December 2023 :  Kurukshetra Magazine GIST : Micro Notes or Revision Notes : Kurukshetra Magazine Summary

Making Villages Self-Reliant: Role of Panchayats

Importance of Villages

• 68% of India’s population resides in rural areas.
• 51% of India’s workforce is engaged in agriculture.
• Self-reliant villages are crucial for a self-sufficient nation.

Gram Panchayats: Key to Success

• Panchayats play a vital role in implementing government schemes for rural development.

Schemes for Panchayat Self-Reliance

• Empowerment with Funds:
  • 15th Finance Commission allocated Rs. 60,750 crore (FY 2020-21) and Rs. 2,36,805 crore (FY 2021-26) to Panchayats.
• Localization of SDGs (LSDG):
  • 5 lakh Panchayats are working to achieve SDGs at the local level.
• Financial Self-Reliance:
  • Panchayats need their own revenue sources for development activities.
  • Digital initiatives like e-Gram SWARAJ are promoting “Vocal for Local” by enabling local producers to sell directly to government entities.
• Gram Urja Swaraj:
  • Promotes renewable energy adoption in rural areas for social, economic, and environmental benefits.
  • Gram Panchayats can develop their own implementation models with state support.
• SVAMITVA Scheme:
  • Provides property rights and issues property cards to rural homeowners.
  • Enables monetization of rural assets for credit and financial services.
  • Helps Panchayats become self-sufficient through property tax collection.

Conclusion

• Self-reliant villages are essential for a developed India (Viksit Bharat).
• Panchayats play a commendable role in achieving this goal through various schemes and initiatives.

 

Lab to Land: Empowering Farmers Technically

The Challenge

• India’s population to reach 1.64 billion by 2050.
• Feeding this population requires increased agricultural productivity despite challenges like:
  • Deteriorating natural resources
  • Shrinking arable land
  • Climate change

The Lab to Land Slogan

• Prime Minister’s initiative to:
  • Enhance farm production
  • Increase farmer income
  • Ensure food security

Mission and Modes

• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE) by the Agriculture Ministry:
  • Creates awareness and promotes technology adoption in agriculture.
  • Over 4100 TV programs and 22,700 radio broadcasts in 2022-23 (up to December).
• Kisan Call Centres: Launched in 2004 to answer farmer queries in their dialect.
• Agri-clinics and Agri-business Centres Scheme (since April 2022):
  • Provides self-employment opportunities for agriculture graduates.
• Farmer-centric exhibitions, fairs, and seminars organized at various levels.
• Five Regional Agricultural Fairs held annually to showcase advancements.

Bridging the Gap: The Role of ICAR

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) leads Lab to Land through its network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
• KVKs (established in 1974):
  • Transfer agricultural technologies and knowledge to farmers.
  • Assess and demonstrate technology application.
  • Conduct capacity building programs for farmers and extension personnel.
  • Act as knowledge and resource centers for agricultural technologies.
  • Provide farm advisories to farmers.

Going Extra Miles

• Agricultural Technology Information Centres (ATICs) set up in universities:
  • Act as single window systems for providing information, services, and inputs to farmers.
• KSHAMTA program: Boosts agricultural production and farmer income in tribal areas.
• Linking of 3.5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) with KVKs:
  • Provides technological solutions to farmers visiting CSCs.
• Mera Gaon, Mera Gaurav: ICAR initiative for technology dissemination in villages.
• ARYA program: Trains youth in agro-enterprises to create rural job opportunities.
• NICRA project: Empowers farmers for climate-smart agriculture.

New Pathways and Way Forward

• mKISAN portal: Provides knowledge transfer to farmers.
• Kisan Suvidha mobile app: Offers information on weather, markets, etc. to farmers.
• Convergence of extension services for efficient knowledge delivery and technology transfer.

 

Sustainable Industries for Aatmanirbhar Villages

What are Sustainable Industries?

• Thrive without depleting resources.
• Prioritize long-term economic and environmental well-being.
• Empower local communities through ownership and control.
• Allow local expertise to flourish.

