Bhubaneswar: Kusunpur village in Kendrapada district of Odisha is set to be transformed into the state’s first smart village under an ambitious initiative led by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), functioning under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The project aims to convert the village—home to around 130 families and a population of nearly 700—into a model of sustainable, climate-resilient and self-reliant rural living, setting a benchmark for similar initiatives across the country.
Vision: A Model for Rural Transformation
The Kusunpur Smart Village project seeks to bring advanced scientific solutions and modern technology directly to rural communities. Designed in a mission-mode approach, the initiative will see collaboration among multiple CSIR institutions to implement practical, scalable and locally adaptable solutions.
Officials say the primary objective is to develop a self-sufficient and climate-resilient village ecosystem, which can serve as a replicable blueprint for smart village development across India.
Key Institutions Driving the Project
Several premier research institutes under CSIR are contributing domain-specific expertise to different aspects of the project. These include:
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CSIR-Central Building Research Institute
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CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology
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CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute
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CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology
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CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre
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CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute
Each institution will address specific sectors such as infrastructure, materials, energy, and rural technologies.
Focus on Smart and Resilient Infrastructure
A major component of the initiative is the development of modern, climate-resilient infrastructure tailored to the needs of coastal regions like Odisha.
Planned interventions include:
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Construction of climate-resilient schools and anganwadi centres
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Development of community toilets and sanitation facilities
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Improved village planning and layout
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Establishment of multipurpose cyclone shelters
These measures aim to enhance disaster preparedness, safety, and public health, particularly in a region prone to cyclones.
Promoting Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living
The project also places strong emphasis on clean energy and environmentally sustainable practices. Efforts will be made to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources and improve quality of life.
Key initiatives include:
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Deployment of solar and other renewable energy systems
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Promotion of clean cooking fuel
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Provision of safe drinking water solutions
A Blueprint for the Future
By integrating technology, sustainability and community participation, the Kusunpur Smart Village initiative is expected to emerge as a model for rural transformation in India. If successful, it could pave the way for similar projects nationwide, redefining how villages evolve into resilient and self-sufficient ecosystems.
-OdishaAge
