Ministry of Communications inaugurated the Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot initiative in Umri, Madhya Pradesh to transform rural India by merging physical “Samriddhi Kendra” hubs with BharatNet digital infrastructure. It aims to provide integrated services—healthcare, education, agriculture, e-governance– directly to rural communities through local entrepreneurs.
What is Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Initiative?
- Objective: It aims to create a replicable model that empowers rural citizens, increases digital adoption, and improves quality of life using a “phygital” (physical + digital) approach.
- Locations: The pilot was launched in Umri (Madhya Pradesh), with further sites in Narakoduru (Andhra Pradesh) and Chaurawala (Uttar Pradesh).
- Implementation: Implemented by Department of Telecommunications with the support of the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) as the field operations and community mobilisation partner.
- Funding: Supported by the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF).
- Purpose: To demonstrate how the high-speed digital infrastructure created under BharatNet, one of the world’s largest rural broadband programmes, can be leveraged to deliver integrated citizen services at the village level.
- Samriddhi Kendra (SK): It will be one-stop hub located in the Panchayat Bhawan to showcase how integrated services can drive socio-economic development in rural areas.
- Services offered: This centre will offer a range of services across multiple sectors: Education and Skill Development, Agriculture, Health and Telemedicine, e-Governance, Financial Inclusion and e-Commerce, Connectivity and Digital Access and Surveillance and Safety.