Agra bags smart city award for skill development initiative

Agra under the India Smart Cities Awards Contest (ISAC) 2020, securedsecond position at the national levelin the economy category for establishingmicro Skill development centres, empowering 1,350 Women.

The city of Taj was declared best performer among the 40 cities selected for the central government’s Smart City Development Project in 2016.

Uttar Pradeshwas ranked as the best performing state in the country with respect to the Smart City mission. Overall, Agra was adjudged the best performer in the state for implementation of the smart city project.

Under the smart city project, four skill development centres were set up in the Tajganj locality last year. The smart city project team helped develop 104 women self-help groups involving 10 to 15 women in each. At present, 1,350 women from weaker sections of Society are actively working on seven different traditional skill sets and earning their living. These skills are zardozi work, marble inlay work, carpet-making, brush-making, flower bouquet-making, paper craft and crafting ornamental items.

Agra was selected for the smart city development in September 2016. The project covers Rs 2,000 crore-worth makeover plans, including an area-based development plan, which envisages retrofitting 2,250 acre of select area around Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Jama Masjid and other parts of the old city.