The Prime Minister of India has announced a major policy initiative for the modernization of rural areas on a high priority basis. The Government of Punjab has stated that it will contribute upto 75% of the costs of Physical Infrastructure facilities needed by the villagers. For obtaining those matching funds from the government, a village needs to start raising funds by asking both village residents and Non-Resident Indians alike to contribute. A Village Development proposal, including the facilities desired, estimated expenditure, and the time frame for their completion, must be created in co-operation with the office of the Deputy Commissioner. Once the proposal is created, it should be submitted to the NRI Commissioner, Punjab for review by the Committee specially constituted for this purpose by the Chief Secretary of the Government of Punjab called Punjab NRI Development Committee (PUNRIDC)

Solar Panels for

Treatment Plant

Once a proposal is approved, by the PUNRIDC, the government's share of the needed funds will be made available to the NRI Commissioner and the particular village will be notified. The village must raise its share of the funds before it can ask for the matching grants through their respective District Collector/Deputy Commissioner. Also, the village must show commitment for maintaining the facilities.
 

Those villages which desire to acquire VLIF's service on an ongoing basis need to undertake the following steps:

1. Establish a body of five or six persons with high credibility in conjunction with the Panchayat with u can-do a leader to prepare and monitor the modernization program.

2. Prepare a list of desired facilities in full cooperation with the villagers and prioritize them. Fresh water, underground sewerage and its proper treatment, paved streets, and computers in school are the basic priorities. Street lights, parks, community centre, and etc. may also be considered.

3. Have an estimate of required resources to fund the Village Development Project prepared by qualified engineers. VLIF can help in getting such a village development project prepared. VLIF will also assist the villages throughout the rest of the development process until the completion of the project.

4. Clarify that villagers, including NRI's, must contribute their share for the construction of these facilities and will be responsible for their maintenance as well. As already mentioned, the Government of Punjab is willing to contribute up to 75% of the cost for facilities needed by the villagers.

5. Establish a bank account for this purpose in the name of the established body.

6. The village must raise initially around 15% of the total resources needed and deposit the amount in the bank account. The rest of the needed funds can be raised as the project proceeds.

7. Forward two copies of project proposal to the Village Life Improvement Foundation office in Chandigarh. The proposals should include the facilities desired, cost estimates, and time frame for the completion. A statement from the bank certifying the amount of deposit in the account should be included. Also, a statement that the villagers have agreed to raise the necessary funds for maintenance through a regular monthly process should be attached.

8. VLIF will forward such proposals from the designated villages to the NRI commissioner for review by the PUNRIDC committee specially constituted for the purpose by the Chief Secretary. For the village projects that are approved, the Government of Punjab 's share of the projected expenditure will be transferred to the NRI Commissioner for disbursement to the individual villages by Village Development Committees (VDC), especially constituted as follows:-

   • Chairman :  Deputy Commissioner

   • Vice Chairman :  Donor or his/her representative

   • Members:  DDPO, Sarpanch, One Panch

   The village will expend the first 15% of its 25% share from their bank account for the beginning development work in consultation with VLIF and provide a report of the progress of work and funds expended. This report will be forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner who may pick an engineer from his panel of engineers to report on progress of the work. Then VLIF/VDC will ask the Deputy Commissioner to make available 50% from the Government's 75% share for the work to proceed. When this work is completed and the funds expended, the village in consultation with VLIF will prepare another work completion report. The village will expend the remaining 10% of its 25% share from their own account. When these funds are expended, a report will be prepared in consultation with VLIF and sent to the Deputy Commissioner. VLIF / VDC will then ask the Deputy Commissioner to transfer the remaining 25% of their 75% share of funds earmarked for the village so that the project can be completed. The village will prepare in conjunction with VLIF a final report for submission to the Government of Punjab . Such a report may be handed over to a representative of the Government of Punjab at an appropriate concluding ceremony to mark the completion of the project.

Site Best Viewed using I.E 5.0 or later using 800 x 600 pixel resolution