Project Unnati

The Securities Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), a Miniratna company of the Government of India, awarded TERI a Model Village Development project (Unnati) under its CSR initiative. Village Siroliya in Dewas, that faced severe developmental lacunae, was selected to be developed into a model village through integrated multifaceted interventions. Through committed efforts, TERI supported by SPMCIL, transformed Siroliya into an example of sustainable rural development, and uplifted the quality of life of the population.

A large village with a population of over 6,500, Siroliya’s development deficits historically set it back by decades compared to nearby Indore—India’s perennial cleanest city. Recognising these lacunae, Project Unnati adopted an integrated development approach, targeting multiple challenges simultaneously through careful planning and curated action.

The project comprised eleven unique interventions, each addressing a specific development challenge to deliver sustainable, low-carbon outputs. What sets Unnati apart from typical CSR projects is its strict bottom-up approach; it prioritised the community’s needs and aspirations by actively engaging them at every stage, from conceptualisation to implementation. Diligently mobilising the community ensured deep-rooted acceptance and ownership. Ultimately, witnessing Siroliya transform into a model village has cemented the residents' trust in Project Unnati and SPMCIL as valuable partners, ensuring the long-term sustainability and longevity of the interventions.

Outcome

The extent of development achieved in a short period of time has been appreciated by the community as well as local authorities. The project site has been visited multiple times by important local leaders and endorsed as a cornerstone of rural development in Dewas. TERI believes this is just the first step towards several potential model villages across India, and seeks the support of premier institutions like SPMCIL in ushering a new wave of development in rural India, while keeping their essence alive.

Components of the model village