SHILLONG, SEP 15: Rural Voice, Socratus and NESFAS have successfully concluded the ‘Agenda for Rural India – Shillong’, a day-long convening focused on the question of ‘how should the development agenda for Rural India be framed’.
The convening involved diverse rural stakeholders from over 7 districts of Meghalaya, including farmers, Women SHG Members, rural entrepreneurs, Bee Keepers, artisans, teachers, Village Employment Council Members, village council members and weavers.
It was a very diverse group of 60 participants from Garo, Khasi, Jaintia and Karbi tribes with both men and women representation. The convening participants discussed and deliberated on a multitude of issues they face as rural citizens. They also lucidly presented their aspirations for their respective villages and the kinds of policies they would like to see implemented.
Agenda for Rural India, Shillong is part of a series of convening of rural people being organised nationwide by Rural Voice, a digital media organisation and Socratus, an NGO working in the social and rural sectors. Earlier convening was organised at Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh in June, In
August convening was organised in Bhubaneswar, Odisha and in Jodhpur Rajasthan. NESFAS, an NGO working for the rural sector and Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems was the local partner for the Agenda for Rural India convening at Shillong.
In the opening remark of the Agenda for Rural India convening Harvir Singh, Editor-in-Chief, Rural
Voice said, “The focus of these convenings is to tap into the rural voices of the citizens from the grassroots. Our goal is to provide a bottom-up approach to bridge the divide between the rural communities and policymakers, bureaucrats, politicians, experts, and media. This is crucial in order to create a more inclusive and representative decision-making process. By amplifying the voices of those living in rural areas, we can ensure that their needs and concerns are being heard and addressed. Together, we can strive for a more equitable and informed society.”
Participants raised a large number of issues and problems they are facing as rural citizens and as farmers. Some of the issues highlighted by the participants related to agriculture rural infrastructure and social sector. In agriculture poor soil health, soil erosion, unavailability of quality seeds and bio-inputs, increasing incidents of pest attacks, poor irrigation facilities and poor rural connectivity are pulling back the agriculture sector. In addition, there is poor marketing infrastructure for agricultural produce, low price realisation and lack of proper storage facilities and cold storage.
Climate change is a big problem for the agriculture sector as more extreme weather incidents are increasing. In the area of social sector participants flagged the issue of poor health and educational infrastructure. The absence of teachers in the village schools and poor building infrastructure was raised. Unemployment, a high rate of drug use, early marriage and no proper childcare facility were raised as big social problems. Rural connectivity is not good and the supply of electricity is also not good. Drinking water facilities needs to be improved in a big way as villages are facing drinking water problem.
Participants were of the opinion that governments and political systems must act fast to resolve the problems raised by them. They also demanded that the government should support farmers in adopting traditional farming, providing bio fertilizers and bio pesticides to reduce the use of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Government should start schemes for better irrigation facilities and increase the irrigation coverage through check dams and by improving power supply to farmers.
Government must act to remove middlemen from agriculture marketing for better price realisation from agriculture produce.
One important issue raised by participants from Garo hills region was increasing human wildlife conflict which is becoming a big problem for farmers.
Issue of poor Governance and corruption in government scheme and departments was also flagged as a major issue by the participants.
In his concluding remark Prachur Goel, Director, Socratus said, “For making policies, the practice of holding dialogues with rural citizens takes on profound significance. It is through these dialogues that we bridge the gap between urban and rural perspectives, gaining valuable insights into the unique challenges, needs, and aspirations of our rural communities. By engaging in these conversations, we not only inform the policymaking process but also foster a sense of inclusivity and ownership among rural citizens, empowering them to actively shape the policies that will directly impact their lives and livelihoods.”
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