Gandhian approach to rural development

Gandhian approach to rural development may be labelled as ‘idealist’. It attaches supreme importance to moral values and gives primacy to moral values over material conditions. The Gandhians believe that the source of moral values in general lies in religion and Hindu scriptures like the Upanishads and the Gita, in particular.

The concept of ‘Rama Rajya’ is the basis of Gandhiji’s idea of an ideal social order. Gandhi defined Rama Rajya as “Sovereignty of the people based on moral authority”. He did not view Rama as a king, and people as his subjects. In the Gandhian scheme, ‘Rama’ stood for God or one’s own ‘inner voice’ Gandhi believed in a democratic social order in which people are supreme. Their supremacy is, however, not absolute. It is subject to moral values.

Villages are centre of Gandhi’s approach of Development

The village is the basic unit of the Gandhian ideal social order. Gandhi succinctly pointed out, “If the village perishes India will perish too. We have to make a choice between India of the villages that is as ancient as herself and India of the cities which are a creation of foreign domination”. Gandhi’s ideal village belongs to the Pre-British period, when Indian villages were supposed to constitute the federation of self-governing autonomous republics.

The central authority will have no power to enforce its decisions on village republics except the moral pressure or power of Persuasion. The economic system and transport system introduced by the British have destroyed the “republican’ character of the villages.

Gandhi firmly believes that village republics can be built only through decentralisation of social and political power. In such a system decision-making power will be vested in the Village Panchayat rather than in the State and the national capital. The representatives would be elected by all adults for a fixed period of five years. The elected representatives would constitute a council, called the Panchayat.

The Panchayat exercises legislative, executive and judicial functions. It would look after Education, Health and sanitation of the village. It would be the Panchayats responsibility to protect and uplift ‘untouchables’ and other poor people. Resources for Gandhian Approach to managing village affairs would be raised from the villages.

Self sufficient production

The village should be self-sufficient as far as its basic needs like food, clothing, and other necessities are concerned. The village has to import certain things which it cannot produce in the village. Gandhi said “We shall have to produce more of what we can, in order thereby to obtain in exchange, what we are unable to produce.”

The village should produce food-crops and Cotton in order to meet its requirements. Some lands should also be earmarked for cattle and for a playground for adults and children. If some land is still available, it should be used for growing useful Cash Crops like tobacco, opium, etc. to enable the village to get in exchange things which it does not produce.

Village economy should be planned with a view to providing full EMPLOYMENT to all the adults of the village. Each man should be guaranteed employment to enable him to meet his basic needs in the village itself so that he is not forced to migrate to towns. In the ultimate analysis full employment should be linked with Equality.

Industrialization

Gandhiji maintained that industrialization would help only a few and will lead to concentration of economic power. Industrialization leads to passive or active exploitation of the villages. It encourages competition. Large scale production requires Marketing. Marketing means profit-seeking through an exploitative mechanism. Moreover, industrialization replaces manpower and hence it adds to Unemployment. In a country like India, where millions of labourers in the villages do not get work for even six months in a year, industrialization will not only increase unemployment but force labourers to migrate to urban areas. This will ruin villages.

Principle of Trusteeship

Gandhiji was not against the institution of private property. But he wanted to restrict the right of private property to what was necessary to yield an honourable livelihood. For the excess he prescribed the principle of trusteeship. Gandhiji emphasized the principle of trusteeship in social and economic affairs. He firmly believed that all social property should be held in trust. The capitalists would take care not only of themselves but also of others. Some of their surplus wealth would be used for the rest of the Society.

The poor workers, under trusteeship, would consider the capitalists as their benefactors; and would repose faith in their noble intentions. Gandhiji felt that if such a trusteeship were established, the welfare of the workers would increase and the clash between the workers and employers would be avoided. Trusteeship would help considerably “in realising a state of equality on earth.”

Gandhiji firmly believed that land should not be owned by any individual. Land belongs to God. Hence, individual ownership of land should be shunned. For that a landowner should be persuaded to become a trustee of his land. He should be convinced that the land he owns does not belong to him. Land belongs to the community and must be used for the welfare of the community. They are merely trustees. By persuasion the heart of landowners should be changed and they should be induced to donate their land voluntarily.

Gandhian approach to rural development strives to reconstruct village republics which would be non-violent, self- governed and self-sufficient so far as the basic necessities of ruralites are concerned. Apart from creating a new socio-economic order, it Endeavour’s to transform man; otherwise the changes in the socio-economic order will be short-lived.,

Gandhian Approach to Rural Development

Gandhian approach to rural development is a holistic approach that emphasizes the need for self-reliance, village industries, cooperatives, education, health, Women‘s Empowerment, environmental protection, peace and non-violence, and sarvodaya.

Swadeshi

Swadeshi is the principle of using local resources and products instead of imported ones. Gandhi believed that swadeshi would help to reduce India’s dependence on foreign countries and would also help to create jobs and boost the economy.

Village industries

Gandhi believed that village industries were essential for rural development. He argued that village industries would help to reduce POVERTY, provide employment, and promote self-reliance.

Cooperatives

Gandhi believed that cooperatives were an important way to promote Economic Development and social Justice. He argued that cooperatives would help to reduce poverty, provide employment, and give people a voice in the economy.

Education

Gandhi believed that education was essential for rural development. He argued that education would help people to understand their rights and responsibilities, and would also help them to develop the skills they needed to improve their lives.

Health

Gandhi believed that health was essential for rural development. He argued that good health was necessary for people to be able to work and to contribute to their communities.

