“Our strength, in other words, has rested in our determination to reject simplistic absolutes and to redefine and revitalise a productive middle ground, relinquishing outdated solutions and embracing new approaches.” This statement by Hilary Rodham Clinton is so apt to describe the progress the Indian villages are making. The Indian rural landscape is enormous and diverse; hence, issues will remain. But it is encouraging to see the speed at which rural communities are developing, basic infrastructure is getting better, and prospects are reaching villages. However, holistic development necessitates the efforts of all stakeholders, and progressive development is a never-ending process. Through a participatory approach, as nation-building is a shared responsibility, be it an individual or an institution, local villagers can start a movement that assists communities to achieve their end objectives of development and welfare. Even non-profits can mobilise communities towards a cause. And as we robustly and holistically strengthen our rural regions, the country will march towards progress.
“Model Gaon” is one of the incredible initiatives to massively unfurl rural regions’ wings. This model, with a bottom-up approach, has already been tried and tested on the ground in a few districts of Uttar Pradesh and is successfully certified. The remarkable model has ensured the village locals’ effective participation in the development of their respective villages. The model is established, envisioning Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of ‘Gram Swaraj’ and PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas) of the late President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam. It is a unification of technology, people, skills, traditions and entrepreneurial spirit blending to make sustainable development of the villages happen by supporting the villages to become socially equitable, financially viable, and eco-friendly.
The Government of India has already been introducing and implementing progressive schemes and policies for rural development continuously. The government policies are villager-friendly, and the benefits are being availed by the villagers. However, there is still a huge scope for advanced planning for inclusive development programs and schemes like constructive learning tours for rural entrepreneurs to achieve productive outcomes. The learning tour may benefit the village heads and rural entrepreneurs by exploring more in terms of practical skillsets and technology from an overall development perspective. This approach may even help village heads nurture their skills in the areas of agriculture and village management. Hence, the primary function of this tour is to enhance the administrative knowledge of agricultural and village administration. The model should consider that all the development work is divided among the respective stakeholders within the ecosystem. Like village heads, local villagers should also be taught skills and training about the numerous government schemes administered on a timely basis.
This approach may prove beneficial to the personal development of farmers as well as the local villagers, as imparting broad and appropriate knowledge may increase farmers’ income, increase agro-produce, and enhance farmers’ overall progress. There is a need to plan a phase-wise approach. In phase one, locals should identify and define village-specific issues by means of a “village manifesto,” which further helps in setting a goal for holistic growth in their respective villages. The village manifestos consist of several directives for the holistic development of villages. In phase two, the ambitious social change makers and rural communities are to be identified and built socially to make the potential transformation feasible in their respective societies and rural territories. In phase three, there is a need to visualize the industrial development of agriculture across villages by converting the traditional approach into an agri-business through aided formations and operations. One of the key objectives of “Model Gaon” is to reduce poverty and unemployment in Indian villages.
During the challenging times of Covid-19, migrant laborers from across the nation headed back to their respective towns and villages as they felt safe with their families and the socio-environment they grew up in. This signals all of us to bring rural regions into focus and let the Gaon-Government-Governance paint India with vibrant colors. As the modern bottom-up approach of the “Model Gaon” has already been successfully experimented with, the pan-India acceptance of this model will attract youth and an entrepreneurial workforce to bring in low-cost innovative solutions for rural development.
Most of the present solutions are complicated, costly, and ineffective. Hence, they are not viable and sustainable. To enhance and build villagers and villages, there is a need to introduce startups and innovations to find healthier options for challenges. For example, to transform the agricultural landscape of villages into agribusiness and to alter the approach of villagers, there is a need to foster a startup culture and boost innovation in villages. Rajiv Kumar, the former Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, realised the importance of the “Model Gaon” concept and appreciated efforts to convert rural and backward villages of Uttar Pradesh into “Model Villages” through active public participation. The “Model Gaon” gives new hope to local populations in rural regions, newly elected pradhans, civil society organisations, industries, industry associations, as well as farmer-producer organisations, to promote the culture of social entrepreneurship and innovation to foster holistic development across villages.
The time to change is now. The people are ready to accept, and the rural fabric of India has immense potential, so coming together and working in a single direction can put the machinery of ideas into action and thus lead to concrete changes.
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