In a significant move, the coastal village of Kushunupur in Kendrapara district has been designated as a ‘Smart Village’ by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), bringing joy to the local residents. This initiative by CSIR aims to promote scientific innovation, advanced agriculture, rural empowerment, improved nutrition, and technology-driven leadership in selected villages across the country. Apart from Kushunupur, five other villages have also been chosen as model “Smart Villages” under this program.
The selected villages, including Bhada in Gujarat, Chumathang in Leh-Ladakh, Joharat in Assam, Janakpur in Madhya Pradesh, Sawaipura in Rajasthan, and Kushunupur in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, will serve as “live laboratories” where scientific solutions will be tested and implemented. CSIR plans to introduce scientific innovations to enhance livelihoods and infrastructure in these villages, following a “Lab to Land” approach.
A team of scientists has initiated interactions with villagers in Kushunupur to grasp their lifestyle, challenges, and local resources. Nature’s Club, a local voluntary organization, is supporting these field studies and highlighted the project’s objectives for the next three years. The focus is on implementing scientific innovations developed in CSIR laboratories nationwide in Kushunupur, with the potential for replication in other regions if successful.
Kendrapara district, where Kushunupur is situated, comprises a total of 1,592 revenue villages. The Smart Village project, encompassing 135 families and approximately 738 residents, aims to address various long-standing issues faced by the community, such as water scarcity, agricultural productivity, youth unemployment, and educational infrastructure deficiencies. Residents are hopeful that the initiative will provide opportunities for employment and assistance in marketing locally produced goods, rather than seeking free benefits.
