TEN NEWS NETWORK
Greater Noida (13/09/2023): A significant meeting took place on September 12, 2023, at the Kalonda Panchayat Ghar, involving key stakeholders dedicated to shaping the future of the village. The meeting convened village representatives, officials from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and a delegation from the Apeejay School of Architecture & Planning.
The delegation was comprised of Joint Secretary Mamta Varma, Gautam Buddh Nagar’s Panchayat Raj Adhikari, Kunwar Singh Yadav, and Sushant Sudhir representing the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. They were accompanied by the Apeejay School of Architecture & Planning research team, led by Research Head Prof Anand Khatri. Together, they engaged in discussions with the Gram Pradhan, Mohammad Umar Urf Raju Nambardar, and the Gram Sachiv, Sikandar Hayat. Eminent representatives from various communities were also present to contribute their insights to the planning process.
The journey to make Kalonda a model village began in 2020-21 when the Ministry of Panchayati Raj initiated spatial planning exercises for 34 villages across the country. After rigorous consultations, only five villages were chosen as models for development in 2023, and Kalonda was privileged to be one of them. This approach marks a significant departure from the traditional focus on urban planning and underscores the importance of rural development.
Prof Vivek Sabherwal, the Director of Apeejay, emphasized the need for such a focus on villages in India’s planning process. He stated, “Though this is new for Indian planning, this kind of focus on villages is the need of the hour.” The Apeejay research cell, headed by Prof Anand Khatri, is leading the planning process, working collaboratively with the villagers, thus embodying the essence of democratic participation.
Kalonda stands out as one of the few villages that continue to thrive in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district, serving as a pivotal component of the district’s vision. Prof Anand further emphasized the importance of retaining certain villages as model villages for ecological balance, asserting that not all agricultural villages should be converted into urban areas.
To support the development of Kalonda, the National Informatic Centre and the Swamitva Yojna have been engaged, utilizing satellite imagery for planning and execution. The villagers have expressed their trust in the planning process, marking an essential step towards ensuring sustainable development while preserving the village’s unique identity.
