Surat Secures ₹108 Crore for Rural Infrastructure and Mobile Computer Labs

Surat, October 16 (Daily Kiran) : In Surat, Gujarat, a significant investment of ₹108 crore has been allocated for 143 development projects aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure. On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi inaugurated a mobile computer lab initiative designed to bring digital education to government schools across five blocks in the district.

During the event held at the Surat District Panchayat complex, Sanghvi laid the foundation for 104 projects costing ₹100 crore and inaugurated 39 works valued at ₹8 crore. Health Minister Praful Panseriya also attended the ceremony.

The projects encompass roads connecting rural areas, irrigation schemes serving over 60 villages, new anganwadi centers, and various public facilities. The district panchayat emphasized that these initiatives will enhance access to essential services in rural regions.

A key feature of the program is the ‘E-Class Bus,’ a mobile computer lab developed in collaboration with Toyota Kirloskar under the ‘Digital Classrooms on Wheels’ initiative. Funded by Toyota’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, the bus aims to provide computer education and digital literacy to children in remote villages.

Each month, the bus will serve 10 to 15 government schools in the five blocks of Surat district. While flagging off the bus, Sanghvi urged village leaders to ensure full occupancy whenever the bus visits a school, maximizing the benefit for students.

Highlighting the state government’s commitment to rural development, Sanghvi noted that under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, the administration is focused on delivering services to remote areas and improving opportunities for rural children and women.

He praised local representatives and the district panchayat for suggesting that beneficiaries of government housing schemes receive RCC slabs instead of sheets for roofs. Sanghvi also commended the district administration’s efforts to provide permanent homes for families in the Halpati community.

He mentioned the economic activities during the Navratri festival, stating that the government’s policy allowing late-night Garba events has created business and employment opportunities for small vendors and restaurant operators. He applauded the Gujarat police and administration for maintaining safety during these events, enabling residents to enjoy the festivities late into the night.

Sanghvi called on residents to view public infrastructure as a shared asset and take responsibility for its maintenance. He emphasized that government anganwadi centers, panchayat buildings, and bus stations belong to the community, and their upkeep is a collective duty.

Panseriya added that the state government is working under the “Antyodaya” approach to strengthen education, healthcare, irrigation, and employment services, focusing on reaching the most marginalized sections of society. He noted that investments in schools and health centers in rural areas are vital for infrastructure enhancement.

Reflecting on Surat’s development, Panseriya recalled that the groundwork laid by then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2001 has enabled better facilities to reach remote villages. He highlighted progress in healthcare, including efforts to eliminate tuberculosis, address malnutrition, and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, attributing these advancements to ongoing administrative efforts and government leadership.

Samirbhai Modi, president of the Surat District Panchayat, stated that these development projects will improve access to healthcare services and road infrastructure in rural areas. He expressed gratitude to Toyota for supporting the initiative, which aims to provide modern educational facilities to village students.