Poverty as a whole is a curse for those who are deprived of some privileges and benefits they deserve. Rural India has a population of 534.4 million. More than half of the total population lives in villages. A major part of the people is working hard to supply food to city residents but the neglect and degradation they face, is beyond any comparison. A large part of the village population is divided among the zamindars.
They live as coolis, slaves or as workers with the landlords. These people move from states to states in working for the field owners. Bihar residents move to Northern India, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal for working in the field. The labor as surveyed had 70 per cent from outside and 30 per cent from the village. Out of the 70 per cent, 45 per cent are living here within their native places. These people send a major part of their earning to their families to pay back loans or for meeting the two hands.
An alarming era of educated unemployment is fast approaching, particularly in Urban areas. Government policy of privatization and takeover by privates has created a problem. This will certainly bring urban poverty or it will enhance rural economic downfall. Rural population still suffers exploitation by the city or urban residents. They try to trap, bind and exploit the poor realties. The ignorance of law provides ample opportunity for exploiters to come as stock brokers, advocates and doctors to villages to trouble them. Even the sentiments for the dead relatives are exploited by priests and pundits, at the time of Puja.
Light, gas fuel, petro and even the drinking water is a rare thing in a village. The ignorance of bank laws bars any help for them and they do not get the benefits they are supposed to get from financial sources. Some villages of north are living a prosperous life. They use their own dish antennas for entertainment programmes. This compares with the people of backward states of other parts of the country.
Their earnings and living are so very low and poor. They even do not understand the calamities of nature. They depend on rain, which is either dry or over spell. They floods and droughts often compel them to send their children away.
Villages are the birth places of politics and politicians. This is a training ground for Panchayat entry and then entry to legislative councils. These people find it convenient to keep the villagers in underfed conditions. They forgot the versions of Mahatma Gandhi who wanted each village to count as a unit and expected his followers to work more devotedly and delightfully for the developments of village folks along with the cities and metros. Gandhi wanted to provide education, health and other amenities for ruralities.
Rural women also need to be looked after for their problems. The right of the equality is crushed under the struggle for survival. They toil hard to preserve their existence and they are the most unwelcome member of the society. The day starts early morning for them when they get up and churn milk for the house and provide food to domestic animals. They cleaning and asking the children to get ready for school. This lady serves tea or milk to the family and prepares food for the field workers. She will send the animals for grazing and will carry food for her husband. She will work in field as the head of the house takes his luncheon. Tired, she will return to prepare food for family.
Her tired eyes await return of all family members and husband in the evening. Routine closes as the family settles when planning for daughter’s marriage and preparation. The struggle hardly leaves any time for her care of the health or personal requirement. So, this fate of the family mother continues.
The World Bank defines rural development as a strategy to improve the economic and the social life of a group of people. Development was one of the top priority of planning. The plans, however, were not operational. It has to be tackled by local people with the help of educated field authorities. The main focus should be for rural developments and not the development of infrastructure. Women should be inspired to participate more vigorously in this campaign.
Progress in concept, prosperity in houses will certainly bring a change in attitude of rural life and they will rise to accept the changes in styles and technology. Prosperity in villages will ensure rise of the whole nation and country.