Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has given administrative sanction for making 50 village offices 'smart.' The plan is to provide services faster using latest technology.
Each of the 50 village offices will be allotted Rs 44 lakh to construct a new building and install the most modern facilities. The buildings will have an area of 1,200 sq ft and will come up on land which is already available. In other places the government will utilize revenue ‘puramboke’ land for the purpose. The sanction was given based on a directive by the revenue minister E Chandrasekharan.
The smart village offices will have facilities like sufficient seats for visitors, places where forms can be easily filled as in banks, drinking water and wash rooms. Employees also will benefit as they will be provided half cabin and similar arrangements.
The government is also planning to offer e-filing facilities at the smart village offices.
Earlier, it was decided to convert 34 village offices into smart buildings and an amount of Rs 10 lakh each was allotted in the first phase. Later, Rs 9.7 crore was sanctioned for 20 village offices.
The project will be included in this year’s plan and 80 village office buildings will be renovated with modern facilities. An amount of Rs 5 lakh will be granted to each village office for the purpose. In 100 village offices where very limited facilities are available, new rooms will be built. Each of these offices will get Rs 10 lakh. In addition, the government will allot up to Rs 5 lakh to village offices which lack compound wall and gate to set up the same.
List of smart villages
Thiruvananthapuram: Parasuvaikkal, Karuppuru, Nemom and Nagarur.
Kollam: Sooranad North, Edamon, Veliyam, Velinallur and Thalavur.
Pathanamthitta: Eraviperur, Ayiroor and Enathu.
Kottayam: Velloor, Erumeli North and Onamthuruthu.
Idukki: Irattayar, Kanjiyar and Karikkode.
Ernakulam: Kakkanad, Aluva East, Thoppumpady and Pothanikkad.
Thrissur: Panancheri, Kadangode, Madathumpadi, Thalikkulam and Guruvayur.
Palakkad: Sreekrishnapuram -2, Vellinezhi and Vilayur.
Malappuram: Malappuram, Vettam, Purathur and Vazhikkadavu.
Kozhikode: Thikkodi, Kattippara and Changarothu.
Wayanad: Manathavady and Muttil North.
Kannur: Chengalayi, Paduvilayi, Kalyassery and Makreri.
Kasargode: Chithari, Parappa, Cheruvathur and Hosabettu.
The three smart villages in Alappuzha district will be announced only after the Chengannur by-poll.