From solar electricity generation to fancy interlocked stone pathways to steel benches at bus shelters to a 14-house residential complex for the poorest of the poor, the 'Modi touch' has transformed Jayapur. Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi zeroed in on the Varanasi village under the Saansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana, the once sleepy village, which did not even have a post office until 2014, has become a centre of attraction nationally and internationally.
The stress on clean energy, a pet topic of the PM, is unmistakable. The village boasts two 25-kw solar power plants capable of lighting up 2 LED bulbs and a mobile charging point at each house in the village, a toilet attached with every house and 12 public bio-toilets. Besides 135 solar street lamps, the newly-built girls' primary school and the Anganwadis also have solar power. Solar water pumps also provide drinking water. "Mr Modi has visited the village only once when he had adopted it, but his impact is everywhere," says Narayan Patel, the brother-in-law of sarpanch Durgavati Devi, and the de facto head of the village. "There is a bit of a water problem but the pipeline is being laid and water tanks are being erected. The village gets close to 12 hours water but it's never in the dark."
And there is no dearth of funds. Well-wishers pitch in. And there is visible corporate support. The MP from Navsari district in Gujarat, C.R. Patil, has spent more than Rs 2 crore on various projects including solar lamps, toilets, school, piped water supply and laying interlocking tiles on a 3 km stretch. Welspun Energy spent Rs 3 crore in setting up the two solar power units, while another smaller solar panel worth Rs 2 lakh was set up by the company to power a fan and light in the local primary school. Further, besides running a branch, United Bank of India has also installed 35 solar street lamps while the musahar aawas named 'Modiji ka Atal Nagar' was built by Mumbai-based Allana Sons for Rs 75 lakh. Everything related to Jayapur today results in folklore, which even the city's travel agents are more than happy to share. In fact, the village is a prominent addition to Varanasi's numerous sightseeing locations.
Yet, politics spares none and not everything is hunky dory. In less than two years, part of the interlocked tiles has broken down and is in dire need of repair. Many of the street lamps are also non-functional as the battery that powers them has been stolen. Many of the 55 hand pumps are dry, and lack of running water has rendered the bio-toilets useless. The disgruntlement in some sections of the village is growing. That the BJP supported candidate in last year's panchayat elections lost to the BSP candidate from the Araziline block that covers Jayapur village is another indication of pent up frustration. Or perhaps it is just sky-high expectations.
Even for the Prime Minister, achieving perfection is a tough ask.
