Event

Launch of Computer Training Center and Seed Bank at Pimparwadi

January 24, 2026

An Initiative under Maharashtra Foundation’s Fifth Integrated Village Development Project

On 18 January 2026, a Computer Training Center and Seed Bank were inaugurated at Pimparwadi village, located in Junnar Taluka of Pune District. The inauguration was carried out by Ms. Reshmatai Sambare, Board Member of the Maharashtra Foundation, USA.

The event was attended by Mr. Prasad Zaware, Ms. Mangaltai Chimte, Sarpanch of Ambe village, Mr. Ramdas Ghode, President of the PESA Gram Sabha Fund, and Mr. Chetan Wagh, Project Coordinator, along with other dignitaries.

With the objective of making computer education accessible within the village, the Maharashtra Foundation, through its Fifth Integrated Village Development Project, has provided two fully equipped computers to the Lokshikshan Kendra in Pimparwadi. This initiative will enable village youth, women, and students to receive computer training locally. Previously, villagers had to travel 28 kilometers to the taluka headquarters for computer training.

Computer training will be conducted from Monday to Friday for villagers and women, while students will be trained on Saturdays and Sundays. The training sessions will be conducted by Mr. Kisan Damse, who will serve as the instructor.

On this occasion, a Seed Bank was also inaugurated. The Seed Bank has been established to collect and preserve seeds of various crops grown in Pimparwadi and the surrounding region. Approximately 30 different varieties of crop seeds have been collected under this initiative. The seed collection was carried out by Seedman Mr. Shankar Damse through the Fifth Project of the Maharashtra Foundation.

A large number of students, youth, women, and villagers were present at the event. The program was successfully organized with the dedicated efforts of Village Coordinator Mr. Ganpat Ghode and Government Coordinator Mr. Raju Shelke.

— Chetan Wagh
Coordinator,
Fifth Integrated Village Development Project,
Pimparwadi

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Event

Pimparwadi Ambe

September 19, 2025

Project Objectives

  • Prepare an independent village development plan for Pimparwadi.

  • Build an ideal model village.

  • Achieve the status of a tourism village for Pimparwadi.

  • Get recognition as an independent Gram Sabha (village assembly).

  • Enhance women’s participation to increase village entrepreneurship.

Village Development Committee Meetings

  • 31 July 2025

  • 16 August 2025

  • 28 August 2025

Key discussion points:

  • Formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

  • Joint home ownership campaign.

  • Social security baseline survey.

PESA Gram Sabha (19/08/2025)

Highlights:

  • First-ever Gram Sabha organized.

  • Total participants: 45 (men and women).

  • Significant women’s presence.

  • Resolutions passed:

    • Streetlight approval for the company.

    • No-objection resolution on land allocation.

    • Joint homeownership: nameplate expenses covered by Gram Kosh Samiti.

    • Discussion on PESA fund usage at the village level.

  • Decision to hold Pimparwadi Gram Sabha every two months independently.

  • Efforts to ensure at least 2 government officers are present in the village every week.

Agriculture – Nachni (Finger Millet) Cultivation

  • Demo plots: 4 locations, 17 seed varieties, planted by 11 farmers.

  • Due to unseasonal rains:

    • 8 farmers’ seedlings germinated.

    • 3 farmers’ seeds failed to sprout.

  • Direct sowing: 8 farmers, 1.5 hectares under cultivation.

Water & Health

  • Water ATM started at Pimparwadi and Ambe.

  • Each person gets 20 liters of purified water daily.

  • To be officially handed over to the Village Development Committee this month.

  • Plans to organize training sessions on proper Water ATM usage.

  • Awareness Workshop on Government Schemes:

    • Conducted at Integrated Tribal Development Project, Ghodgaon.

    • Information shared about schemes.

    • 5 women filled out forms for schemes.

  • Social Security Baseline Survey: 49 families covered.

  • Village visit by Director Reshma Tai Sabre on 16 August 2025.

Hand-Pounded Rice (Traditional Paddy Processing)

  • Meeting organized for hand-pounded rice enterprise.

  • Formation of joint producer & processing group: 8 women + 7 men.

  • Registration process started; application to be submitted to Agriculture Department.

  • Documentation work is in progress.

Leadership:

  • President – Balu Ghode

  • Secretary – Nanda Dagale

  • Exhibition Stall at Ghodgaon:

    • 50 kg of Raibhog rice sold @ ₹100/kg.

Cluster Survey – Hand-pounded Rice:

  • Expected production: 78 tons.

  • Sold so far: 23 tons.

  • Still available: 23 tons.

Discussion on Labor Budget:

  • Total available labor in the village: 220 people.

Poverty Alleviation Programs

  • Upcoming programs include:

    • Wild vegetable festival.

    • Workshop on government schemes.

    • Literacy classes on Saturdays & Sundays.

    • Training sessions on Water ATM usage.

    • Tourism guide search & training.

    • Independent Gram Sabha fund mobilization.

    • Homestay setup & awareness.

    • Legal process for land transfer to producer company.

    • Seed collection for Nachni (seed bank).

    • Proposal submission for government subsidy schemes (e.g., Rani Durgavati Tribal Women Empowerment Scheme).

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