Experts provide suggestions to deal with challenges of rural development
The State Government, Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University Raipur, and the Transforming Rural India Foundation (TRIF) jointly organised the ‘India Rural Colloquy’ at a private hotel in Raipur.
Distinguished officials, entrepreneurs, social workers, experts, and representatives of social organisations participated in the symposium, focusing on the theme “Samaj-Sarkar-Bazar Naye Gaon Mein (Society-Government-Market in the New Villages)”.
The colloquy aimed to address and discuss the key challenges in rural development, including poverty and inequality.
Representatives from various communities, government, and market sectors discussed their suggestions for tackling these issues.
Detailed discussions were held to discuss the roles of society, government, and the market in establishing new forms of villages and finding effective solutions to rural development challenges.
The colloquy witnessed the release of two noteworthy booklets, one highlighting the success stories of women beneficiaries under the ‘Lakhpati Didi Yojana’ by the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (BIHAN), and another book presenting Millets recipes from the Raigarh Millets Cafe.
The event commenced with the lighting of the lamp by esteemed personalities, including the Deputy Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Planning Commission Ajay Singh, Vice Chancellor of Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University Dr. Sachchidanand Shukla, Director of Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mrs. Padmini Bhoi Sahu, and Managing Director of Transforming Rural India Foundation Anish Kumar.
During the inaugural session of the ‘India Rural Colloquy’, Vice Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Planning Commission, Ajay Singh, highlighted that this event, being organised at the regional level for the first time in Chhattisgarh, will provide vital and accurate information for formulating national-level planning.
The insights gathered from local perspectives and challenges will be instrumental in shaping future plans. He also mentioned that India has made significant progress, becoming the 5th largest economy in its 75-year journey.
Mrs. Padmini Bhoi Sahu, Director of the State Rural Livelihood Mission, emphasised the evolving role of women in society and the challenge of empowering them economically.
She stressed the importance of support, motivation, and group discussions in achieving this goal.
Notably, in Chhattisgarh, significant positive changes have been observed in the lives of many women who have benefited from women-centric schemes like Gauthan, RIPA, and BIHAN, leading to an improvement in their living standards.
In a video message, Dr. Sachchidanand Shukla, Vice Chancellor of Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, highlighted the colloquy’s objective to extend market benefits to every segment of society through government initiatives. The insights from the discussions will aid in formulating plans for the betterment of the backward classes.
During the day-long colloquy today, the first session was held to discuss the theme “Deep Dive into Billion Dreams”.
The event saw the active participation of youths, public representatives, BIHAN Didis, and rural families from remote areas of the state, who shared their life stories, struggles, challenges, and aspirations.
Dr. Manjit Kaur Bal, a social worker and Senior Program Manager, emphasised that dreams can be realised through opportunities and cooperation, underscoring the collective responsibility to strengthen systems and technology for achieving these aspirations.
During the second session of the Colloquy, focused on “Regenerative Development: A Whole of Society Approach”, Prasanna R., Secretary of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, emphasised the need to align with global changes.
He stressed the importance of community cooperation in this endeavour.
Prasanna urged to adopt a regenerative approach that goes beyond sustainable development, which has brought a positive change in Chhattisgarh, evident in increased forest area despite the deforestation in the past.
The state has witnessed a significant reduction in multidimensional poverty. Other participants in this session included Rajat Bansal, State MNREGA Commissioner; Ms. Anantika from the Hindustan Unilever Foundation; and renowned film actress and social worker Ms. Rajshree Deshpande, who shared their valuable insights.
During the third session of the Colloquy, focused on ‘The Complementary Role of Samaj-Sarkar-Bazaar in the Future of Rural Society’, Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, Agriculture Production Commissioner, emphasised the need to empower producers in the rapidly evolving agriculture sector, enabling them to effectively access markets.
Notable social worker Dr. Shankar Dutta and economist Dr. Ravindra Kumar Brahme highlighted the significance of fair market practises, empowering rural producers, and embracing digital commerce. T
hese steps are deemed crucial in paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for rural communities.
The renowned writer Sanjeev Phansalkar also shared his valuable insights during this session.
The concluding session of the Colloquy focused on ‘The Making of a New Village: Interrogating Caste and the Impact of Occupational Shifts on Inter-generational Mobility’, Pradeep Sharma, Adviser to the Chief Minister, emphasised the need to dismantle caste-based occupational barriers and traditional constraints for enhanced social mobility and inclusivity.
He highlighted the Chhattisgarh Government’s commendable initiative, the “Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park,” as a positive step towards this goal. Dr. Vibha Gupta of Magan Memorial Wardha encouraged villagers to become self-reliant by producing their essential items, including seeds and manure, rather than depending solely on the market.
Ms. Neerja Kudrimoti, Shreesh Kalyani, and Rajeev Kumar Tripathi from the Transforming Rural India Foundation, as well as officials from the Panchayat, Rural Development, and Agriculture Departments, were present.