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Article ID : 04/IX/26/0924
THE VILLAGE: THE DREAM
Virendra Foke1 and Snehal Kadam2
1Assistant
Professor GDCFT, Mohol, Dist- Solapur Maharashtra.
2Assistant
Professor, Abhinav Education Society, Narhe Pune.
*Corresponding Email: [email protected]
Abstract
"The Village: The Dream" is a Deep & Peak study of how a community and individuals respond under
pressure and fear while living. I'm not even sure I would describe it as a short article. But don't get
me wrong, there are some real moments in the article. A dream village is a hypothetical or
conceptual village that embodies ideal characteristics, amenities, and qualities that make it an
desirable place to live with Harmony with nature, Close-knit community, Holistic well-being, Lifelong
learning, Inclusivity and diversity, Vibrant culture, Economic opportunities, Safety and security,
Accessibility and connectivity, Resilience and adaptability.
Keywords: Village, Challenges, Strategies, Schemes, Rural Development
Concept
Every village is unique, so it's essential to Conduct a thorough needs assessment, Involve the
community in planning and decision-making, Prioritize initiatives based on local needs and
resources, Monitor progress and adapt strategies as needed.
Village problems can vary depending on the location, size, and resources of the village. Here are
some common challenges faced by many villages,
▪ Limited access to basic amenities like healthcare, education, and sanitation
▪ Poor infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water supply
▪ Economic struggles, such as poverty, unemployment, and limited job opportunities
▪ Environmental concerns, like pollution, deforestation, and climate change
▪ Social issues, including gender inequality, caste discrimination, and social exclusion
▪ Limited access to technology, internet, and digital services
▪ Brain drain, as young people leave villages for better opportunities in cities
▪ Natural disaster risks, such as floods, droughts, and landslides
▪ Limited access to markets, making it hard for villagers to sell their products
▪ Governance and administrative challenges, including corruption and lack of transparency
etc.
Improving a village requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses its unique challenges. Some
strategies mentioned below are applied for development of village.
1) Infrastructure development: Invest in roads, bridges, and public transportation to enhance
connectivity.
2) Access to basic amenities: Ensure availability of clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and
education.
3) Economic empowerment: Support local businesses, entrepreneurship, and skill
development to reduce unemployment.
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4) Digital inclusion: Introduce internet, digital literacy programs, and online services to bridge
the technology gap.
5) Environmental conservation: Implement sustainable practices, renewable energy, and waste
management to protect natural resources.
6) Social welfare programs: Address social issues like gender equality, caste discrimination, and
social exclusion through awareness and support initiatives.
7) Community engagement: Foster participatory governance, encouraging villagers to
contribute to decision-making processes.
8) Capacity building: Train local leaders, youth, and community members in leadership,
management, and technical skills.
9) Partnerships and collaborations: Engage with NGOs, government agencies, and private
organizations to leverage resources and expertise.
10) Innovative solutions: Encourage innovative approaches, like rural tourism, agri-tech, and
social entrepreneurship, to address village-specific challenges.
Fig. 1 Smart Village Fig. 2 Rural Development
Developed/Smart villages often share certain characteristics that contribute to their success and
sustainability. Some common features of developed villages are Strong community engagement,
Good governance, Transparent, Access to basic amenities, Availability of clean water, sanitation,
healthcare, education, and electricity, Economic opportunities, Sustainable infrastructure,
Environmental conservation, Social cohesion, Innovative approaches, Partnerships and
collaborations, Continuous learning, Disaster resilience, Inclusive and equitable, Cultural
preservation, Waste management, Renewable energy etc.
Villages and education are closely linked, as education can greatly impact the development and
progress of rural communities with Access to education, Literacy rates, Education infrastructure,
Teacher availability, Curriculum relevance, Vocational training, Digital literacy, Community
involvement, Cultural preservation and Empowerment etc.
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Initiatives to improve education in villages includes, Rural school development programs, Teacher
training and support, Digital education platforms, Vocational training and skill development,
Community-led education initiatives, Scholarships and financial support, Innovative education
models, Partnerships with NGOs and organizations etc.
Fig. 3 Digital Rural Development
India has made significant progress in developing its villages, with various initiatives and programs
aimed at improving rural infrastructure, amenities, and quality of life.
Hiware Bazar (Maharashtra): Known for its water conservation efforts, Hiware Bazar has become a
model for sustainable development.
Mawlynnong (Meghalaya): This village is famous for its cleanliness, organic farming, and women's
empowerment initiatives.
Dhundi (Gujarat): A model village for renewable energy, Dhundi uses solar and wind power to meet
its energy needs.
Punsari (Gujarat): This village boasts of modern amenities like a robotic school, e-library, and digital
healthcare services.
Kedia (Gujarat): A village with 100% literacy rate, Kedia has also implemented innovative agricultural
practices.
Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra): A model for sustainable development, this village has implemented
water harvesting, renewable energy, and waste management initiatives.
