Rubanisation: development of infrastructure for diversification of livelihood sources

‘Rubanisation’ conceives urban and rural as one space to solve the urban-rural dichotomy.

Made popular by architect Tay Kheng Soon as ‘Rubanisation’, this concept refutes the idea of having an urban-rural boundary in spatial planning systems to ensure social, cultural and environmental sustainability.

Reverse migration is encouraged by dispersing ‘locii of development’ throughout the rural hinterland. This new perspective calls for an integrated development reinforced by environmentally sustainable technologies and ethical lifestyle.  

‘Ruban’ concepts have always been a part of the Indian social psychology and one can also find its roots in Gandhian economics and principles.

Mahatma Gandhi believed it was important to make villages self-sufficient to escape the vicious cycle of poverty and under-development. Reinterpreting his concepts for model villages today can serve as panacea for economic issues plaguing the country. 

Indian cities concentrate large numbers of skilled and unskilled workers, often struggling to accommodate the influx from rural hinterland. Therefore, thinking innovatively to accommodate an Indian urbanisation dynamic is an absolute priority for planners. 

Rubanisation can give direction to a new spatial and economic planning paradigm in India. 

Though ruban ideas have been time and again reflected through regional plans and government schemes such as Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA), their success has been limited. We feel a two-fold ruban plan designed for economic regeneration and the development of rural infrastructure can stem the rural-urban divide and promote balanced development. 

Fostering growth of the MSME sector along with provision of social infrastructure for towns and hamlets can diversify employment opportunities for the rural population and alleviate the need to migrate to burgeoning megacities.

The micro, small and medium enterprise sector is crucial to the Indian economy, employing around 12 crore (2012-13).

The sector accounts for 45 per cent of the manufacturing output. We firmly believe that fostering growth of the MSME sector can bolster ‘Make in India’. 

Ruban planning concepts can accommodate population growth, reduce consumption footprints and restructure urban economics.

However, planners need to carefully evaluate plans so as to not encourage land grabbing, sprawl or haphazard conurbation, which would defeat the very ethos of a green and socially beneficial ruban development.

Investment in critical and social infrastructure such as roads, power, water supply, schools and vocational and skill training institutes for towns and hamlets is required to empower rural economics and to attract investments in the long term. 

However, planners need to carefully analyse the wider social, environmental, political and economic impacts of such development, its grand synthesis as well as policy stimulus to guide ‘smart development’. 

Pro-active planning needs to address negative externalities such as congestion, ecological degradation at a regional scale as well as pollution. 

Other concerns such as demand for food also need to be addressed through urban and peri-urban farming which can significantly reduce food miles, re-use treated water and ensure livelihood security for migrants. 

While urban amenities and infrastructure are critical to develop a strong India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of preserving the soul and ethos of the villages is something urban planners need to keep in mind. 

India today is at the verge of super-growth, soon to surpass Chinese growth as per IMF.

Reaching out to the ‘last man in the queue’ will become critical to achieve balanced and harmonious growth in this continent sized nation. 

The writer is Senior President and Global Convenor, YES Institute, YES Bank