Gandhinagar, May 20: The Gujarat government has approved a new rural infrastructure initiative aimed at constructing community facilities across villages, each with a capacity for 500 people. These facilities will serve as venues for social, religious, and public events, and will also function as emergency shelters during natural disasters.
This decision was made by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during a state cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.
Announcing the decision, government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani stated that the ‘Atalwadi Scheme’ was approved to enhance the amenities available to citizens living in remote areas of the state.
Minister Vaghani further explained that the scheme will facilitate the construction of ‘Atalwadis’ in villages, allowing social and public events to be hosted under one roof.
According to the minister, each Atalwadi will feature a large open hall with an arched roof, a kitchen, separate toilets for men and women, and basic facilities for clean drinking water.
He noted that initially, villages with a population of over 2,000 will benefit from this scheme.
Minister Vaghani emphasized that this initiative will provide modern facilities at reasonable rental rates for rural families, enabling them to host weddings, social gatherings, and religious events.
He added that the Atalwadi facilities will be available within their own villages, significantly reducing expenses for citizens.
The minister also mentioned that these structures could be utilized during emergencies, such as natural disasters, cyclones, and heavy rainfall.
During such times, this infrastructure can serve as a safe shelter for villagers.
Minister Vaghani indicated that the land for constructing Atalwadis will be selected from open spaces owned by village panchayats, plots designated by the panchayats, or public areas near the main temple or tourist spots in the village.
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