The widest village connectivity network of Asia: Chief Minister dedicates the ambitious "E Gram-Vishwagram Project"

Haripura: Subhash Jayanti-2009

A Rare Boon for the Panchayati Raj Institutions of Gujarat:

Gujarat Witnesses a new Dawn of Technology Enabled Rural Empowerment

Gujarat registers a revolutionary landmark –A journey from Swaraj to Surajya

Narendrabhai Modi

The Slogan of Subhash Babu for ‘Self Rule' – ‘Chalo-Delhi'

Slogan for ‘Surajya' (Good-Governance) – ‘Gaon-Chalo' (Reach the Villages)

“Give me your ‘Perspiration' and I will give you a Prosperous and Flourishing Gujarat”

Haripura, Surat : Friday

Dedicating the ‘E-gram- Vishwagram Project' to 13,693 Village Panchayats, a rare boon for the Panchayati Raj Institutions of Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendrabhai Modi strengthened the villages through technology. He announced, “This Government has infused a new life in to the entire Panchayati Raj system by introducing them to technology.”An era of technology enabled rural empowerment has begun, added the C.M.

Chief Minister mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi had cherished a dream of ‘Ram Rajya' through ‘Gram Rajya' (Village Rule) and Subhash Babu was determined to achieve ‘Su-Rajya' (Good Governance) through ‘Swaraj' (Self Rule). He explained that in the same way, through skilful synthesis of technology, this government has been strong and competent to show India the true path of their journey in establishing ‘Ram Rajya' through ‘Gram Rajya' and ‘Su-Rajya' through ‘Swaraj'.

Gujarat has registered a new landmark in India, in the field of E-Governance in Panchayati Rule. Today, on the birth anniversary of our beloved freedom fighter, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose has been instrumental in creating history in the 21^st century, on the historical land of Haripura of Bardoli taluka of Surat district of South Gujarat.

Linking the Gram Panchayats through Broad Band Connectivity, Chief Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi has fulfilled the dream of our great leaders; the journey has started from ‘Swaraj' to ‘Su-Rajya'.

Chief Minister had unveiled the ‘plaque' and garlanded the statue of Netaji Subhash Babu, who had motivated the people for the ‘Swaraj Andolan' during the Independence Struggle in 1938. He visited the house, where Subhash Babu had stayed. Just as Subhash Babu had been taken by the villagers, in a decorated chariot drawn by 51bullocks to the place of the meeting, similarly Chief Minister was also taken through the same road in the same chariot drawn by 51 bullocks. Chief Minister inaugurated the inspiring exhibition on the life of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

After dedicating the ambitious E -gram-Vishwagram Project, the Chief Minister announced that a mammoth task had been undertaken to telecast the progress in the work of development of village for Panchayati Raj by Channels and the wide area network of the Panchayat.

After bringing about economic and social revolution in 18,000 villages by providing three phase electricity supply for 24 hours through ‘Jyotigram' Yojana, the Chief Minister has given a new message to the villagers of India by successfully strengthening the villages through technology.

On this occasion of keeping open the ‘E-Gram – Vishwagram' project, in all the villages connected with internet connectivity, the villagers celebrated E-festival. The Chief Minister interacted with the villagers through video conferencing with at least four village Panchayats of Saurashtra, Kutchh, North Gujarat and South Gujarat and highlighted the capability and success of the project.

The Chief Minister said that more than 80 countries of the world and all village Panchayats are watching the live telecast of that festival of the development revolution at tribal dominated -Haripura' having a population of less than 2000

The Chief Minister further added that, the freedom struggle and movement of ‘Self Rule' had been given new strength by the leadership of Subhash Babu. However, unfortunately this history was forgotten. On the Subhash Jayanti, the dream of Subhash Babu is fulfilled ‘From Swaraj to Su-Raj' through the ‘E-Gram' project. After India's independence, no Government for 73 years had cared to bring the ashes of revered freedom fighter Late Shyamji Krushnavarma from Geneva, and this government had brought to light the history of this revered freedom fighter by the ‘Veeranjali Yatra'. Just like the Jallianwala massacre, the Britishers had massacred the adivasis of the Pal jungles of Sabarkantha. This history had been forgotten and today this government made a ‘Martyr Memorial' of adivasis. And now, on the land of Haripura, in fulfilling the dream of Subhash Babu of encouraging the movement of self-rule to ‘good rule', it is this government only, who has labored to fulfill the dream of awakening the spirit of the villages through technology.

He proudly announced that through the same technology, the government has taken a step forward from service, facilities and “Sukhakari mate Sarkar apne Dwar” (Government at your doorstep for your Comfort) to government at your “Aangli na Terve” (at your fingertips).

Gujarat has become well known in the world for its road- infrastructure network of ‘Rajmarg' so also now it has been known in the country for ‘Rural Communication Digital Road Map'.

He said that, through the ‘E-Gram' project, the quality of all the services for the betterment of the people by the village Panchayat would definitely improve. The government has been working with sincere dedication and has strived since the last two years to achieve this software, as a result that; the poor villagers are now receiving the communication services as received by the residence of the Prime Minister.

The power of the ‘E-Gram' and ‘Jyotigram' projects is so immense that this government wishes to fulfill the dream of remarkable improvement in the education of the villages, and to see that the villages get the facility of ‘Telemedicine' for health care.

He also stated that, after the grand success of ‘Vibrant Gujarat', the government of this state equally cares for its common man of the villages, and for their comforts and care.

Shri Narendra Modi emotionally called out the youth of Gujarat and said, “Subhash Babu had given the slogan of ‘Chalo Delhi' for ‘Swaraj' and the slogan of this government for ‘Su-Rajya' is ‘Gaon Chalo, tum mujhe pasina do, mein tum he harabhara Gujarat donga'.”

Information Bureau, Surat, Go