Syllabus:

GS-2: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.  

GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Context: Recently, Satnavari, a village in Maharashtra with a population of just over 1800, was declared India’s first “smart intelligent village” under a pilot project launched by the state’s Chief Minister.

More on the News

• The smart and intelligent village project was proposed by the Voice of Indian Communication Technology Enterprises (VoICE), a consortium of major Indian players in the telecom sector.
• The cost will be around Rs 50 lakh on average to build a “Smart Intelligent Village”.
• Satnavari, a village in Nagpur district was chosen for its potential to effectively implement multiple smart solutions across sectors such as pond, agricultural land, schools, Anganwadi, and other community spaces.

Smart Intelligent Village

• A Smart Intelligent Village is envisaged as representing a model of rural development that uses digital technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and seamless connectivity to improve everyday living in India’s villages,
• A Smart Intelligent Village is one where technology brings ease to rural life, with villagers using digital and AI solutions for farming, cultivation, as well as other daily activities.
• Nagpur Zilla Parishad is overseeing its implementation, with the participation of Gram Panchayats and villagers.

Smart Interventions at Satnavari

• Agriculture: Smart agriculture uses IoT sensors and AI tools for real-time monitoring, saving 25–40% water, cutting fertiliser costs by 30%, boosting yields by up to 25%, and enabling early pest detection.
• Fisheries: Sensors monitor pond water quality in real time, alerting farmers to changes. This reduces fish mortality, lowers costs, and increases yields by 20–30%.
• Use of Drones in Farming: GPS-enabled drones spray fertilisers based on soil mapping, reducing chemical use, saving labour, and creating jobs for trained local youth.
• Safety and Convenience: Smart streetlights with IoT-enabled LEDs adjust brightness remotely, cutting energy use by 50–70%, enhancing safety, and lowering maintenance costs.
• Drinking water: An AI-powered system monitors drinking water supply and quality in real time, ensuring the supply of a mandated supply of 55 litres per capita per day.
• Healthcare: The village enables rapid testing for over 120 health parameters and uses telemedicine with digital records for early detection, affordable treatment, and urban-grade care, with ASHA workers receiving instant results for follow-up.
• Education: The village provides online education through e-learning platforms and smart classrooms, supported by free 100 Mbps BharatNet Wi-Fi at Gram Panchayat hotspots.
• Security: The village’s safety system tracks security staff in real time, while villagers can seek help via app or phone, with alerts instantly relayed to police, NDRF, and SDRF for quick response.
• Waste Management: The smart waste management system uses IoT-enabled bins and tracking tools for safe disposal, preventing pollution and enabling data-driven planning.
• Fire control: Automatic ball-shaped fire extinguishers filled with UL-approved monoammonium phosphate have been installed in schools and public areas. They activate within 10–15 seconds of contact with flames and can be drone-deployed in remote areas.

Challenges

• Internet Connectivity: Many villages lack reliable internet, vital for smart initiatives, due to concerns over long-term maintenance of fibre optic cables and tech infrastructure, resulting in poor bandwidth.
• Lack of Funding: Many pilot projects are free to the governments, raising concerns about long-term funding, community ownership, and maintenance. Integrating sector-specific funds for sustainable development remains challenging.
• Digital Divide and Human Capital: A key challenge is building villagers’ digital literacy to use new technologies. Strong community ownership and participation are also essential but difficult to ensure in rural areas.

Sources:
Indian Express
Indian Express
DH