PANCHAYATI SWARAJ
Second Freedom; when my village becomes self-responsible
SixFreedoms...6Vision...6.2Developmental
6.2 Developmental Freedom
The village should have extensively discussed and arrived at the rough contours of a plan
for the development of the village, thus giving form to the common aspirations of a team.
It should include making a list of projects relevant to the better future of the village.
The projects should be listed in order of their importance, and all plans and estimates
for each project should be in place, waiting only for the exact moment or for
suitable resources to make these projects roll. It should pass the same in the
Gram Sabha and adapt it as its vision for the future.
Relevance:
This is a vision about how prosperous the village is—how it will have most if not all the
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required amenities that are needed for the wholesome development and living of
individuals of that village. This should help make everyone in the team look at
one particular horizon. It will give much needed focus for the village’s aspirations,
and it will serve as a strong reminder to external agencies that the indigenous people
have their own aspirations and goals.
But then, though the general direction may be fixed, it should be interpreted into a dynamic plan. At reasonable intervals of time, the existing Gram Sabha should take it up and improve upon it and make it responsive to the challenges facing the village.
But then, though the general direction may be fixed, it should be interpreted into a dynamic plan. At reasonable intervals of time, the existing Gram Sabha should take it up and improve upon it and make it responsive to the challenges facing the village.
Detailed Rationale:
In developing such a vision, imitation is never the best solution. The development vision
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has to be unique to the needs of the village. Guidance/inspiration can definitely be taken from others,
even from other towns and cities. But to have a vision that is tailor-made for the indigenous culture
and geographical setting of that village is important.
This will require the elders of a village to be given a good ear even if they’re not literate. The traditions of a village have much wisdom passed down, which are sometimes beyond the grasp of modern thinking. After excluding those practices which violate the constraints of the constitution, it is important to make every attempt to retain the rest. Therefore, the developmental vision has to be rooted firmly in tradition, look forward into the modern and be uniquely designed according to the need of the particular village. Their own Vision 2020, if we may use the phrase given to us by Dr. Kalam… A two-year plan that is in pursuit of a five- or ten-year development vision would be in order. In fact, this will probably be the place where the efforts toward the second freedom of that village will commence. And sustaining, fine-tuning and diligently executing that vision would be the expression of its highest aspiration.
This will require the elders of a village to be given a good ear even if they’re not literate. The traditions of a village have much wisdom passed down, which are sometimes beyond the grasp of modern thinking. After excluding those practices which violate the constraints of the constitution, it is important to make every attempt to retain the rest. Therefore, the developmental vision has to be rooted firmly in tradition, look forward into the modern and be uniquely designed according to the need of the particular village. Their own Vision 2020, if we may use the phrase given to us by Dr. Kalam… A two-year plan that is in pursuit of a five- or ten-year development vision would be in order. In fact, this will probably be the place where the efforts toward the second freedom of that village will commence. And sustaining, fine-tuning and diligently executing that vision would be the expression of its highest aspiration.
Success Stories and Action:
(Share examples of villages that have succeeded with this freedom.
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There are many examples of villages that have successfully pursued development.
These models can therefore be applied, and some of these are easily replicable.
These need to be studied by each village, and suitable models can be developed
with reference to themselves.
NGOs, visionary leaders, political parties, government agencies, non-resident villagers and international agencies will all help and facilitate. However, the final draft must come from the village leadership itself. It must be convinced of the direction it wishes to go. The team that is going to execute the plan is the village itself. Therefore, it must listen with large ears, but eventually after due diligence, it can take its own call on what is good for itself.
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NGOs, visionary leaders, political parties, government agencies, non-resident villagers and international agencies will all help and facilitate. However, the final draft must come from the village leadership itself. It must be convinced of the direction it wishes to go. The team that is going to execute the plan is the village itself. Therefore, it must listen with large ears, but eventually after due diligence, it can take its own call on what is good for itself.