Aatmanirbhar Villages: A Vision for Self-Reliance

• Economic diversification is key for stability and growth.
• Sustainable industries provide:
  • Employment opportunities
  • Social stability
  • Reduced dependence

Examples of Sustainable Industries in Jammu and Kashmir

• Homestays:Cultural immersion for tourists.
• Pencil Industry:Exquisite handcrafted wooden pencils.
• Saffron Cultivation:Environmentally friendly, economically beneficial (National Saffron Mission launched in 2011).
• Handicraft and Handloom Industry:Culturally significant, economically viable.
• Cricket Bat Industry:High demand due to ideal willow growing conditions.
• Agro-Processing:Job creation, economic diversification, market expansion, and environmental benefits.

Conclusion

Sustainable industries are crucial for Aatmanirbhar villages in Jammu and Kashmir. Challenges include infrastructure, skill development, finances, marketing, and regulations.

 

Digital Transformation: Empowering Rural India for Sustainability

The Promise and Challenges of Digital Transformation

• Industrial Revolution 4.0 offers transformative potential for rural India.
• Challenges include lack of:
  • Universal digital connectivity (urban-rural digital divide)
  • Digital skills
  • Affordability

Vision: Digitally Self-Reliant Villages

• Gateways to crucial rural services with high-tech amenities.
• Integration of high-tech education:
  • Internet access
  • E-content
  • Educational apps
  • Smart classes
  • Video conferencing
• Digital hubs promote digital engagement among rural communities and businesses.
• Digital agriculture:
  • Ensures high productivity
  • Adaptability to climate change
  • Enhanced food security, profitability, and sustainability

Conditions for Digital Transformation

• Basic conditions:
  • Availability and affordability of technology
  • ICT education
  • Supportive e-government policies
• Enabling conditions:
  • Internet access
  • Mobile phones
  • Social media use
  • Digital skills
  • Support for agripreneurship and innovation
• Digitalization will reshape work dynamics and skill demands.

Government Initiatives for Digital Empowerment

• Digital India (2015): Aims for high-speed internet access across India.
• Bharat Net Project: Enhances e-banking, e-governance, internet services, and e-education in villages.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Promotes financial and digital inclusion through online transactions.

Other Initiatives

• AI for All (NITI Aayog):Targets 5 key sectors for AI implementation, including agriculture.
• Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund:Empowers MSMEs for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Fintech Companies:Establish digital infrastructure in rural areas for bill payments.

Smart Entrepreneurship for Self-Reliant Villages

• Rural entrepreneurship can:
  • Catalyze economic development
  • Bridge the rural-urban income gap
  • Generate employment
• Youth Agripreneurs:
  • Drive agricultural digitalization
  • Create startups to assist farming communities

E-commerce for Rural Products

• Connects rural producers with urban markets.
• Government initiatives like ‘Make in India,’ ‘Digital India,’ and ‘Skill India’ support rural e-commerce.

Challenges of Rural E-commerce

• Payment issues
• Lack of digital infrastructure
• Logistics challenges
• E-commerce awareness
• Business competence
• Product quality
• Language barriers
• Currency challenges

Potential Solutions and Technologies

• Mobile Apps: Provide real-time price information to farmers.
• Agro-robots and AI: Assist with tasks and leverage facial/voice recognition for efficiency.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Optimizes resource use and enhances productivity through precision data.
• Blockchain Technology: Ensures data-driven food traceability and transparency.

Conclusion

Digital transformation is essential for sustainable rural development. Bridging the digital divide will unlock rural potential, boost economic growth, improve livelihoods, and promote environmental conservation.

 

Accelerating Economic Growth in Villages

Importance of Rural India

• 65% of India’s population lives in rural areas.
• Rural economy contributes 25-30% to GDP.
• 47% of the population depends on agriculture for livelihood.
• Investment in agriculture is crucial:
  • 1% increase in agricultural growth leads to 2.7% increase in income for the poorest in developing countries.
  • Investment in agriculture is 2.5-3 times more effective in increasing income of the poor than non-agricultural investment.

Financial Support

• 2023-24 budget allocations:
  • Ministry of Rural Development: Rs. 1,59,964 crore (MGNREGS, PMGSY, PMAY-G)
  • National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM): Rs. 14,129 crore
  • Jal Jeevan Mission: Rs. 70,000 crore
• Computerization of 63,000 primary agricultural credit societies (investment: Rs. 2,516 crore)
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) supports infrastructure development.

