The rural scenario can be utilised as a model for various environmental initiatives that can set examples for the cities. In the US, the Department of Agriculture-Rural Development ensures funding of sustainable renewable energy
Mahatma Gandhi had said, “India is to be found not in its few cities but in its villages”. In today’s context, especially that of conserving the environment, this observation by Mahatma Gandhi assumes a whole new meaning and significance.
The state of affairs of our cities on the environmental front has been steadily slipping for the worse. This lopsided urban economic development with a huge environmental cost reflects in the recent Environment Performance Index, started by the Planning Commission in 2011.
The national Capital, New Delhi, emerged as the worst place in terms of key parameters of environment in the Environmental Performance Index. In 2011, Delhi ranked at number 26 and has now slipped down to number 32 in 2012.
A number of factors such as rampant pollution, uncontrollable migration from rural to urban areas, woefully inadequate infrastructure coupled with ineffective implementation of environmental policies has ensured that the cities today are fast turning into human habitats in the middle of environmental disaster area.
An over-optimistic Government can term this as progress but the hard facts speak otherwise. This growth process on potentially self-destruct mode can be addressed and defused by turning the spotlight away from cities and bringing the cities to the villages.
In India there are about six lakh villages and more than 70 per cent of our population resides in them. This also implies that a majority of talent pool is available at this level, which can help the villages to play a crucial role in bringing about overall development in the country. In the recent years rural spending has significantly gone up to Rs 3,75,000 crore ($69.44 billion) as compared to urban consumption at Rs 2,99,400 crore ($55.44 billion) between 2009-2010 and 2011-2012; where rural consumption per person outpaced its urban counterpart by two per cent, according to a study conducted by the ratings agency Crisil, and preliminary data released for 2011-2012 by the National Sample Survey Organisation. This proves that the Indian rural platform provides a sustainable alternative to the urban setting.
A sincere political will combined with industry collaboration can help evolve infrastructure growth, industrial development, employment opportunities and healthcare in rural scenario. This in turn can stem the population exodus to the cities. Rural development in India is seen as promotion of small and medium-scale enterprises and cultivating the local art and culture. This viewpoint needs to change, as rapid development of rural areas is possible by encouraging large-scale industries to set up operations in the marginalised belts. Besides, this improved connectivity with the world at large in turn can improve knowledge levels for sustained development of village clusters.
The debacle of the Tata’s Singur project in West Bengal for manufacturing the Nano cars is an appropriate example of the disconnect between the industry and Government, where the common man and his economic progress is the casuality. To avoid such mishaps, the Government should embark on ‘people first’ policy where the interests of people should be safeguarded while ensuring their economic prosperity too.
Due to its burgeoning middle-class with a healthy disposable income, India is a booming market for international brands that are willing to set up shop here. The Government should not only direct these development initiatives towards the rural space but ensure that proper political and infrastructural environment is available for the same.
In addition to industries, the rural scenario can be utilised as a model for various environmental initiatives that can in turn set examples for the cities. For instance, in the United States, the US Department of Agriculture-Rural Development ensures funding of sustainable renewable energy development and conservation in rural areas besides working to integrate smart grid technologies and capitalising on climate change opportunities.
In India, smart collaborations between NGOs and relevant Government departments with the help of the industry can help set up training facilities to hone the skill sets of the local population, making them locally employable and discouraging their movement to cities, thereby, helping to reduce the urban sprawl and pressure on crucial resources such as clean drinking water, housing and energy needs.
Village clusters can also be awarded with Government and private contracts to supply critical needs of the cities like clean energy, organic food and environmentally friendly products. This will not only improve the rural-urban connect by ensuring co-development of both the economies but also safeguard environmental interests in the urban scenario.