In a landmark move for rural Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday e-inaugurated dedicated panchayat homes-cum-patwari residences for 2666 gram panchayats from a single platform in Bhadran, Anand district. Speaking at the event, Patel underscored the state’s unwavering commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat through robust village infrastructure development.
The Chief Minister highlighted how Gujarat is translating PM Modi’s ‘saturation approach’—aiming for 100% coverage—into reality. The state government has embarked on an ambitious plan to provide every gram panchayat with its own modern facility in the coming days. These structures, costing a total of Rs 663 crore across 2666 villages, will ensure villagers access government services right at their doorstep without hassle.
Patel launched the statewide ‘Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana’ in the presence of key ministers including Panchayat and Rural Housing Minister Rishikesh Patel, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramanbhai Solanki, and Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural Development Sanjay Singh Mahida. The scheme’s first phase targets villages that double as taluka headquarters but lack municipal status—114 such locations across the state.
These villages will receive urban-equivalent amenities like improved road infrastructure, water supply, sanitation, solar street lights, e-gram services, and community halls. Looking ahead, the plan aims to cover over 10,000 gram panchayats with populations exceeding 10,000, easing urban congestion while bridging the rural-urban divide.
‘PM Modi’s mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas will manifest through balanced, inclusive growth,’ Patel affirmed. He praised Modi’s visionary leadership for accelerating development’s scale and speed, with special programs now centering rural upliftment to counter urban pressures.
On water conservation, Patel detailed the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign’s focus on rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. Each MLA has been allocated Rs 50 lakh for local recharge systems. He urged farmers to adopt cow-based natural farming to restore soil health and secure a healthy future for generations.
Marking Martyr’s Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary, Patel paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, whose Gram Swaraj vision continues to inspire self-reliant villages. Minister Rishikesh Patel echoed that under CM Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, these 2666 panchayat buildings will steer Gujarat’s villages toward comprehensive progress, with plans for over 10,000 modern gram secretariats to realize Gandhi’s belief that ‘the soul of India resides in its villages.’
