On Saturday, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the Northeastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, inaugurated a Phygital (Physical + Digital) service center named 'Samriddhi Kendra' in Umri village, Guna district. This initiative is part of the Department of Telecommunications' 'Samriddh Gram Phygital Services' pilot project. It aims to transform high-speed broadband infrastructure developed under BharatNet into a comprehensive platform for citizen-centric services that directly impact rural life. The goal is to establish digital connectivity as a means of genuine social and economic empowerment in villages. With this initiative, Umri has become the first village in the country to offer health, agriculture, education, and various government services conveniently under one roof, eliminating the need for villagers to travel to distant cities for basic services.

Connecting Rural Empowerment through Technology

During the event, Minister Scindia emphasized that the launch of the Samriddh Gram initiative in Umri brings technology and opportunities directly to the villages. He noted that access to education, agriculture, health, and government services is now opening new avenues for rural citizens through digital means. Farmers will receive information about soil moisture, nutrients, and crop health via digital tools, making farming smarter and more productive. Students will gain access to modern educational resources, while residents of Umri will have basic health check-up facilities and tele-consultations with doctors from various parts of the country. Blood test results will also be available in under 30 minutes.

Realizing the Prime Minister's Vision for Rural Digitalization

Minister Scindia stated that this integrated Phygital service center will support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India by providing health, education, agriculture, financial, and e-governance services in rural and remote areas. He highlighted that BharatNet has established one of the world's largest rural broadband infrastructures, and ensuring its effective utilization is the next crucial step.

Multifaceted Services at the Samriddhi Kendra

The Samriddhi Kendra in Umri has been developed as a single-window rural service center, offering citizens access to health, education, skill development, agriculture, financial services, e-governance assistance, entrepreneurship promotion, and digital connectivity all in one place. Connectivity services will be provided through BharatNet-supported high-speed FTTH broadband and public Wi-Fi under the PM-WANI framework. The services available at the center include:

* Telemedicine consultations

* Basic health check-ups via Health ATMs

* Availability of affordable medicines under the Prime Minister's Jan Aushadhi Yojana

* Smart classrooms for education and skill development

* Digital learning facilities and digital training programs supported by the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology

* Soil testing assistance and agricultural consultancy

* Access to modern farming techniques and drone-based agricultural services

* Information on government schemes, assistance in certificate issuance, digital documentation, and other online citizen services

* Banking and digital payment facilities under financial services

* Financial literacy assistance and access to e-commerce platforms

Community-Based and Sustainable Model

The Samriddhi Kendra will operate on a community-based model, with trained local youth serving as Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs). This will enhance employment opportunities in rural areas and ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative. The implementation of this initiative is in partnership with the Digital Empowerment Foundation, which is assisting with local participation, capacity building, and operational management.