Model Gaon

India lives in villages (gaon). Village development is the simplest way to realize Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of Village-Swaraj. By transforming villages into model gaon, we can achieve our long awaited dream to see India as a developed nation. Inspired by this dream, Dr. Heera Lal – then District Magistrate, Banda, U.P. (31 Aug, 2018 – 24 Feb, 2020) — conceptualized and implemented many inclusive development initiatives. His programmes like organizing learning tours for Rural Entrepreneurs proved revolutionary. A team of village heads (Gram Pradhans) were sent to ‘Ralegan-Siddhi’ (model village of Shri Anna Hazare) and ‘Hivade Bazar’ village ( Padam Shri Popat Rao’s model village) to acquire practical know-how from Changemakers’ work. Through this tour, agricultural and village management administrative knowledge of villagers increased. Similarly, local villagers were imparted knowledge about government programs in ‘Vikas Bhawan’ and ‘Mandi’ on a systematic and regular basis. This enhanced administration-people connect and empowered them as ‘knowledge is power’. These initiatives proved beneficial for district Banda. Farmers’ income, agri-production, knowledge and attitude got enhanced. This tried, tested and proven holistic model of development needs to be replicated in other parts of India, to make the whole country prosperous. This marks the genesis of Model गाँव. Through this initiative, we aspire to transform each village of India into a model gaon (village). To achieve this, we envision the following: Part I To involve villagers in defining local issues of development by means of a village manifesto, which will help in setting an agenda for development in villages. Part II To empower rural communities by identifying and developing socially active changemakers, who will lead the transformation of their villages into model gaon. Part III To enable industrialization of agriculture in villages by transforming conventional agriculture into agri-business.