NEW DELHI: Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Saturday inaugurated a Samriddhi Kendra, an integrated “phygital” (physical plus digital) service centre, in Umri village of Guna district in Madhya Pradesh under the Department of Telecommunications’ Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Initiative.
The centre is designed to convert high-speed broadband infrastructure created under BharatNet into a platform for delivering citizen-centric services in rural India, including healthcare, education, agriculture support, financial services and e-governance.
Speaking at the launch, Scindia said the initiative seeks to bring modern services directly to rural communities by leveraging digital technology. “With the launch of the Samriddh Gram initiative in Umri, we are bringing the world to our village — from education and agriculture to healthcare and government services,” he said.
The Samriddhi Kendra will offer telemedicine consultations, a Health ATM for basic diagnostics, access to affordable medicines under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, and smart classroom facilities supported by digital learning and skilling programs run with the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology.
Farmers will also receive soil testing services, crop advisory and access to drone-enabled agricultural technologies. The centre will provide assisted access to government schemes, digital documentation, banking services, financial literacy and e-commerce platforms.
Connectivity services at the centre are powered by BharatNet-enabled FTTH broadband and public Wi-Fi under the PM‑WANI framework.
Officials said the centre operates on a community-driven model with trained local youth acting as village-level entrepreneurs. The project is being implemented by the Department of Telecommunications in partnership with the Digital Empowerment Foundation.
The government expects the initiative to benefit residents of Umri and surrounding villages by improving access to healthcare, digital education, agricultural support and public services, while creating local employment and promoting digital inclusion in rural India.
