Dr. Janak Palta Magilligan Joins Governing Council of Rootage Smart Village Center

Dr. Janak Palta Magilligan, a prominent social worker and environmentalist, has been appointed to the Governing Council of the Rootage Smart Village Center. Her participation in the council aims to bridge the gap between rural needs and technological advancements, promoting sustainable solutions. During the first meeting, she emphasized the importance of integrating innovative technologies into rural communities. Dr. Janak's extensive experience in sustainable development and her commitment to empowering women and conserving the environment position her as a key figure in advancing the smart village initiative. Her contributions are expected to enhance the balance between development and nature in rural India.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 15, 2025, 21:48 IST

Appointment of Dr. Janak Palta Magilligan

Sanawadia (M.P.)/New Delhi, May 15, 2025
Dr. Janak Palta Magilligan, a renowned social worker and environmentalist from the village of Sanawadia, has been appointed as a member of the Governing Council of the ‘Rootage Smart Village Center (RSVC)’ by the Principal Scientific Advisor of the Government of India. The first meeting of the Governing Council took place yesterday, on May 14, 2025, at 4:30 PM, where Dr. Janak actively participated.

Connecting Rural Innovation with Ground Realities

At the beginning of the meeting, the coordinator highlighted that the primary aim of RSVC is to bridge the gap between rural needs and technological advancements, ensuring that innovations and sustainable solutions reach communities directly.
Through this center, the focus is on making satellite data, water monitoring kits, IoT, solar energy, organic fertilizers, supportive technologies, and livelihood-centered innovations accessible to rural populations.

Dr. Janak Palta's Contributions and Recommendations

During the meeting, Dr. Janak Palta was introduced as:

A recipient of the Padma Shri award (2015) for her social work.

Dedicated to sustainable development, women empowerment, and environmental conservation for many years.

Co-founder of the ‘Jimmy Magilligan Center for Sustainable Development’ located in Madhya Pradesh.

She has trained over 300,000 individuals in cooking with solar cookers.

Dr. Janak shared her insights during the meeting, emphasizing the need to promote sustainable technologies such as solar dryers, solar thermal parabolic cookers, and bio-bridges in rural areas. She also mentioned a young trainee from Matmor village near Maheshwar who has adopted these technologies, dedicating his life to sustainable development, serving as an inspiring example.

A Step Towards Empowering Rural India

Dr. Janak Palta's active involvement and suggestions indicate that through RSVC, not only will technological innovations be introduced, but also social and environmental awareness will be integrated into the mainstream of rural India.

This contribution from Dr. Janak Palta could significantly strengthen the concept of smart villages, exemplifying a balance between ‘development’ and ‘nature’.