| Economic development: Transforming India into a developed nation | | There is a need to lift up the economic conditions and lifestyle of over 220 million people out of the one billion plus population. One of the reasons for this situation is that large part of the growth comes from manufacturing and services sector. The agriculture has been growing at a much lower rate. If we have to uplift the 220 million people living below poverty line and provide improved quality of life, we have to ensure that the agriculture sector grows at least at 4% per annum. For providing this growth, we have to spread the development process to the rural sector. That is what the PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) programme involving 4 connectivities namely Physical, Electronic and Knowledge leading to Economic connectivity envisages. 7000 PURA Clusters encompassing over 600,000 villages are required for the entire country. The theme of PURA, apart from concentrating on reinforcing agriculture, will emphasize on agro processing, development of Rural Craftsmanship, dairy, fishing, poultry, silk production, so that the non-farm revenue for the rural sector is enhanced, based on the core competence of the region. Also the rural economy will be driven by renewable energy such as solar, wind, bio-fuel and conversion of municipal waste into power. In this approach, the aim is to make sustainable development using the core competence of the rural sector. | |
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| Operational PURA in the Country | | I have witnessed integrated development in five places in the country, where PURA is not only energizing in agriculture, but also enabling people to take up alternative employment including food processing, craftsmanship and small-scale industries. For example, Periyar PURA in Vallam, Thanjavur is engaged in agriculture, solar energy, skill development and now, 'one product one village' scheme. Chitrakoot PURA has mobilized the core-competence of the rural communities in herbal cultivation and leading to medicine and is working towards a conflict free society. Byrraju PURA in Andhra Pradesh has enabled reverse migration of BPO personnel from Hyderabad to Bhimavaram, Loni PURA in Maharashtra has provided overall upliftment of the rural population in sugarcane cultivation, sugar production, education and health care including reduction in IMR and MMR. MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) has been playing a pioneering role in rural development through National Virtual Academy (NVA) Fellows drawn from various walks of life based on their core competence, who provide knowledge input to the farmers in the farm and non-farm sectors across the country.. MSSRF is also in the process of establishing PURA in the tsunami affected region of Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu | |
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| | On 15 October 2008, I visited Puthironkottai and Illedu villages in Tamil Nadu where National Agro Foundation has enhanced the productivity of various crops, empowered the rural community with education and knowledge of crops specific skills, provided quality healthcare through tele-medicine facility and provided education to the children of farmers. Now I would like to mention about one village one product scheme being implemented in Periyar PURA. | |
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| One Village One Product and PURA | | The members of Periyar PURA in Vallam, Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu have created a strategic partnership with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) of Japan. During the last eight months people of Periyar PURA villages technologically supported by Periyar Maniammai College of Engineering for Women have worked with experts from JETRO on various products for which core competence and raw material is available in Thanjavur district. They developed proto types for 123 products such as bed sheets, table runner, cushion cover, brass drum, curtains, bread basket etc. Interaction with JETRO specialists included comparison of Japanese product, discussion on raw material selection, technical advice on product development and final quality inspection. Based on this intensive interaction, Vallam people produced 123 products and JETRO selected 40 out of them for international market. | |
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| | These 54 finalized products were displayed in an exhibitions at New Delhi and Tokyo. The feedback from each exhibition has been used for improving the product so that the customer acceptability of the product gets enhanced. The local technical consultancy support for improving the product has been provided by Periyar Maniammai College of Engineering for Women. This co-operative venture has enhanced the innovative ability of the village people and transformed them to develop and produce internationally acceptable products. Once the product is finally accepted in the interior lifestyle exhibition, it will be converted as a commercial business proposition which will enhance the economic activity in all the 65 villages in the Periyar PURA rural cluster. | |
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| | How do we achieve 4% growth in GDP in the Agriculture sector? In our country, there are few models which I would like to share with you. | |
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