Kandramanickam, a village with a population of 6,325 in Sivaganga district, might be on its way to become a smart village. It has been adopted by an Indian American in San Diego, California, in an initiative by the Ahmedabad-based trade consulting firm Global Network.
As many as 62 villages in the country, including six in Tamil Nadu, have been adopted by Indian Americans under the Smart Village programme of Global Network.
“When I met Indian Americans during the ‘Mentor on Road’ project in the U.S., I suggested that if each of them can adopt a village in India and share their technical knowledge, my company will work in those places and turn these into smart villages in 1,000 days. So far, 62 villages in 19 States have been adopted by as many Indian Americans,” said Jagat Shah, CEO of the consulting company.
The villages selected have a population of less than 10,000 and are mostly the home town of those who have adopted these places. Funding for the development works will be through Corporate Social Responsibility projects of companies located close to these villages and local bodies and under government schemes.
Initially, a status report of each village is prepared based on 70 parameters. When the Indian Americans visit India, they are requested to take part in the primary survey of the village they have adopted and know the requirements and challenges. The places selected are Chinnalapatti (Dindigul district), Pudukkottai (Ariyalur), Parumbu kottai (Thoothukudi), Perumapalayam (Erode), Karaichuthuputhur (Tirunelveli), and Kandramanickam (Sivaganga).
