India’s
heart and soul resides in her villages .The success of her democracy rests with the rural poor. The
rural India is changing. This change is not only limited to fashion of clothes
and T.V. channels but it is almost in every sphere of life. It is true that
because of globalization and privatization the sectors which have developed
belong to urban areas. Rural India is lacking behind in economic development
but on the other front of socio economic and educational it is moving forward.
There are changes in villages of almost every part of our country. The dressing
style, language, vehicles, houses as well as mentality is changing gradually.
By casually looking at the changes in
rural India they are below average, but in the context of the period twenty
years ago they are the milestones.
Next to this, central and state
government is allotting more expenditure on rural development. For example 16%
of the total expenditure of the budget of 2012-13 was allotted for rural
development by the central government. This is rapidly creating employment
opportunities for the unskilled labours. The MNREGA has played a pivotal role
in changing the lives of workers who work on daily wages. 10 to 12 years ago a
male labour used to get 70 to 80 rupees a day and a female labour used to get
50 to 60 rupees a day. But now it has increased to250 to 300 rupees per day and
200 to 250 rupees per day for male and female labourers respectively. Although
farmers are counting such a big chunk of money still they are not able to get
ample of labourers. It is because of NREGA, that standard of living of labourers
working on daily wages basis has developed remarkably.
The participation of women in
Panchayati Raj is also a great achievement. The woman who were not even allowed
to get out of the house are now playing major role in taking decisions in gram
panchayats for the welfare of the rural
people. It is unfortunate that many of them are either mothers or sisters or
wives of well established politicians, but the participation of women in
decision making is noteworthy. This
increasing participation of women tells that a silent revolution has happened
in rural areas.
Many villages like Hiwara Bazar in
Nagar district, Lodhawale in Maan taluka have made the rural people proud of
belonging rural area. Twenty years ago it would have been an impossible dream
of providing the cooking gas through the pipeline in every kitchen and that too
in rural India! But now it isn’t a dream anymore. Can we imagine a village
without even a single mosquito? A dangerous famine has struck Marathwada and
some parts of Western Maharashtra but still these villages stand out of the
blues and are self sufficient with the water they have saved and collected. Let
us pray and try that villages like these shouldn’t be counted on tips of
fingers but should be in large numbers. Government is doing its work, now the
people should come forward and co-operate each other and should follow the path
of these developed villages. Government should give up to 90% subsidies on
solar products in order to increase its use and it will make also sure that
light reaches everywhere. If central government can give 90% subsidy to the
special category states like Chhattisgarh then it should be universalized. The
craze for owing farmhouses near villages is increasing, as the land is
available in low rates and is easy to transport because of roads big colleges,
public schools are coming to villages. Though it isn’t possible for all the
rural children to secure admissions in it but still it is a sign that through
roads the wind of development is striking rural areas from urban areas. The
rise of rural tourism is also creating unprecedented opportunities for
development in rural areas. This is just
a little spark and once it will get lit up there will be a massive change for
sure.
So let us prepare for the worst and hope for the best…
Subodh Colony, Amravati.
