In recent years, there have been several promising developments. Below is the brief description about the different developments and development plans for detailed information click on the appropriate graphical image given below.

INITIATIVES OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

1. GYANDOOT -The Intranet
Gyandoot is an intranet in Dhar district connecting rural cybercafes catering to the everyday needs of the masses. This intranet is linked to the internet, the corresponding internet website being  gyandoot.nic.in The main features as follows:

SOOCHANALAYA
The intranet connects 21 rural cybercafes called Soochanalayas. Each Soochanalya will provide services to about 10 to 15 Gram Panchayats, 20 to 30 villages, 20,000 to 30,000 population. The net covers 10 out of 13 Blocks in the district. Soochnalaya are located at Block headquarters, haat bazaars, villages and bus depot centres. The Soochanalayas are located on the roadside are the central villages where people normally travel.They together serve a population of over half a million.

2. MULTIGRADE TEACHING

Most rural primary schools function with only one or two teachers. In these school the teachers have to manage more than one class. Or, in other words they have to undertake what is also known as multi-grade teaching. In this situation, when the teacher is teaching in one class the student of other classes are engaged in some other activities, like story-telling, repeating tables, reading books, doing some creative activities, etc. This situation increases the chances that the student will simply mug up the contents without understanding the fundamental.

To address the problems of multi-grade teaching some innovative intervention like use of class monitor as an academic assistant to the teacher(s), formations of management committees to reduce the burden of ancillary duties of the teacher(s), organising the students in groups so that the group continues to study while the teacher attends to some other class, development of learning corners ("APNA KONAS") and use of student's own diary as a self-learning tool etc. were implemented.

Ten schools were selected for field testing the effectiveness of the new multi-grade teaching strategy.

3. ROOPAYAN- Art Arcade

Melting pot of ancient cultures and civilisational advances, the artistic and craft skills of the people of the district developed and flourished. Today, this wealth of arts and crafts are finding ever greater recognition and patronage from Indian and international audiences. From exports products like Bagh prints to new products like Gatha stones, the range of products is great. For the ethnically inclined, beadwork is a favoured item. For the architect, the interior decorator or the art connoisseur, there are stone jalis, Pithora paintings, Gatha stones, Bagh prints, bead hangings, exquisite teak woodwork and reprints of ancients Bagh frescoes on canvas. There are leather and metal articles, too.

All these can be made to order according to given designs, tastes or materials and delivered anywhere. To promote these arts and crafts, districts administration and Zila Panchayat have been continuously active. Training has been given under TRYSEM & NRY. Financial assistance and infrastructure have been been provided under IRDP, SGSY, Watershed programme, DWCRA, EAS & PMRY.

Marketing support has been given through the district supply and marketing agency, (DSMA) which is a registered society with collector as chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the jila panchayat as secretary. Jila panchayat has created two showrooms under the name of ROOPAYAN at the tourist sites of dhar and mandu. Besides this showrooms, it is sending regular consignments to various places. It also take part in exhibitions and trade a fairs.

 

4. MANDU TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN

District administration has taken up a planned development of Mandu to substantially augment tourist comfort, satisfaction and influx. Roads and approaches have been constructed to nearly a dozen invaluable medieval monuments, which were lying there to relatively unfrequented for want of comfortable access. At Chhappan Mahal, museum for archaeological antiquities as well as tribal cultural artifacts very shortly been commission complete with night lightling and reference unit by the District Archaeological Association. A fossil museum Ashmadha (Literally Seated in stone) is also very shortly been thrown open. A showroom Roopayan, is being very shortly to cater to demand of the tourist for the exclusive and exotic art and craft indigenous to this cradle of civilization and other users. Extra accommodation, park, signages, training of guides, encroachment removal, development of picnic site have argumented the timeless appeal of this " City of Joy". And for the bold of spirit, there is a shortly going to be Spardha, an adventure point providing the entire range from trekking, rapling, skating, gear biking to TT, Pool or Badminton.

