CHANDIGARH (Balwinder Singh) — In a significant move to bridge the urban-rural divide and decentralize administrative services, the Haryana government will construct 582 “Village Knowledge Centres” across the state with financial collaboration from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The initiative entails a total outlay of ₹514.53 crore, with roughly ₹88.33 lakh earmarked for each centre.
Chairing a State Finance Committee meeting at the Haryana Civil Secretariat on Wednesday alongside Development and Panchayats Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini directed the Finance Department to fast-track fiscal approvals so construction can proceed on schedule. Saini affirmed that the state is dedicated to extending comprehensive civic and digital infrastructure to rural populations so residents no longer have to commute to urban hubs for everyday administrative tasks.
Envisaged as all-in-one institutional focal points, the centres will accommodate officials from development, panchayats, and other state departments under a single roof. Architectural plans feature meeting halls, designated offices for village sarpanches, Common Service Centre (CSC) branches, digital libraries, and quarters for on-site caretakers. The integrated setup aims to streamline citizen-government interaction and facilitate direct delivery of public services to rural households.
Incorporating traditional community sensibilities into modern infrastructure, the Chief Minister instructed officials to plant a large shade tree and erect a raised sitting platform (chabutara) within every centre’s courtyard. Emphasizing the cultural importance of open-air gathering spots in village life, Saini noted that these spaces will help preserve heritage by offering villagers a familiar setting for social dialogue, dispute resolution, and community fellowship alongside government business.
Turning to essential village infrastructure, Saini called for targeted repairs to rural lanes, circular perimeter roads (phirnis), and public street lighting. The Chief Minister urged engineers to abandon the practice of ripping up entire thoroughfares when fixing sunken or fractured pavement, instructing them to perform spot repairs to avoid wasting public funds and disrupting commuter traffic. Senior bureaucrats attending the session included Principal Secretary to the CM Arun Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Development and Panchayats) Vijendra Singh, Commissioner and Secretary (Finance) C.G. Rajini Kaanthan, and Director Anish Yadav.
