Development of Village by Smart Village Initiatives: a case of Bajkul, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal

Abstract

In the context of India, villages represent the essence of the nation. As per the 2011 census, rural areas constitute 68.84% of the population, while the urban population comprises only 31.16%. Out of the 6,40,867 villages in India, 1,12,510 are classified as backward, underscoring the pressing need to transform these underdeveloped villages into "smart villages." The contemporary nation's rapid urbanization and modernization have resulted in people migrating in search of various amenities such as education, employment, and lifestyle preferences. Given that villages are fundamental to the nation's development, the objective is to facilitate the transformation of villages into self-sufficient entities that can provide necessary services, employment opportunities, and connectivity to the wider world, thereby establishing the concept of a smart village. In a rural area, the characterization of a small community or a cluster of residences larger than a colony yet smaller than a town is termed as village, while preserving the natural environment it represents the essence of smart village when it integrates contemporary services and technologies. Aligning with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of an ideal self-governing village, this smart village concept has been embraced by the national, state, and local government of India. Smart Village refers to the providing of efficiently delivered services to residents and businesses in a comprehensive range. The services provided by the Smart Village Initiatives includes housing, agriculture, health care, water management, retail, manufacturing and logistics with commuting, communication, and IT assuming vital roles in the planning execution and monitoring of these services. The smart village concept, while prioritizing environmentally conscious planning, encourages inclusive growth and when carefully applied, it has the potential to yield remarkable outcomes. Fron an integral part of a Smart village the sustainable practices, promotes occupant well-being, enhances overall building performance, and aims to reduce environmental impact. For Smart village development, the first objective was to study about Smart Village Initiatives and implementation process. Secondly, to study the scenario with respect to existing resources i.e., physical, social, and economic infrastructure.