SmartGaon

SmartGaon Development Foundation
SmartGaon
Formation2017
FoundersRajnish Bajpai
Yogesh Sahu
Founded atMumbai, Maharashtra
TypeNon-governmental organization
Legal statusActive
PurposeRural infrastructure development
HeadquartersMumbai
Region
India (Nationwide)
ProductsSmartGaon app
ServicesDigitization and development of rural areas of India
Official language
Hindi/English
Websitesmartgaon.org

SmartGaon Development Foundation, commonly known as SmartGaon, is an Indian non-governmental organization, currently headquartered in Mumbai, India.[1] The organization was founded by Rajnish Bajpai and Yogesh Sahu in 2017.[2] SmartGaon undertakes digitization and development of rural infrastructure of India.[3] The organization's initiatives also include comprehensive development of education in villages of India including farmer empowerment.[4] SmartGaon's objectives have been acknowledged by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi during his nationwide public addressal program, Mann Ki Baat.[5] The organization is in strategic support with Government of India's initiatives including Digital India, Swachh Bharat Mission, Make in India and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.[6][7]

History and objective

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SmartGaon was founded in 2017, by Rajnish Bajpai, a software professional based in United States, and Yogesh Sahu, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur, with the main undertaking of improving quality of life in rural settlements of India.[8] The organization also focuses on raising awareness about policies and scheme initiated by government to rural population of India. SmartGaon Development Foundation's major objectives are to assist villages in setting up sustainable digital infrastructure by providing urban amenities, advance agricultural equipments, digitization of rural area and setting up of virtual marketplace to procure better prices of crops to farmers. SmartGaon's etymology is derived from two words, SMART, an acronym for Social Security Schemes, Modern Urban Facilities, Adopting Smart Agricultural Practices Road, Infrastructure, and Transportation Facilities and Tech Savvy, and Gaon meaning village in Hindi.[9]

In mid-2018, SmartGaon Development Foundation completed their first project in Taudhakpur, a remote village in Raebareli, by installing digitized public address systems, smart farming practices, mobile app facility in the form of SmartGaon App for global connectivity and other modern amenities.[10] Taudhakpur has been deemed as the first "SmartGaon" (Smart village) of India. SmartGaon's other projects include Machandur in Durg district and Chinchani in Palghar district.[citation needed]

SmartGaon app

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SmartGaon app is the flagship mobile application of SmartGaon Development Foundation.[11] The app is developed by Rajnish Bajpai and Yogesh Sahu in late 2017. SmartGaon app allows connectivity of remote villages to urban world. The users are allowed to obtain all information related to the government's scheme and policies through the app. SmartGaon app monitors and updates all the initiatives undertaken by SmartGaon Development Foundation for the development of the villages.[12] Gram Mart, another feature of SmartGaon app, is an online marketplace that permits villagers to buy and sell farm produce directly in the market, supporting fair trade between farmers.[13] In July 2018, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi cited SmartGaon app's impact in rural development in his Mann Ki Baat radio address.[14] Arun Singh, the current National General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party also regarded SmartGaon's influence on rural society of India to be positive.[15]

Programs

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  • Digital Infrastructure Development - Digitization of villages by setting up Wi-Fi zones, computer lab, villagers addressing system, SmartGaon Mobile App and village website.[16]
  • Smart Village School Development - Development of education system in schools of villages by providing digital education facilities and other modern educational types of equipment.[17]
  • Community Infrastructure Development - Setting up public library, gym and yoga centers in villages with modern equipments.[18]
  • Smart Skills Development for Farmers - Educating farmers about Government's scheme and modern agricultural techniques along with smart training by agricultural scientists.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Inspired by PM Modi, two techies create India's first SmartGaon". Indian Express. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Two Indian American IT Professionals Create India's First Smart Village: 'SmartGaon'". India West. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  3. ^ Pandita, Nirtika (22 February 2018). "Farmers get 'APP'Y". The Asian Age. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Smart villages: How SmartGaon App is bringing 'Bharat' closer to India". The Financial Express (India). 19 March 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi lauds two techies for developing SmartGaon App". The Economic Times. July 29, 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019 – via economictimes.indiatimes.com.
  6. ^ "Techies create first 'smart gaon' in Rae Bareli - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  7. ^ "PM launches 'Make in India' global initiative". www.narendramodi.in. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  8. ^ "यूपी का यह गांव बना देश का पहला स्मार्ट गांव, PM मोदी ने भी की तारीफ". Navbharat Times. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  9. ^ "स्मार्टगांव एप के जरिये बदल रही गांव की सूरत". Prabhat Khabar. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Techies create first 'smart gaon' in Rae Bareli - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Mobile technology transforms the village into a SmartGaon". Deccan Chronicle. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  12. ^ "दो आईटी प्रोफेशनल्‍स ने बना डाला भारत का पहला स्‍मार्ट गांव -Jansatta". www.jansatta.com. Jansatta. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Two Techies & Some Bright Ideas Transform UP Village into India's First 'Smartgaon'!". The Better India. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  14. ^ "Mann ki Baat: PM Narendra Modi shares success stories of Indian youth, remembers poet Neeraj - India News". www.timesnownews.com. Times Now. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  15. ^ "US-Based Two Indian Techies Developed India's First 'SmartGaon' - EeYuva". eeyuva.com. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  16. ^ "ग्रामीण विकास की ओर Smart Gaon App का कदम - Awaaz Entrepreneur". CNBC Awaaz. Retrieved 14 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "स्मार्ट गांव से बनेगा नया भारत/ Smart Gaon se Banega Naya Bharat- 096". Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Retrieved 14 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Mann Ki Baat FULL: PM Modi praises 'SmartGaon App' launched by two IT professionals - ABP News Videos". www.abplive.in. ABP News. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  19. ^ "सपने को पूरा करने वाले दो युवाओं की तारीफ, कही बड़ी बात". Amar Ujala. Retrieved 14 January 2019 – via www.amarujala.com.
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