Model Village Campaign

• 20 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched an ambitious Model Village Campaign to make 1147 villages of Ayodhya district model villages. 

Key Points 

• About the campaign: 
  • This campaign was started from Mahanamau village located in Tarun block of Ayodhya district.  
  • The initiative will cover 1,147 villages spread across 772 gram panchayats. 
• Objective: 
  • To facilitate transportation by connecting villages to main roads. 
  • To ensure freedom from open defecation. 
  • To make effective arrangements for waste disposal and recycling. 
• Benefits of the campaign:  
  • The standard of living will increase. 
  • Economic and social mobility will be promoted. 
  • Cleanliness and environmental protection will be promoted. 
• About Model Village: 
  • A model village is one where cleanliness, safe environment and active participation of citizens are ensured.  
  • Such villages have facilities like  complete freedom from open defecation , toilets in all houses, availability of safe and clean drinking water, compost pits for cow dung, pits for separate collection of wet and dry garbage and availability of connecting roads. 
  • These features are considered necessary to bring a village into the category of a model village . 

 Ayodhya District 

• About: 
  • It is a religious and historical city situated on the banks of river Saryu . 
  • Ayodhya holds special significance as it is the birthplace of Lord Rama . 
  • It was the capital of the Kosala Kingdom  in ancient times . 
  • The city of Faizabad, near the city of Ayodhya , was founded in 1730 by Saadat Ali Khan, the first Nawab of Awadh . 
  • Its total area is: 2522.0 sq. km .  
• Importance of Ayodhya in Jainism: 
  • According to Jainism, five out of the twenty-four Tirthankaras were born in Ayodhya: 
    • The first tirthankara was Rishabhanatha 
    • Ajitnath Ji, the second tirthankara 
    • Abhinandan Nath Ji, the fourth Tirthankara 
    • The fifth Tirthankara was Sumatinath 
    • Anantnath Ji, the Fourteenth Tirthankara 
• Major places of visit: 
  • Ramjanmabhoomi 
  • Kanak Bhawan 
  • Hanumangarhi 
  • Dashrath Mahal