Our Villages

Villages of India.

Villages are soul of India. Mahatma Gandhi was in favor of Gram Swarajya. His ideal was that villages and villagers should be self sufficient. Today we have progressed and India is shining as was predicted by Ataljee who also deserves the credit but what about the poor? All prosperity is hogged by rich and influential. Very little is percolating down.
To change this we need brilliant and compassionate leadership at decision making levels. First and basic major change has to be decentralization of power. Major policy decisions should be taken at higher levels and broad guidelines should be laid down for day to day working at village level. Participation of villagers through village panchayat is must and necessary for all to feel that they are part of the procedure and responsible for decisions which are for the common good. Panchayat members should be elected by the villagers through democratic means without interference by political parties and local rich and powerfuls.

Common resources like water and surplus grazing land should be used for benefit of all.
Water management if done properly can bring prosperity to villagers as shown by many good leaders in Maharashtra, Rajasthan etc. Many places grazing land is used for cultivation of grass which is used by cropping it by people. Wanton grzing which is harmful is not allowed. For this surrounding forest and government land will have to brought under care of entire village. Village Panchayat and villagers will be responsible for planting and maintaining trees and grass lands and can reap the benefit for common good. Wherever required government authorities should guide them and help them without undue interference. This will also help in stopping wanton destruction of our forests. Villagers will also be alert about preservation of wild life which is essential for health of forests. As such we have only 1411 Tigers left. When villagers prosper they will stop migrating to urban areas with reduction in problems of undue urbanization. Education at village level should be given top priority. Teachers willing to stay in the villages and teach should be given very good pay and all the facilities. This spending has to be done by government and villagers should not be burdened. With education women’s condition will improve and they will get better participation.

Many social workers are working in various villages in Maharashtra. Exemplary work carried out by Magseyse prize winner Rajendrasinhji in Rajsthan is worth repeating all over the country. These kind of works if encouraged by governments will go a long way to improve condition of our villages. With prosperity all other secondary amenities will reach villages and country’s industries will have captive domestic market.