Sustainable Rural Development through Smart Governance and Smart Village Strategies: Evidence from Wakrul, Maharashtra

Sustainable rural development requires the convergence of Smart Governance and Smart Village strategies to address resource scarcity, digital divides, and climate vulnerabilities. This study examines Wakrul village in Raigad, Maharashtra, alongside comparator cases such as Satnavri and Punsari, to evaluate how IoT, AI, and participatory governance can enhance resilience and align with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 and 13. Using mixed-methods—literature review, census analysis, and field surveys—the research demonstrates 20–50% efficiency gains in agriculture and water management through smart interventions. The proposed Integrated Smart Rural Ecosystem (ISRE) model links governance processes to measurable economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Findings highlight policy gaps in tribal inclusion and fragmented funding, addressed through a scalable three-tier policy framework. The study concludes that multi-stakeholder partnerships integrating e-governance with localized IoT pilots are critical for digital equity and replicable rural transformation.