50 Villages and 100 Anganwadis in the District to Become Smart and Intelligent – Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Nagpur, Sept 2025 : Several changes are underway through various schemes for the development of rural areas, leading to the creation of Smart Intelligent Villages. Satanwari has emerged as the first such village in the district. On this model, all villages must prepare themselves for transformation. In the first phase, at least 50 gram panchayats in the district should aim to replicate Satanwari’s example. Funds will be provided through different schemes and the District Annual Plan to achieve this, said Guardian and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

He further emphasized that anganwadis should also be of higher quality. The anganwadi at Waddhamna serves as a model, and at least 100 anganwadis in the district should be developed on similar lines, he appealed.

Bawankule was speaking at the Chief Minister’s Prosperous Panchayat Raj Campaign District-level Workshop and the distribution of the Ideal Gram Panchayat Officer and R.R. Aaba Patil Sundar Gaon Awards, organized by the Zilla Parishad at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium, Reshimbagh. On this occasion, the gram panchayats of Pavangaon and Khursapar were felicitated.

Present at the event were Minister of State for Finance and Planning Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, MLA Ashish Deshmukh, Zilla Parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni, former MLA Tekchand Savarkar, Additional CEO Dr. Kamalkishore Futane, Deputy CEO Vipul Jadhav, Deputy CEO (Panchayat) Kapilnath Kalode, along with gram sevaks, sarpanches, and representatives of women’s self-help groups.

Minister Bawankule announced that in the next five years, maximum expenditure will be allocated to education. He stressed the importance of streamlining water supply schemes, including Jal Jeevan Mission, to ensure clean drinking water for every individual and every gram panchayat. Many Kolhapuri weirs in the district are in disrepair and require urgent water conservation work. Instead of sending proposals for new dams, efforts should focus on repairing existing structures, he said, adding that a 15-year water recharge plan must be developed.

He further assured that more funds would be directed towards healthcare to provide quality health services in every village. Support will be extended to health centers, sub-centers, and medical facilities, thereby restoring public trust in primary health services.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Adv. Ashish Jaiswal said that gram panchayats are a crucial unit of governance, and substantial funds are now being allocated for village development. He urged that villages must become productive units rather than just consumers. “The more productive villages become, the stronger the economy will be,” he noted, calling on all to actively participate in the Chief Minister’s campaign.

MLA Ashish Deshmukh also shared his views. The program began with an introduction by Zilla Parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Deputy CEO Kapilnath Kalode