The Hindu Business Line : Silent revolution in Rural India

The multiplicity of political parties in the coalition era of governance has no doubt heightened rivalries among them to steal the thunder from one another in their constant quest to become the darling of the people. Whether it is in the recent Gujarat elections or in the far corner of Nandigram in West Bengal, where rival political parties — Left and the Trinamool Congress — are battling out on the thorny issue of land acquisition for industrial development, t he key challenge quite often is how to ensure development without aggravating political feuds and vendettas among the various political parties. No doubt, civil societies or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been endeavouring at the fringes to espouse the cause of the poor and the voiceless, regionally backward people so that in the name of development their fundamental right to eke out a livelihood in their own backyard is not jeopardised.

It is interesting to note that an apex body comprising more than 5,000 NGOs under the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI) under the chairmanship of the socialist leader Dr Mohan Dharia held a two-day convention on February 7-8 in the national capital. The meet aimed to partake of the experience sharing on the Bharat Vikas (Development) Yatra organised by the CNRI on November 27, 2007, when the President, Mrs Pratibha Patil, wished the CNRI well in its task of uniting the people for the progress of the country.

Accord NGOs greater space

The co-Chairman of the CNRI and retired civil servant, Mr L.V.Saptharishi, makes no bones about the unequivocal message of the Yatra. He suggests that the conflict between electoral politics and developmental politics can be resolved only through intensified and sustained co-operation between elected representatives and social representatives. Mr Saptharishi contends that the elected representatives should be munificent enough to accord greater space to the NGOs to enable them to implement the developmental objectives on apolitical lines. He even cautions the political dispensation that resisting social forces from playing their legitimate role in societal transformation might render, in the long-run, political processes irrelevant to the framework of democracy.

Gaining ground

How far this proposition could be politically correct is yet to be proved. But the indubitable fact remains that in international fora such as the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations Organisation (UNO) civil society representatives have been accommodated in increasing numbers and their policy advocacy and sway are getting reflected in the resolutions of these organisations.

In order to take on the daunting task of development and ensure inclusive growth about which the present coalition UPA government at the Centre has been talking about, initiatives such as the one being adopted by the CNRI need to be encouraged. With Dr Dharia at the helm, no one needs to entertain any doubt about the avowed remit of the CNRI in addressing rural problems, growing urban-rural divide, and how to leverage the talent of educated rural youth by establishing knowledge centres or rural hubs to market traditional rural products.

It is time coalition era politicians paid heed to the silent attempts being made by NGOs in the backyard of the country to transform the lives of millions of under-served Indians.