Rajasthan government adopts mobile office approach to reach remote tribal villages

UDAIPUR: Rajasthan government has adopted a unique approach to reach remote villages in deep rural & tribal areas to address their problems and provide help on location. In this regard, Hindustan Zinc, the largest company in Rajasthan and Vedanta Group company in zinc-lead-silver business, has come forward and got developed an exclusive custom designed bus, which is fully air-conditioned, and fitted with 9 cubicals, latest computer systems & servers and other necessary equipments.

The bus is also fitted with over wings which once open will provide shelters to visiting villagers. There is a large 70 inches plasma screen fitted on the back of the bus which will project various schemes and programs being introduced by the Government of Rajasthan.The District Collector of Udaipur Mr Hemant Gera informed the gathering that this bus is a medium of government reaching rural masses specially tribal population of Kotda Block in Udaipur in Rajasthan and resolve their problems in their villages itself.

This is perhaps first of its kind approach in the country where the government has adopted this method to reach out to remote tribal villagers where the poor villagers are unable to travel to government offices or address their issues.

The officials of Revenue Deptt; Rural Development, Panchayati Raj & Education; Agriculture, Veterinary, Women & ICDS; Social Welfare Deptt.; District Supply Office; Public Health Engineering Deptt and Ajmer Vidyoot Vitaran Nigam; Health Deptt, and SDM, BDO & Tehsildar, would be travelling in this bus to address the issues of rural people. The bus also has a Registration Counter and free distribution of medicines under `Chief Minister Free Medicine Distribution’ program.Initially the bus would reach out to 262 remote tribal villages, covering 31 Gram Panchayats of block Kotda in Rajasthan. The bus would make trip with all the concerned officers once every week, most likely Thursday, in one of the 31 Gram Panchayats in Block Kotda.

There would be preparation done before the bus reaches a Gram Panchayat by the various village committees and block development officers in respect to knowing the problems of the villagers, so that there could be speedy resolutions.The Mobile Office Bus will also be used for providing other relief to the tribal villagers in need of emergency. We would be able to make good doctors visit tribal villages for organizing health camps, Shri Hemant Gera said. The entire exercise in villages would be recorded through CCTV camera which would be reviewed by higher authority in the Govt. to ascertain the objective of this initiative. Shri Gera also thanked Hindustan Zinc for coming forward with their support to develop such bus.

Mr Akhilesh Joshi COO of Hindustan Zinc informed that this Mobile Office Bus approach will be useful for villagers specially who find it difficult to approach the government machinery or who are some how unable to get their issues addressed. Hindustan Zinc has always been in front to adopt community welfare programs meant for the benefit of rural poor.

Thus the company has spent about 50 lakh rupees to design this bus specially as per the requirement. Vedanta has always been working in association with State Government and Government of India towards implementing various community service initiative.The keys of the bus was handed over by the Chief Operating Officer of Hindustan Zinc, Mr Akhilesh Joshi to the Udaipur District Collector, Mr Hemant Gera. Also present from Hindustan Zinc were Sr vice president (HR) Mr HK Mehta and many officials of the district administration of Udaipur.