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Causes to Support - Rural Issue & Technology
Growth
with Social justice' has been the basic objective of planning in India. Rural
Development is critical to India's economic and social development. The policy
objective is to achieve "Samagra Gramin Vikas", addressing all the issues
of basic needs of the people in rural areas. However achievements have fallen
short of the objective. There is an urgent need for voluntary efforts to play
a pivotal role, in improving the life of rural people.
Issues
1.Integrated
Rural Development
2.Small Scale Industries
3.Agriculture
4.Land Issues
5.Migrant Issues
6.Tribal
Issues
7.Co-operatives
8.Watershed Development
/ Drought Proofing
9.Innovative Technologies
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Now for the cause of Rural Issues Small
Scale Industries
About 3 million small scales, village units employ nearly 16.7 million persons.
The genesis of village industries is in the philosophy of Gandhiji. He initiated
experiments in rural life. Training of workers in rural reconstruction work is
gaining importance. To conquer poverty and provide employment, there is a need
to set up small rural based industries, which could also go one step further in
addressing a sustainable vision, i.e. a trade-off between economic growth, profitability,
and sustainable environment.
Some relevant websites:
http://egj.lib.uidaho.edu/egj14/souza1.html
http://www.worldbank.org/nipr/work_paper/index.htm
http://www.mkgandhi.org/revivalvillage/villageindustry.htm
http://meadev.nic.in/economy/industry/i4-ssi.htm Top Agriculture While
74.3 million people live in rural areas, almost 59 million are cultivators and
agricultural laborers.According to government sources India is now self sufficient
in foodgrains.However, it is reported that millions go hungry. There is a need
for a functional food distribution system to improve outputs, provision for better
seeds, irrigation capability, fertilizers and information are needed by farmers.
More recently, however, agitation against genetically engineered technology, termed
"terminator technology" has come centrestage. NGOs have facilitated
a transfer of services like construction of godowns for storage of agricultural
produce and provision of training in relevant areas.
Some relevant websites:
www.indiatogether.org/agriculture Top
Land Issues
India
has 2.4% of the world's land, but supports 17% of the worlds population.
85
per cent of the Indian poor are either landless agricultural labourers or small
and marginal farmers.The issues of land, forest and water resources remain fundamental
to real development. Modernization processes have led to lands previously used
by indigenous groups for subsistence agricultural purposes, now being utilised
by wealthy land-owners for economic development and agro-industries. Several grassroot
organizations are mobilizing these groups to combat the acquisition of their land
by others.
Some relevant websites:
http://www.aidwatch.org.au/news/10/06.htm
http://www.ifad.org/popularcoalition/ac_co_in.html Top
Tribal Issues
India
has more than 470 tribal groups, each with their distinct dwellings in villages
and forests.
There is a quantum jump in the assistance and recognition given
to the Voluntary organizations working for the welfare and development of Scheduled
Tribes,even though there is a National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. Efforts
comprise schemes for educational, economic and social development including protective
measures under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the policy of positive
discrimination in public employment and education. However, movements like the
land grab and self-rule programs at Panavalli are part of a countrywide drive
by tribals for self-governance in the (tribal) areas.
Some relevant
websites:
www.nativeamculture.about.com/cs/tribalissues
www.Mnet.fr/aiindex/i_oibs/tribes.html Top
Cooperatives
Marketing
cooperatives have brought economic benefits to the, "poorest of the poor".
Multi-purpose cooperatives have the capacity to provide new services and networks
in rural areas; Grass-root cooperatives, have the ability to tackle problems of
exploitation and poverty. The outstanding example of SEWA (Ahmedabad) is waiting
to be replicated.
Some relevant websites:
http://www.coop.org/ica/dev/devstudy.html
Innovative Technologies
Over
2.5 million biogas plants have been installed.To improve the quality of life of
the weaker sections significant progress has to be achieved in all aspects of
science and its applications. The areas of communication, broadcasting, meteorology,
disaster warning and monitoring and management of resources have to be addressed.
To create employment, adaptation of technology in biogas, solar power, recycling
of wastes, including night soil and sanitation would be useful. Production of
electronic items and their use are also needed.
Some relevant websites:
www.dotindia.com
http://www.irm.ernet.in/pub/rschlst.html
http://www.teriin.org/pub/books/ngo.htm Top Watershed
Development/Drought Proofing Watershed
development initiatives like the Ralegaon Shindi experiment have led to increase
in employment potential, and a halt in environmental degradation.To develop effective
and sustainable community participation, and ownership of natural resource management
systems, NGOs have now developed viable models for different aspects of natural
resource management. These models are based on people's needs and adapted to the
socio-economic and ecological conditions of the project areas. Organizations have
also been formed to address one of the most important environmental problems of
the arid and semi-arid tropics, namely desertification and land degradation. Loss
of biodiversity, genetic resources and carbon stocks have led to initiatives in
returning to traditional and alternative activities in water management systems.
Some relevant websites:
http://www.icrisat.org/text/research/nrmp/multifunctional_agriculture.htm
For details on Government Schemes for rural issues click here:
http://rural.nic.in/gnsap.htm Top
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