Chief Minister’s home district, Chittoor, has so far expressed interest in the project. The website, last updated on September 21, says that 2,126 common citizens have expressed interest to be part of the initiative.

As far as MLAs are concerned, the response is better from East Godavari compared to other districts, with 10 of the public representatives having adopted a village each, while not one from Kadapa has shown any inclination to do so.

In Visakhapatnam, MLA Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu from Narsipatnam and MLA Peela Govinda Satyanarayana from Ankapalli have registered on the website, expressing interest to adopt a village and ward.

District-wise, one each MLA from Srikakulam and Chittoor, six from Vizanagaram, two each from Visakhapatnam, Anantapur and Kurnool, 10 from East Godavari, three each from West Godavari, Krishna and Nellore and four each from Guntur and Prakasam districts have registered for the programme.

Each MLA and MLC can take up a number of developmental works worth Rs 1 crore of his choice from his Local Area Development Scheme funds, while for MPs, the expenses can go up to Rs 5 crore.

As per the programme’s rule, 20 “development indicators” have to be taken up under the ‘Smart Village’ programme.

These include vibrant livelihood opportunities at every household, (setting up of) micro enterprises, home for all with access to toilets, safe drinking water and power, 100 per cent institutional deliveries, no girl child marriages, bank accounts for all households, telecom and Internet connectivity.

At 90, leading by example
In sharp contrast to the “planners” 90-year-old C.S. Rao from Visakhapatnam has framed a layout for a smart village.

Mr Rao, who worked in the Indian Economic Service, says one should have willpower to do anything. “The MLAs do have a lot of resources such as development funds, but they are not using it properly,” he said.

“India will develop if its villages are developed. The acute civic problem and environment pollution in cities are solely due to lack of smart villages. Migration to cities would stop once the villages get smarter in terms of basic facilities,” Mr Rao said.

He said winter as a season has disappeared due to climate change in Vizag.