Bhopal: Union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh on Wednesday stressed the need for villages to be strengthened economically and the village-economy to be comprehensively changed in order to make ideal villages a reality.

Addressing the inaugural of a two-day workshop here on “Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna” (MP Model Village Scheme), the minister said the government proposed to develop 300 village clusters — each having a population of 25,000 to 50,000 and having all basic amenities.

The workshop is being attended by 100 parliamentarians, 125 district officials, chief executives of 125 Panchayats and 100 other state officials from across the country.

Singh, minister for rural development, panchayati raj, drinking water and sanitation, said that in a model village it was not just enough to provide basic facilities. “Rather they should be rendered economically capable as well… Such villages would provide better opportunities of employment….”

Observing that the prime minister’s ‘Jan Dhan Yojna’ had contributed to connecting people economically, the minister said the ‘Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna’ sought to develop a new thinking aimed at connecting the villages.

Asserting that the mindset of villagers would change under the care of parliamentarians, the union minister said all the primary needs of ideal villages would be achieved before October 2, next year.