The Uttar Pradesh (UP) state government has come up with a new rural infrastructure scheme — Uttar Pradesh Matra Bhumi Yojana, in which any person who bears 50 per cent of the cost of a project can have the initiative named after them or their family members.
Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath rolled out this plan whilst virtually laying the foundation stone of several road projects under the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana.
“Under this scheme, every person will get a chance to directly participate in various works of infrastructure development in the villages,” the CM was quoted in a report by the Indian Express.
He added, “The government will bear 50 per cent of the total cost of the project, while the remaining 50 per cent will be contributed by the interested people. In return the project can be named after the relatives of the collaborators as per their wish.”
Meanwhile, CM Yogi has directed the Department of Rural Employment and Panchayati Raj to submit an action plan to formally launch this ‘innovative scheme’.
The rural infrastructure projects could be concerned around new health centres, library, stadium, gymnasium, fire service station, playground, smart villages etc. In fact, many other government schemes could also be linked to these initiatives.
He said that continuous work is being done by the central and state governments for the overall development of the villages.
Whether for setting up CCTVs for smart villages, development of funeral sites, installation of solar lights, there can be public participation in every work.
Through this new scheme, the person concerned will be able to take full credit of the project by bearing half of the total cost.
The chief minister wants panchayats to be self-reliant. With sufficient available resources, efforts should be made for self-reliance by adopting innovations.
He has also stressed on rural development. “Countries with developed infrastructure are also economically prosperous. In a state like Uttar Pradesh, about 80 per cent of the population lives in rural background. To strengthen the rural economy, good roads and better connectivity are essential which is being done continuously through PMGSY,” he said.