Women’s empowerment

Gandhi believed that women’s empowerment was essential for rural development. He argued that women played a vital role in the economy and in society, and that they needed to be given the opportunity to participate fully in both.

Environmental protection

Gandhi believed that environmental protection was essential for rural development. He argued that people needed to live in harmony with nature, and that they needed to protect the Environment for future generations.

Peace and non-violence

Gandhi believed that peace and non-violence were essential for rural development. He argued that violence was never the answer, and that people needed to find ways to resolve their differences peacefully.

Self-reliance

Gandhi believed that self-reliance was essential for rural development. He argued that people needed to be able to provide for themselves, and that they needed to be independent of outside help.

Sarvodaya

Sarvodaya is a Sanskrit word that means “the upliftment of all.” Gandhi believed that sarvodaya was the goal of all development. He argued that development should not just benefit a few people, but should benefit everyone.

Gram Swaraj

Gram swaraj is a Sanskrit phrase that means “village self-rule.” Gandhi believed that gram swaraj was the foundation of a just and sustainable society. He argued that villages should be self-sufficient and that they should be able to govern themselves.

Gandhian approach to rural development has been implemented in many parts of the world, with varying degrees of success. However, it remains an important model for development that emphasizes the need for self-reliance, village industries, cooperatives, education, health, women’s empowerment, environmental protection, peace and non-violence, and sarvodaya.

What is rural development?

Rural development is the process of improving the Quality Of Life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas. It includes a wide range of activities, such as improving Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE, providing access to education and healthcare, and promoting economic development.

What are the goals of rural development?

The goals of rural development vary depending on the specific context, but some common goals include:

Reducing poverty and inequality
Improving access to education and healthcare
Promoting economic development
Protecting the environment
Strengthening local institutions

What are the challenges of rural development?

There are many challenges to rural development, including:

Poverty and inequality
Lack of access to education and healthcare
Lack of economic opportunities
Environmental Degradation
Weak local institutions

What are some successful examples of rural development?

There are many successful examples of rural development, such as:

The Green Revolution in India, which led to a significant increase in agricultural production
The Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, which provides microcredit to poor people
The Bolsa Família program in Brazil, which provides cash transfers to poor families

What are some of the key players in rural development?

The key players in rural development include:

Governments
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Community-based organizations (CBOs)
Private sector companies
International organizations

What are some of the latest trends in rural development?

Some of the latest trends in rural development include:

The focus on Sustainable Development
The use of information and Communication technologies (ICTs)
The involvement of the private sector
The emphasis on local participation

What are some of the future challenges of rural development?

Some of the future challenges of rural development include:

Climate change
Population Growth
Urbanization
Conflict and displacement
Natural resource depletion

What can I do to help with rural development?

There are many things you can do to help with rural development, such as:

Volunteer with an NGO or CBO that works in rural areas
Donate to a charity that supports rural development
Invest in a business that operates in rural areas
Educate yourself about rural development issues
Advocate for policies that support rural development

Here are some MCQs on the topics of rural development, Poverty Alleviation, and sustainable development:

Which of the following is not a goal of rural development?
(a) To increase agricultural productivity
(b) To improve the quality of life in rural areas
(c) To reduce poverty in rural areas
(d) To promote economic growth in rural areas
Which of the following is not a strategy for rural development?
(a) Increasing agricultural productivity
(b) Improving Infrastructure in Rural Areas
(c) Promoting small-scale enterprises in rural areas
(d) Providing social Services in rural areas
Which of the following is not a type of poverty alleviation program?
(a) Cash transfers
(b) Food assistance
(c) Employment programs
(d) Education programs
Which of the following is not a goal of sustainable development?
(a) To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
(b) To reduce poverty and inequality
(c) To protect the environment
(d) To promote economic growth
Which of the following is not a strategy for sustainable development?
(a) Investing in RENEWABLE ENERGY
(b) Promoting sustainable agriculture
(c) Reducing deforestation
(d) Increasing Population Growth
Which of the following is not a benefit of rural development?
(a) Increased agricultural productivity
(b) Improved quality of life in rural areas
(c) Reduced poverty in rural areas
(d) Increased economic growth in rural areas
Which of the following is not a benefit of poverty alleviation?
(a) Reduced hunger and Malnutrition
(b) Improved health and education
(c) Increased economic opportunities
(d) Increased social cohesion
Which of the following is not a benefit of sustainable development?
(a) Protection of the environment
(b) Conservation of Natural Resources
(c) Mitigation of Climate Change
(d) Increased economic growth
Which of the following is a challenge to rural development?
(a) Lack of infrastructure
(b) Lack of education and skills
(c) Lack of access to markets
(d) All of the above
Which of the following is a challenge to poverty alleviation?
(a) Lack of resources
(b) Lack of political will
(c) Lack of coordination between different stakeholders
(d) All of the above
Which of the following is a challenge to sustainable development?
(a) Trade-offs between economic growth and environmental protection
(b) Lack of public participation
(c) Lack of technological innovation
(d) All of the above
Which of the following is a goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
(a) To end poverty in all its forms everywhere
(b) To end hunger, achieve Food Security and improved Nutrition and promote Sustainable Agriculture
(c) To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
(d) All of the above
Which of the following is a target of the SDG on poverty?
(a) By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.90 a day
(b) By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
(c) By 2030, ensure that all men and women, particularly the poor and vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance
(d) All of the above
Which of the following is a target of the SDG on hunger?
(a) By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and vulnerable, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
(b) By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fisherfolk, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and appropriate technologies, and by developing and strengthening relevant policies and institutions
(c) By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain Ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and Soil quality
(d) All of the above