Developing a Village-Level Utility Access Index for Micro-Level Planning in Kharkhoda Block, Sonipat District

Abstract

Balanced rural development depends on fair access to essential utilities, yet disparities at the village scale remain a persistent challenge. To capture these variations, a Village-Level Utility Access Index (VUAI) was designed for Kharkhoda Block in Sonipat District. The index incorporates indicators of drinking water, financial and postal services, mobility infrastructure, community centres, veterinary care, policing and fuel availability. Each service was assessed through population-based norms, normalised adequacy scores and weighted aggregation to create composite village-level values. Results highlight universal adequacy of drinking water but reveal significant gaps in social and civic amenities, particularly parks, community facilities and bus shelters. By translating complex data into an accessible framework, the VUAI supports micro-level planning, enabling targeted and transparent interventions for underserved settlements.