With the district level mobilisation of funds of over Rs. 150 million. The administration has endeavored to change the face of this romantic town in one single year

5. NIRMITI KENDRA - Low Cost Housing Technology

KFW/HUDCO grant, IRDP infrastructure funds, financing under KVIB's Vishesh Rojgar Yojaya,  DUDA training were converged to construct over 250 roofs( government as well as private) within 2 years with low cost roofing material. Production of micro-concrete roofing titles, cheap door & window frames, V Shaped drains etc. The Nirmiti Kendra delivers anywhere at economical costs and also offers training and consultative services. The District Collector is ex-officio chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer of Zila Panchayat is ex officio Secretary of this registered society.

6. ARCHAEOLOGY-CUM-TRIBAL CULTURE MUSEUM

A museum hosting archaeological antiquities as well as tribal cultural artifacts with a reference unit and arrangement for night lighting is being setup in Chhapan Mahal, Mandu, is being setup in consultation with the State Archaeological Department.

CHHAPPAN MAHAL MUSEUM

Chhappan Mahal is a forgotten mausoleum constructed in sixteenth century AD. It embodies the last and most mature phase of Mandu's medival architecture. In Hindu calendar Vikram Era 1956 (AD 1899) the Puar rulers of Dhar started the restoration work of this monument to give relief to the drought-affected population. In memory of Vikram Era fifty-six (Chhappan in Hindi), this monument has come to be called Chhappan Mahal. In AD 1989, the wife of the erstwhile deceased Puar ruler of Dhar, Anandji Rao Puar IV, and the Chancellor of Maharaja Sayaji Rao University of Baroda, Ms. Mrinalinidevi Puar donated this property to the Collector for setting up a museum. Exactly 100 years after the historic Vikram Era 1956, in Vikram Era 2056 (AD 1999) District Archaeology Association and State Archaeology Department took the initiative for setting up this museum. Before the setting up of this museum, this monument was restored to its original form with labour working night and day over six months. In the four galleries of the museum, Drishyika, Mandapika, Aranyika and Poorvika, an attempt has been made to represent the invaluable historical heritage of Dhar district dating from stone age to the twentieth century. This heritage includes the one and a half millennium old Bagh cave frescos, stone age relics, Bhil culture, the glory of King Bhoj and Dharanagari, the acme of the Sultans of Malwa, the immortal love of Roopmati and Baaz Bahadur and the martyrdom of Rana Bakhtawar Singh.



7. ASHMADHA- FOSSIL MUSEUM

Priceless plant, animal, and marine predating even the Jurassic era scores of millions of years ago abound in the Manawar and Gandhwani Tahsils of the district. These exquisite and rare fossils have attracted repeated expeditions of palaeologist from accross the globe. At the initiative of the district administration, this unique museum has been set up in the picturesque fringe of the Kakrakhoh falls close to Mandu. Ashmadha, literally- "seated in stone", is a treat for the thinking being. The Museum is being opened to public very shortly.

8. SOPAN- Special school for the Handicapped / Disabled Children

This school currently affords residential facility as well as to disabled children. At present 40 children are enrolled here.

Decentralised Participatory Development

• Community- based natural resources management and restoration of degraded natural resources under the Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission has translated in significant and sustainable economic gains.
  
• More important, the decentralised, participatory development strategy has resulted in new institutions and traditions which have unleased local initiative in development. Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs), District Planning Committee(DPC), District Rajiv Gandhi Missions, Watershed Committees (WCs), Village Education Committees (VECs), Education Guarantee Scheme (SHGs), School Management Committees (SMCs), informal Self Help Groups (SHGs) and User Groups (UGs), Women's thrift and credit groups, grain and seed banks, gram sabhas, Village Forest Committees (VFCs), etc. constitute the new development paradigm and an alternative model of development. Through these, local self-help local problem-solving, local initiative, stakeholder management, user charges/ contribution have been effected
  .