Mirzapur: Baghera Khurd village in the Chhanvey development block of Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district has been selected for the state’s first Developed Village initiative. The village has also become the first in Uttar Pradesh to have a Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP) prepared under the initiative.
The planning process places local residents at the centre of development decisions, with proposed works based on the community’s needs, geographical conditions and available natural resources. The state government plans to extend this approach to other gram panchayats across Uttar Pradesh.
Baghera Khurd: A Village of Around 13,000 Residents
Located approximately three kilometres south of the Prayagraj-Mirzapur main road, Baghera Khurd is situated near the foothills in the Chhanvey development block.
The village has a population of around 13,000, including approximately 4,500 registered voters. Its educational institutions include three private intermediate colleges, one degree college, three primary schools and one anganwadi centre.
During consultations, residents identified several infrastructure requirements, including a modern health centre and a playground for young people.
According to reports, around 4% of the village population is engaged in government or private-sector employment, another 4% is involved in business, while approximately 90% depends on agriculture and wage labour.
Experts and Residents Prepare the Village Development Plan
The planning exercise was conducted by master trainers who had received specialised training from the Central Government, in collaboration with Transform Rural India (TRI).
Experts Nihar Maharana from Jharkhand and Harivilas Dwivedi from Madhya Pradesh joined the process and led a field assessment of the village alongside residents.
The team examined different parts of the village, from higher elevations to lower-lying areas, studying the natural flow of rainwater, terrain, soil conditions and other available resources.
To facilitate detailed consultations, the gram panchayat was divided into six sections. Meetings were held in each section, allowing residents to identify local problems and communicate their development priorities.
Drinking Water, Healthcare, Roads and Livelihoods Among Key Priorities
During the meetings, residents highlighted the need for better schools, healthcare facilities, access to safe drinking water, paved roads and additional employment opportunities.
The proposed development plan also goes beyond conventional infrastructure works such as roads and drains. It includes a focus on the restoration of ponds, water conservation and improved land use.
The planning exercise is intended to align development activities with the village’s geographical conditions and natural resources.
Multiple Village Development Plans to Be Integrated
The initiative will bring together several existing planning frameworks, including:
- VPRP: Village Poverty Reduction Plan
- VGPP: Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan
- VDP: Village Development Plan
- GPDP: Gram Panchayat Development Plan
These frameworks will be integrated to prepare and implement a coordinated development plan for the village.
Uttar Pradesh Plans to Extend the Model Through a Dedicated Portal
The Rural Development Department is preparing to facilitate similar planning exercises across gram panchayats through a dedicated portal.
Administrative personnel and officials at the state, block and panchayat levels are being trained to implement the process.
Baghera Khurd is the first village in Uttar Pradesh for which a VGPP has been prepared under this initiative. The state’s plan is to use the approach for development planning in other gram panchayats as well.
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