Skill Building

• MGNREGS: Provides employment for unskilled workers.
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY): Skill development for rural youth (15-35 years).
• Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs): Promote self-employment and skill upgradation.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Skill-based training for rural youth.
• Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Supports microenterprises in the non-farm sector.
• Vibrant Villages Programme: Boosts infrastructure and livelihoods in villages along the northern border (allocation: Rs. 4,800 crore).

Micro, Small and Medium Scale Industries (MSMEs)

• Critical for rural industrialization and village economy.
• 4 million MSME units:
  • 25% in rural areas
  • 75% in urban areas
• Employ about 111 million workers.
• Help reduce disguised unemployment in rural areas.

Forest Fringe Villages

• 26% of Indian villages are classified as forest fringe villages.
• 22% of India’s population lives in these villages.
• 60-70% income of forest dwellers comes from minor forest produce (MFP).
• Panchayats (Extension of the Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA 1996) empowers Gram Panchayats in managing MFP.
• Van Dhan Yojana promotes marketing of MFP through Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Rural Tourism

• Travel and tourism industry employs 14 million people (expected to grow at 2.5% per year).
• Rural tourism can create self-sufficient villages and connect farmers directly to markets.
• World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) named 32 destinations as ‘Best Tourist Villages 2022’.

Smart Villages

• Smart technologies can transform agriculture and strengthen the village economy:
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Big Data Analytics
  • Drones
  • ICT applications
  • Weather forecasting
• Agritech startups offer solutions for precision farming, supply chain management, and market linkages.
• SBI YONO Krishi app provides finance, inputs, and advisory services to farmers.
• ITC’s e-Choupal network expands direct-from-farm procurement.

Conclusion

• Adopt the concept of Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) for rural development.
• PURA focuses on developing infrastructure and services in rural hubs to create economic opportunities.
  • Better roads
  • Education
  • Health
  • Drinking water
  • Power
  • Sanitation
  • Social safety net

 

Aatmanirbhar Villages through Agricultural Development

Need for Self-Reliant Villages

• Nearly two-thirds of India’s population live in rural areas.
• Rural areas face challenges like poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
• Making villages self-reliant can:
  • Lift people out of poverty
  • Improve quality of life
  • Reduce rural-urban income disparity

Employment through Agriculture

• Highest employment sector in rural India (70% of households).
• Agricultural development can generate employment beyond farming.

Sustainable Development

• Eco-friendly practices in villages can contribute to environmental conservation.

Role of Women

• Empowering women is crucial for rural development.
• Agricultural initiatives should focus on:
  • Gender equality
  • Education and health access for women
  • Land and credit access for women

Infrastructure Development

• Improves quality of life in rural areas.
• Better infrastructure connects villages to markets.

Technology Integration

• Modern technology can boost agricultural productivity.
• Equipping farmers with:
  • Precision agriculture techniques
  • Data-driven decision making
  • Innovative equipment

Balance of Trade in Agriculture

• India is a net exporter of agricultural products (7th rank globally).
• India’s agricultural trade balance is positive and has grown significantly.
• Major export destinations: Bangladesh, China, Iran, etc.
• India’s share of global agricultural trade is only 2.5%.

Government Initiatives

• Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan promotes local products.
• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare enacted reforms for Aatmanirbhar Krishi (self-reliant agriculture).
• Key initiatives:
  • Mitigating market risks
  • Encouraging contract farming
  • Promoting private investments
  • Bolstering export infrastructure
  • National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) for online produce marketing
  • Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) for product specialization
  • Vibrant Villages Programme for border village development

Conclusion

• Many government schemes promote Aatmanirbhar villages through agriculture.
• A comprehensive strategy is needed for:
  • Strengthening rural infrastructure
  • Supporting local entrepreneurs
  • Establishing agro-based industries
  • Easy access to finance
  • Education and skill development
  • Sustainable natural resource management
• The goal is to create flourishing rural communities that contribute to overall economic growth and achieve Aatmanirbhar Bharat.