Lucknow – Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya emphasized that the goal of a developed India can only be realized through the inclusive and balanced development of villages. Addressing a state-level review meeting with Chief Development Officers (CDOs) at the Yojna Bhawan in Lucknow, he underlined the importance of empowering villages to be self-reliant and self-sufficient, advocating the concept of “Smart Villages” akin to Smart Cities.
Maurya pointed out that Uttar Pradesh’s Rural Development Department is leading the country in several schemes, including the highest female participation in the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) programme nationwide.
Major Announcements and Directives:
- 20% reservation in UP Police has already been declared for Agniveers; similarly, the PM Awas Yojana – Gramin must become more transparent and inclusive.
- CDOs were instructed to re-activate dormant self-help groups and ensure quality production that can reach national and international markets.
- The PMGSY’s FDR technology-based roads must be regularly monitored, and technical innovations like solar-powered THR plants in districts should be incentivized.
Maurya urged officials to link rural youth with the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, channelizing village manpower in the right direction. He also advised that every beneficiary of the PM Awas Yojana should receive all entitled facilities via a dedicated portal.
Recognition and Launches:
Maurya honoured 11 Block Development Officers for excellence in creating sports grounds under MGNREGA. He also felicitated top three CDOs for outstanding work in the National Rural Livelihoods Mission—with Varanasi securing the first place, Ambedkar Nagar second, and Bijnor third. On this occasion, the state dashboard of the Rural Livelihood Mission and the fifth edition of the department’s quarterly magazine were also launched.
Key Focus Areas:
- Effective and responsive Gram Chaupal meetings to address public grievances.
- Pre-Chaupal cleanliness drives and participation from women SHG members, social audit teams, and elected representatives.
- Special focus on women empowerment as part of the department’s “Aadhi Aabadi” initiative.
- Monitoring and review of district and block mission managers under the livelihood mission.
- Survey-based verification of beneficiaries, particularly ensuring motorized tricycles for differently-abled housing beneficiaries.
Inclusive Growth for Rural Transformation
Maurya stressed that rural development should be visible on the ground. From internal village roads and drainage under MGNREGA, to tree plantations around Amrit Sarovars, and job registration under BOCW for 100-day MGNREGA workers, every aspect must contribute to making villages poverty-free and productive.
The meeting also saw inputs from Minister of State for Rural Development Vijay Laxmi Gautam, Additional Chief Secretary B.L. Meena, Rural Development Secretary and Commissioner Gauri Shankar Priyadarshi, UPRRDA CEO Akhanda Pratap Singh, and Rural Livelihood Mission Director Deepa Ranjan, among others.
This holistic and action-oriented roadmap showcases the Uttar Pradesh government’s strong commitment to rural progress, aligning with the vision of a self-reliant, prosperous, and developed India.
