20 non-negotiable indicators identified for smart village

Draft plan will be finalised based on suggestions from experts in various fields, says Naidu. The government was also planning to establish an institution for ‘Swachh Bharat’ to monitor construction of Individual Household Laterines (IHL), public toilets, sanitation and waste management, the Chief Minister said.

Andhra Pradesh government has identified 20 non-negotiable indicators for developing a smart village as part of implementing its flagship ‘Smart Andhra Pradesh’ programme.

The draft plan on smart villages was discussed with corporates and NGOs by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here on Monday.

The 20 key indicators include compulsory power, gas, road and drinking water, individual toilets, 100 per cent literacy, no maternal or infant deaths, broadband connectivity, no child marriages among others. The other indicators could be taken up on competitive spirit basis. “But, we cannot compromise on the 20 key indicators. They have to be implemented,” he said.

Mr. Naidu said the draft would be finalised based on suggestions from experts in various fields. “I’m targeting 16,000 VIPs and High-Network Individuals (HNIs). If we have 16,000 different ideas, we can pick the best ones which are feasible and work on them,” he added.

With the government inviting NRIs, industrialists, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, celebrities, IAS, IPS and IFS officers to adopt villages, the Chief Minister said if more than one person comes forward to adopt a village, a lead partner would be identified and he/she, along with other partners would work with villagers.

Each time an NGO or a corporate achieves an indicator or a set of indicators and sets higher targets, they can inform the Planning Department. The Planning Department would then make the data available online and publicise the best practices used by a Corporate or an NGO in achieving targets.

The Chief Minister assured NGOs that the government would soon provide them with a village-level status report for them to work on the indicators and identify problem areas. “Every year, we will review your progress and improvement in indicators and publicize it if you achieve positive results,” he said.

The government was also planning to establish an institution for ‘Swachh Bharat’ to monitor construction of Individual Household Laterines (IHL), public toilets, sanitation and waste management, the Chief Minister said.

Suggesting NGOs and Corporates to follow a result-oriented approach, the Chief Minister said they could either provide theme-based support (i.e. to work on a particular issue and pioneer it) or work at the community level in capacity building and impart skills.

Meanwhile, NGOs have requested the Chief Minister to have an integrated institution with NGOs and government officials to implement smart village concept.

Organisations like CII, FAPCCI, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, COWE, IL&FS and heads of NGOs from across the state participated in the meeting.

Special Chief Secretary S.P. Tucker, Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Kutumba Rao, principal secretaries of Rural Development and IT&C departments and other officials were present.