Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has unveiled a comprehensive scheme, “Bikashita Gaon Bikashita Odisha,” aimed at bridging critical gaps in rural development and promoting inclusive growth.
The initiative focuses on undertaking sustainable developmental projects, including rural road infrastructure development, creation of civic assets and amenities, improvement of sports and education infrastructure, and enhancement of micro-tourism spots ¹.
Development of inter and intra-village roads will be a top priority under this scheme. Additionally, the program envisages undertaking need-based community projects to create durable assets for communities. To ensure the quality and maintenance of these assets, communities will be sensitized to supervise and upkeep the projects.
Gram Sabhas will prepare a list of need-based projects, a five-year perspective plan, and an annual action plan for each financial year. These plans will be recommended to the Block by the Gram Panchayat and subsequently scrutinized by a Technical Committee at the Block level. The Collector of the concerned district will serve as the approving authority.
The “Bikashita Gaon Bikashita Odisha” scheme will run for five years, with the possibility of extension based on government decision. The project has an outlay of Rs 5,000 crore, with a budgetary allocation of Rs 1,000 crore made in the 2024-25 budget estimate.
