Eknath Shinde unveils integrated village development model ahead of Kharif season

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday outlined an ldquoIntegrated Village Development Modelrdquo aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure and improving farm productivity during a Kharif season review meeting in ThaneChaired by Shinde in his capacity as Guardian Minister of the district the meeting focused on aligning agriculture water conservation healthcare and housing under a single development frameworkIntegrated Approach to Rural DevelopmentThe proposed model seeks to move beyond conventional agriculture planning by incorporating climatebased strategies improved healthcare access and housing regularisation Officials were directed to ensure coordinated implementation across departments to accelerate rural developmentShinde emphasised the need for reducing dependency on chemical fertilisers and encouraged farmers to adopt organic and natural farming methods He called for increased use of manure and bioinputs to restore soil fertility which has been impacted by excessive chemical use in recent yearsPush for Water Conservation 100 Lakes to be DesiltedA key focus of the meeting was water management with a target set to desilt 100 lakes across the district The administration has been instructed to scale up the ldquoSiltFree Dam SiltRich Farmsrdquo initiative to enhance water storage capacityThe plan includes deepening and widening of water bodies along with strengthening check dams Authorities have also been asked to mobilise resources including machinery and external support to expedite the workSocial organisations and industry bodies such as the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry MCHI are expected to contribute through partnerships and corporate social responsibility initiativesCrop Diversification and Mechanisation in FocusAddressing labour shortages in paddy cultivation the Deputy Chief Minister stressed the need for farm mechanisation and modern equipment to improve efficiencyTo increase farmer incomes the administration is promoting crop diversification Yam cultivation has been introduced among selected farmers while black pepper is being encouraged as an additional income source Priority is also being given to crops such as jackfruit gerbera and other highvalue produceEfforts are underway to improve the production of exportquality vegetables and promote bamboo cultivation with value additionClimate Concerns and PreparednessOfficials highlighted that while the India Meteorological Department has forecast nearnormal rainfall this year the potential impact of El Nintildeo remains a concernIn response district authorities have been directed to prioritise water planning conservation and farmer awareness to mitigate any adverse impact on crop outputHealthcare and Housing Measures IncludedThe development model also incorporates healthcare initiatives under the ldquoMy Village ndash Healthy Villagerdquo campaign Measures include vaccination drives for disease prevention along with the deployment of mobile clinics and diagnostic servicesOn the housing front the government has decided to regularise residential units between 500 and 1500 square feet Houses up to 500 square feet will be regularised without any fee a move aimed at easing the financial burden on residentsOfficials Legislators Attend MeetingThe meeting was attended by legislators and senior district officials including MLAs Kisan Kathore Niranjan Davkhare Rajesh More and Shantaram More along with administrative officers and representatives from the agriculture sectorShinde said the integrated model is expected to provide tangible benefits to farmers and rural communities in the upcoming Kharif season particularly through improved water availability better crop planning and enhanced support systems