Highway Rest Stop Run by Villagers Courtesy CSR Initiative Of IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd

Bareilly District’s Village TahTajpur's Highway Touch Point (HTP) initiative was inaugurated recently by Santosh Gangwar, Union Textiles Minister and MP from Bareilly as part of the CSR initiative of IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd.(ITNL). The Highway Touch Point will showcase the holistic development initiatives that are being implemented at Village TahTajpur by Mrida, a Social Business Venture focused on rural development. The Highway Touch Point, located on the Highway at the entrance of Village TahTajpur, Block Bithari Chainpur, District Bareilly is an income generation and employment initiative that started as a combined effort of the Village Development Committee, that was put in place by ITNL as part of their CSR initiatives.

The HTP is a CSR initiative undertaken by ITNL (IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd.), with the following features:

• As the name suggests, the HTP will be a 'touch point’ for ITNL customers using their highways, where they can stop for a while, get some rest, pick up some refreshments/water/packaged foods and snacks, and use clean toilet facilities
• The HTP will have a basic first aid kit and medication. Over time, the objective is to have a trained person who will be in a position to provide immediate medical attention in case of accidents, and who will also be trained to quickly reach out to the authorities concerned for further specialized assistance
• The HTP will serve an outlet for produce from Village TahTajpur which is being developed as a IL&FS MPowered Village – fresh vegetables, handicraft items, clothing items and accessories stitched by the girls and the womenfolk for the village. Apart from being a sales outlet, it will also help generate employment over time, for the people manning the HTP.
• Moving forward, the HTP will become a showcase point for rural craftsmen in general, and a sales outlet for nearby villages. Even at the moment for instance, a zari craftsman from the adjacent village Urla jagir is setting up his zari making unit in the HTP. Visitors can thus see for themselves, how the intricate zari work is done, and will also have an opportunity to buy clothes and other articles directly from the craftsman.
• Visitors to the HTP will also have an opportunity to undertake short guided tours to Village TahTajpur itself, where they can see for themselves, how the ITNL have helped transform the village and lives within, how the VDC operates and in general, what life in rural India is all about

“Over a period of time, ITNL would like to carry forward the HTP Initiative at TahTajpur, and after incorporating the learnings from the same, extend the concept to set up HTPs at different scales and levels, in other parts of the country as well, where they are engaged in infrastructure and development activities as part of regular business operations”, says Ashutosh Chandwar, Regional Head & Vice President (North) IL&FS Transportation Networks Limited