Rajya Sabha member Sujeet Kumar launched a global development dialogue (GDD) at a national webinar held on Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) on Saturday.
Himanshu Patel of Punsari Model Village of Gujarat, former Tripura Chief Secretary Dr Sanjay Panda and former administrator and noted author Dr Aruna Sharma joined the webinar, organised jointly with Sri Sri University, Xavier University and Kalinga Kusum Foundation.
Sujeet Kumar articulated the vision behind the virtual GDD. He said he has identified two villages in his native Kalahandi district for adoption under the SAGY scheme.
Himanshu Patel shared the success story of Punsari Village and how its transformation has created interest in India and around the world in creating model villages. Patel has been invited to several States to train sarpanchs and other peoples’ representatives on how to replicate the Punsari model.
Dr Sanjay Panda shared some of the key steps from his book ‘Making One plus One Eleven’ on how to make changes in the villages transformational.
Dr Aruna Sharma advocated a four-ladder approach which include ‘quality infrastructure’, ‘social security’, ‘livelihood’ and community participation’ for SAGY.
Among others, former Khandapada MLA Anubhav Patnaik, Prof Srinivas Subbarao from Sri Sri University and Prof Sutapa Pati from Xavier University shared experiences.
Kamala Kanta Dash from the MP office moderated the session.
