Rules amended to increase public participation in state govt's ambitious "Vatan Prem Yojana": Gujarat Agriculture Minister Vaghani
Gandhinagar, May 20
A State Cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday. Informing about the decisions taken in the meeting, Government Spokesperson Minister Jitu Vaghani stated that several important and people-oriented amendments have been made to the provisions of the State Government's ambitious "Vatan Prem Yojana," aimed at making Gujarat's villages more convenient and prosperous.
The Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Cooperation, and Animal Husbandry stated that under this Yojana, any donor or individual residing outside the district, state, or country can voluntarily contribute towards the development of their native village and take part in serving their birthplace.
According to the release, the quality public amenities will be developed in villages through a combination of donor contributions and government assistance. Following the amendments, any individual, institution, trust, or organisation emotionally connected to a village area will also be eligible to participate as a donor under the Yojana.
Under the Yojana, development works have been divided into two categories, 'A' and 'B', and the financial contribution has been determined based on the implementing agency. If the work is implemented through a government agency, for Category 'A' works, the Government will contribute 60 per cent and the donor 40 per cent. For Category 'B' works, the Government will contribute 40 per cent and the donor 60 per cent.
Similarly, if the work is implemented through an agency selected by the donor instead of a government agency, for Category 'A' works, the Government will contribute 40 per cent and the donor 60 per cent. For Category 'B' works, the Government will contribute 20 per cent and the donor 80 per cent.
Major works under the scheme include construction of smart classrooms, computer labs and libraries in government schools; development of facilities for Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and veterinary hospitals; setting up of anganwadis, mid-day meal kitchens and sheds; and improvement of internal village infrastructure such as roads, drainage systems, streetlights and CCTV camera systems.
It also covers wastewater treatment facilities, beautification of lakes on the lines of "Amrut Sarovar" and installation of solar rooftop projects, along with construction of ST bus stands, dairy cooperative buildings and community toilets.
It is noteworthy that works such as creating gardens under the Panchvati Yojana or only deepening ponds will not be permitted under this Yojana.
The Minister further stated that to avoid delays in the approval process, financial powers have been delegated to three-tier committees: Projects up to Rs 20 lakh can be approved by the District Level Committee, chaired by the District Development Officer.
Projects above Rs 20 lakh and up to Rs 1 crore can be approved by the Head of Department (HOD) Level Committee, chaired by the Development Commissioner.
Projects above Rs 1 crore can be approved by the Department Level Committee, chaired by the Principal Secretary/Secretary of the Panchayat Department.
The Spokesperson Minister added that the Cabinet has approved these amendments and instructed immediate implementation. The State Government is confident that these reforms will encourage Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRGs) and local donors to actively participate in the development of their villages, helping Gujarat's rural areas progress towards becoming "Global Villages".
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive delegation of powers to district and department level committees. Projects up to Rs 1 crore can be approved locally - this will really speed things up. But I hope there is proper oversight and transparency in how donor money is utilized. Past experiences with similar schemes haven't always been great. Let's see the actual implementation.
Finally a scheme that connects urban Gujaratis with their villages! The mix of government and donor contribution is smart - 60-40 for govt works means donors don't feel exploited. But why exclude pond deepening and Panchvati gardens? Those are also important for rural sustainability. 🤔
As someone from a small village near Vadodara, I can say this is much needed. Our government school desperately needs smart classrooms and proper libraries. But the 80% donor share for non-government implemented projects seems steep. Not everyone can afford that. Hope smaller donors can pool resources together.
Brilliant move to include trusts and organizations "emotionally connected" to villages, not just individuals. Many community groups abroad want to help but lacked a formal channel. The emphasis on digital infrastructure, health centers, and renewable energy shows forward thinking. Gujarat leading as always! 🇮🇳
Sounds good on paper but ground reality is different. In my village, the sarpanch and local leaders have their own interests. Without strong anti-corruption measures, much of this money may not reach actual development. Also, why no provision for regular maintenance of these new facilities? That's where schemes usually fail.
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