Gujarat: SWAGAT online programme becomes transformative boon for Moddar village in Porbandar
Porbandar, December 1
The widely acclaimed SWAGAT Online Programme in Gujarat continues to provide enduring solutions to critical challenges faced by residents in remote areas.
A recent example is Moddar village in Porbandar district, a small settlement near Kutiyana with around 1,200 residents, which is now celebrating a long-awaited resolution made possible by this initiative, the release said.
During the SWAGAT Online Programme, Lakhman Moddara and other farmers from Moddar village in Porbandar presented their long-pending road concern before Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. They requested the construction of a road and a bridge to ensure direct access to Kutiyana. Recognising the legitimacy of their concern and the significant benefits it would bring to farmers, students, and other residents, the Chief Minister immediately sanctioned Rs 9 crore for the project.
Approval for the road and bridge works was granted with instructions for swift execution. Consequently, work will now commence on a minor bridge, a culvert, and a three-kilometre stretch of road between Moddar and Pasvari villages. For this work, in-principle approval of Rs 9 crore has been given.
With their concerns resolved through the SWAGAT programme, the villagers expressed deep gratitude. Lakhman said they received a call from the Chief Minister's Office on the fourth day, informing them that their issue had been resolved and that Rs 9 crore had been sanctioned, a major development for their small village. He explained that villagers had long hoped for a direct road and bridge to Kutiyana, as they currently travel nearly 20 kilometres through four villages.
The release stated that over 100 farmers also have fields across the river and often take unsafe shortcuts, entering the river with livestock or using rafts. This long-standing risk will now finally end.
Moddar lies in the Ghed region, where the river remains full for eight months of the year, and the road is accessible for only four. The villagers first raised this concern at the District SWAGAT programme, after which the Porbandar Collector facilitated the removal of obstructions and reopened the old road.
However, the villagers continued to seek a bridge as a permanent solution. When the issue was presented again at the Chief Minister's SWAGAT Programme, the long-awaited resolution finally followed.
Rameshbhai Karangiya of Moddar states that the new road will serve as a lifeline for the village. It will provide students with easier access to school, enable farmers to reach their fields more efficiently, and ensure that patients in medical emergencies can be taken to hospitals without delay, potentially saving lives. Moddar's Maldhari, Ranabhai Katara, fondly recalls the warm welcome extended by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Expressing his gratitude, he says that the Chief Minister understood their concern and resolved it promptly, for which the villagers are deeply thankful.
Many villages and towns across Gujarat, including Moddar, are finding effective resolutions to their concerns through the Chief Minister's SWAGAT Programme. Launched during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat, the SWAGAT Online Programme is now advancing rapidly under Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, upholding the guiding principle of "Nagrik Devo Bhava."
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone from a small town, I know how crucial a good road is. Kids won't miss school, farmers can sell produce faster, and emergencies won't turn fatal due to delays. SWAGAT seems to be delivering on the promise of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' at the grassroots. Well done Gujarat!
Good initiative, but the real test is timely completion and quality of work. We've seen many projects get sanctioned with fanfare but then get stuck in delays or corruption. I hope the villagers get a proper bridge, not just a promise. Fingers crossed.
The part about farmers using rafts and unsafe shortcuts for eight months a year is heartbreaking. Basic infrastructure like a bridge is a right, not a privilege. Glad SWAGAT is addressing these critical gaps. More power to the villagers for persistently raising their voice.
Technology for governance! SWAGAT online shows how e-governance can cut red tape. A call from the CMO on the fourth day? That's impressive responsiveness. This is the digital India success story we need to hear more often. ðŸ‘
My father is a farmer in Rajasthan. I wish we had such a direct and effective system here. The struggle for a basic road can take decades. Hats off to the people of Moddar village for their patience and to the system that finally listened.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.