Manthan 2025 Charts Roadmap for Smart, Green and Inclusive Cantonments

The conference reinforced the vision of creating Carbon Neutral Cantonments by 2030 and Smart Cantonments by 2035, making them models of governance for the rest of India.

The two-day conference Manthan 2025, a major brainstorming platform of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) officers, concluded in New Delhi on September 19, 2025, with a forward-looking roadmap for the transformation of Cantonment Boards in line with the Government’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

Rajnath Singh’s Call for Smart, Sustainable Cantonments

The conference opened on September 18, 2025, with an inspiring address by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, who urged officers to reimagine Cantonments as smart, green, and sustainable urban ecosystems. He set the ambitious target of achieving this transformation by 2035, emphasizing that Cantonments must emerge as model townships blending India’s military heritage with modern urban governance.

“Cantonments should not only be efficient in service delivery but also lead the way in eco-conscious development. They must become lighthouses of sustainability and inclusive governance,” he said.

Guidance from Distinguished Experts

The officers also drew valuable insights from distinguished keynote speakers:

• Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Land Resources, who stressed on land management reforms.

• Shri R. Venkataramani, Attorney General of India (virtually), who shared perspectives on legal frameworks for governance.

• Shri Subir Malik, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General of India, who highlighted the importance of financial prudence and accountability.

These inputs shaped the roadmap that IDES officers will pursue in the years to come.

Key Takeaways and Actionable Roadmap

1. Carbon Neutral Cantonments by 2030

• Shift to renewable energy grids, rooftop solar panels, bio-gas units, and waste-to-energy plants.

• Develop EV charging hubs and promote green mobility.

• Launch large-scale afforestation drives and institutionalize carbon audits with annual sustainability reports.

2. Smart Cantonments by 2035

• Build digitally enabled, citizen-centric ecosystems with smart power grids, AI-driven surveillance, and water recycling.

• Promote e-mobility solutions and modern urban planning while preserving military heritage sites.

3. Inclusive Development & Ease of Living

• Focus on welfare of the poor, elderly, disabled persons, and special children.

• Create barrier-free infrastructure and inclusive civic amenities.

• Position Cantonments as models of compassionate governance.

4. Digital-First Service Delivery

• Upgrade e-Chhawani 2.0 with AI-enabled grievance redressal, multilingual support, and tele-health services.

• Transition towards 100% online civic services using smart dashboards and data-driven decision making.

5. Financial Resilience & Institutional Strength

• Develop innovative revenue streams including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), green bonds, and user charges.

• Establish a robust fiscal framework to sustain reforms and ensure independence.

6. Green Leadership & National Role Model

• Showcase how development and environmental protection can coexist.

• Focus on biodiversity parks, rejuvenation of water bodies, waste segregation, and recycling initiatives.

• Position every Cantonment as a national showcase of eco-conscious governance.

7. Skill & Knowledge Upgradation of Officers

• Train IDES officers in sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and green technologies.

• Encourage peer-learning, global exposure, and continuous professional development.

• View each assignment as nation-building rather than just administration.

8. Jan Samvad as Core of Governance

• Institutionalize structured citizen engagement through regular Jan Samvad between CEOs, residents, RWAs, ex-servicemen, and civil society.

• Build trust, transparency, and participatory governance.

9. Ease of Doing Business in Cantonments

• Strengthen E-Connect platforms to promote entrepreneurship, start-ups, and small businesses.

• Simplify permissions, leases, and regulatory approvals through digital mechanisms.

• Transform Cantonments into hubs of local economic vibrancy and innovation.

Towards Viksit Bharat @2047

The deliberations at Manthan 2025 underlined the need for Cantonments to evolve as dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable urban entities, balancing India’s defense legacy with the aspirations of a modern nation. The conference reinforced the vision of creating Carbon Neutral Cantonments by 2030 and Smart Cantonments by 2035, making them models of governance for the rest of India.

By aligning with the Viksit Bharat @2047 roadmap, Cantonment Boards are set to play a transformational role in India’s growth story, ensuring sustainability, inclusivity, and prosperity for the coming decades.