Thamna (Gujarat): This village has made significant progress in education, healthcare, and
sanitation, becoming a model for rural development.
Mundra (Gujarat): A coastal village with modern amenities like a desalination plant, solar power,
and a robust education system.
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Pochampalli (Telangana): Known for its handloom weaving industry, Pochampalli has also
implemented initiatives for women's empowerment and education.
Shani Shingnapur (Maharashtra): A village famous for its trust-based banking system and
community-led development initiatives. etc.
Some government and non-government schemes in villages in India included in following Table 1
Government schemes Non- Government schemes
1. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana 1. Digital Village Program: Digital literacy and
(PMGSY): Rural road development internet access
2. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): 2. Village Adoption Program: Holistic village
Affordable housing development
3. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA): 3. Model Village Program: Sustainable
Sanitation and cleanliness development
4. National Rural Employment Guarantee 4. Rural Entrepreneurship Development
Act (NREGA): Employment guarantee Program: Entrepreneurship support
5. Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana 5. Village Health Worker Program: Community
(PMGAY): Rural housing health workers
6. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti 6. Rural Education and Literacy Program:
Yojana (DDUGJY): Rural electrification Education and literacy
7. National Rural Health Mission (NRHM): 7. Village Infrastructure Development Program:
Healthcare Infrastructure development
8. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA): Education 8. Sustainable Agriculture Program: Sustainable
9. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana farming practices
(PMUY): LPG connections 9. Rural Women Empowerment Program:
10. National Social Assistance Programme Women's empowerment
(NSAP): Social welfare 10. Village Tourism Development Program:
etc. Rural tourism promotion
etc.
Innovative Ideas for Rural Development in India
Utilization of Local Resources: If there are water sources nearby, such as rivers and tanks, plans
must be developed to access them in the summer by closing holes in the tanks, building new
reservoirs, bunds, and canals while bolstering the ones that already exist to prevent water loss. In a
similar vein, any iron, coal, or granite mines should be explored in order to offer work for the local
community.
Establishment of Rural Industries: All the village industries come under the following broad
categories:
Agro Based Industries: Sugar industries, Jaggery, Oil processing from oil seeds, Pickles, Fruit juice,
Spices, Dairy products etc.
Forest Based Industries: Wood products, Bamboo products, Honey, Coir industry, making eating
plates from leaves.
Mineral based industry: Stone crushing, Cement industries, red oxide making, wall coating powders
etc.
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Textile Industry: Spinning, Weaving, Colouring and Bleaching.
Engineering and Services: Tractors and Pump set repairs etc. Small and medium sized industries to
produce agricultural machinery, equipment for usage in rural areas etc.
Handicrafts: These include producing regionally unique wooden or bamboo handicrafts, traditional
ornamental items, toys, and all other types of handicrafts.
Services: There are a wide range of services including mobile repair, agriculture machinery servicing,
etc which are being undertaken under this category.
Startups: They are entrepreneurial initiatives, which are recently established enterprises that try to
address a need, demand, or problem in the market by creating a workable business model based on
goods, services, procedures, or platforms. As an illustration, consider the following topics:
agriculture, supply chains, trading in agricultural products, processing agricultural products,
fisheries - both culture and trade, rural microfinance, rural health, rural primary health care, and
rural education, among others.
Computer & Internet Services: Providing Computer Training and Repairing Services, Internet based
business-like E-Commerce, Rail & Bus Ticket booking, Digital Marketing Agency – Examples: Social
Media Marketing, Email Marketing etc.
Encourage Rural Entrepreneurship: These are some possible kinds for them: Individual
entrepreneurship is essentially one person owning the business. Group entrepreneurship, or "group
entrepreneurship," mostly refers to partnerships, private limited companies, and public limited
companies. Entrepreneurship in Cluster Formation, or c), includes networking between NGOs, VOs,
CBOs, SHGs, and other similar organisations. These also include the formal and informal grouping
of people based on things like caste, occupation, money, etc. Cooperative entrepreneurship is an
autonomous group of people who have voluntarily come together for a shared goal.
Conclusion
India's economic progress, especially in the rural sector, depends heavily on rural development. It
contributes to the growth of agriculture by lowering hidden unemployment, underemployment,
unemployment, poverty, migration, and economic inequity. It also helps to provide employment
possibilities in rural regions with modest capital requirements. This article is based on the current
conditions in villages as already known every village is having unique identity and overcoming
problems faced by in the village is necessary from development point of view.
References
Government of India: Census 2011 India: Human Development Report, National Council for Applied
Economic Research, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1999.
Rao, P. Srinivasa (2019), Rural Development Schemes in India – A Study, International Journal of
Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR), Volume 06, Issue 1, (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN
2349-5138)
Yakanna,A. (2017) ‘Issues and Challenges of Rural Development in India’, Indian Journal of Applied
Research, Volume-7, Issue-10.
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