Bhubaneswar, Jul 9: The Odisha government is set to roll out an ambitious Model Village Mission aimed at transforming the headquarters village of every Gram Panchayat into a modern, self-reliant rural hub equipped with urban-style infrastructure and civic amenities. Under the initiative, all 6,733 Gram Panchayats in the state will have a model village developed on the lines of a smart city.

According to the government's blueprint, the model villages will feature parks, community halls, skill development centres, upgraded Primary Health Centres (PHCs) or health sub-centres, banking services, high-speed internet connectivity, and improved sanitation systems. Roads will be widened to ensure easy movement of ambulances and emergency vehicles, while door-to-door waste collection and scientific waste processing will be introduced. The government is expected to formally launch the project soon after finalising the required financial allocation.

To prepare the development roadmap, a comprehensive baseline survey was conducted from May 25 in the headquarters village of every Gram Panchayat. A six-member team led by the Additional Block Development Officer (BDO) visited villages to identify the infrastructure gaps and essential public services required to improve the quality of life. Based on these findings, village-specific development plans have been prepared instead of adopting a uniform model.

A state-level task force headed by the Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department has been constituted to oversee the planning and implementation of the mission. Officials from various government departments are members of the task force, while district-level committees comprising Collectors, Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Parishads, and other senior officials will supervise execution at the local level. The government has also decided that all development works will undergo social audit to ensure transparency and accountability.

Skill development has been identified as one of the key focus areas of the initiative. Dedicated training centres will be established to provide vocational and digital skills, enabling rural youth to become self-reliant and improve their employment opportunities.

The Panchayati Raj Department has also proposed making Gram Sabha meetings mandatory in every village to prepare the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). The plans will be digitally documented and will prioritise village-specific needs, including disaster preparedness, drinking water supply, road connectivity, sanitation, electricity safety, household toilets, open-defecation-free status, playgrounds, parks, and community halls.

The mission also aims to strengthen rural sanitation by introducing household waste collection vehicles and scientific segregation and processing of waste. Every household will be encouraged to have an LPG connection and access to high-speed internet services. Livestock aid centres will be established to support animal husbandry, while villages with significant dairy farming activities will be encouraged to form dairy cooperative societies.

Healthcare infrastructure will receive special attention under the programme. Every model village will be prioritised for a Primary Health Centre, and where this is not feasible, a health sub-centre or Ayushman Arogya Mandir will be established. Telemedicine facilities will also be made available to improve access to healthcare services.

The government will maintain digital records of child immunisation, monitor the effective implementation of the Ayushman Bharat and Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana schemes, and identify school dropouts to ensure their return to classrooms. Schools will be provided with electricity, drinking water, and permanent classrooms.

The initiative also includes the restoration of village ponds and water bodies to promote fisheries, ensuring banking facilities in every village, and strengthening Anganwadi services to identify malnourished children and provide them with nutritious food. Employment generation through rural livelihood programmes and sustainable infrastructure development will also be integrated into the mission, making the Model Village Mission one of Odisha's most comprehensive rural transformation programmes.