Haryana government has set up the Haryana Smart Gram Development Authority (HSGDA) to develop villages into smart grams.

The said Authority would be chaired by the chief minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar while the Development and Panchayats minister would be the Vice Chairperson of the Committee. An official spokesperson said on Wednesday that a notification has been issued in this regard.

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He said that the HSGDA would oversee the formulation and implementation of credible village specific plans for converting the villages into smart grams and aggregating these plans for leveraging policy and programme support.

Besides, it would leverage resources by accessing funds through schemes of various central and state government departments, agencies and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and would also make recommendations to the state government for any changes required in rules, regulations, acts and statutes hindering the development of smart grams. 

The spokesman said that the Authority would act as a platform for the resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues with a view to accelerate the development of smart grams. Also, it would design, strategic and long term policy and programme framework, especially relating to improvement in the provisions of basic amenities like roads, power supply, drinking water, sanitation and common Government to Consumer (G2C) services, upgradation of education, skill development and health care, monitor their execution and improve their efficacy through feedback innovative improvements and requisite mid-course corrections.

The HSGDA would provide advice and promote partnership between key stakeholders, government department, educational and research institutions and corporate organisations for activities under the smart gram initiatives besides creating knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support systems through a collaborative approach involving relevant institutions, public and private sector organisations, experts and other partner agencies, he added. 
 

He said that it would also institute and run a state-of-the-art resource centre, which would document successful practices under the smart gram initiative for wide replication and would also act as a repository of research for their dissemination to stakeholders.

Apart from this, the authority would promote innovation, research, education and skill development in building a state specific model of rural transformation. It would also undertake other activities as may be required to further the development of villages into smart grams, he added.