A village the world should be proud of: Popatrao Pawar at TEDxGateway 2013

TEDx Talks

10 Feb 201405:45

Summary

TLDRThe speaker recounts the transformation of a village from a struggling community with inadequate rainfall, poverty, and lack of education and sanitation to a model village with high GDP. Through initiatives like soil and water conservation, crop management, and community participation, the village attracted people back from cities, saving water and boosting income. The success led to the village becoming a state and national model for rural development, inspiring international visits and contributing to a vision of a strong, self-reliant India.

Takeaways

😀 The village faced severe challenges from 1972 to 1989, including drought, poverty, lack of employment, quality education, and drinking water.
🌧️ The village received 2300 millimeters of rainfall, which was insufficient and led to these issues.
🏃‍♂️ People from the village migrated to cities for better opportunities, leaving behind a struggling community.
🏆 A man who had a successful cricket career and education in the city decided to return to his village in 1989 to help improve its conditions.
🌱 The transformation began with a focus on seven key areas: soil conservation, family planning, prohibition of alcohol, community work, open grazing ban, water management, and crop management.
🌾 The implementation of these strategies led to soil and water conservation, which in turn changed the village's agricultural practices and increased income.
💰 The village's income increased dramatically, from 800 rupees to 300,000 rupees, showcasing the economic impact of the initiatives.
🏘️ The village became a model for others, with high GDP and self-sufficiency, attracting people to return from cities like Mumbai and Pune.
🌍 The village's success led to the creation of the 'NREGA model' and recognition at the state and national levels, with plans to replicate the model in 100 villages across India.
🏆 The speaker was appointed as the executive chairman of the Maharashtra State Level Committee, highlighting the village's role as a development model.
🌳 The village's focus on water and crop management, along with community involvement, resulted in a peaceful and prosperous environment, free from disputes and conflicts.
🕌🕍 The village also demonstrated religious harmony by building a mosque, a church, and a Buddhist temple, fostering inclusivity and unity among its residents.

Q & A

What was the situation of the village from 1972 to 1989?
-The village experienced a drought with only 2300 millimeters of rainfall, leading to poverty, unemployment, lack of quality education, and insufficient drinking water and irrigation facilities.
Why did people leave the village for the city?
-People left the village due to the harsh living conditions, lack of employment opportunities, and poor infrastructure.
What was the only source of livelihood for those who stayed in the village?
-The only source of livelihood for those who stayed was local liquor preparation, drinking, and fighting.
How did the government's policies affect the village?
-The government's policies led to the village becoming a 'panishment posting' area, which resulted in the cessation of government schemes and further deterioration of the village's condition.
Who is the individual mentioned in the script that chose to leave the village for education?
-The individual is an accomplished cricket player who studied in Pune University, played for the Maharashtra cricket team, and could have had a successful career but chose to return to his village in 1989.
What motivated the individual to return to the village and work for its development?
-The individual was motivated by memories of his childhood and the support he received from the youth and women in the village.
What were the seven points the villagers worked on to improve their conditions?
-The seven points were land reclamation, family planning, prohibition of alcohol, labor contribution, open grazing ban, water management, and crop management.
How did the village's economy improve as a result of the implemented changes?
-The economy improved as cash crops replaced rain-fed crops, leading to an increase in income from 800 rupees to 300 per capita, making the village a high GDP village.
What was the impact of the village's transformation on its residents and the surrounding areas?
-The transformation attracted people who had moved to the city to return to the village, and it became a model for other villages, with families from Mumbai and Pune returning to Hivre Bazaar.
How did the village's water conservation efforts contribute to a larger environmental impact?
-The village saved 2 lakh liters of water that would have been used in Mumbai by 50 families, contributing to water conservation and environmental sustainability.
What recognition and responsibilities did the individual receive from the government for his efforts?
-The individual was made the Executive Chairman of the Maharashtra State Level Committee and was involved in creating model villages in every district of Maharashtra, as well as 100 model villages across India.
What was the social impact of the village's development on its residents?
-The development led to a harmonious community with no fights or disputes, and the village became a model for others, attracting international visitors and recognition.
How did the village's approach to water and crop management contribute to its overall development?
-By focusing on water and crop management, the village was able to eliminate poverty, improve food security, and create a sustainable environment that attracted people and investment.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Transforming a Village through Sustainable Development

The first paragraph narrates the transformation of a village from a state of poverty and lack of resources to a model of sustainable development. The village, once suffering from inadequate rainfall, unemployment, and poor education, underwent a significant change starting in 1972 and continuing until 1989. The speaker, a former cricketer who could have had a successful career, chose to return to his village and contribute to its development. With the support of youth and women, the village implemented various initiatives such as soil and water conservation, crop management, and open grazing bans, which led to the introduction of cash crops and a significant increase in income. This progress turned the village into a high GDP area, prompting those who had moved to cities to return. The village's success led to it becoming a model for others, with the Maharashtra government appointing the speaker as the executive chairman of the Maharashtra State Level Committee and planning to replicate the model in other districts. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's vision of a self-sufficient village contributing to a strong India.

05:02

🌟 Addressing Urban-Rural Gaps and Building a Strong India

The second paragraph focuses on the broader implications of the village's transformation for urban-rural relations and the nation's development. The speaker acknowledges the challenges faced by Mumbai and other cities, suggesting that the collective efforts to bridge the gap between villages and cities are essential. The paragraph emphasizes the vision of a strong India, inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, which can be achieved by addressing the disparities between urban and rural areas. The speaker concludes by expressing the hope that the audience will join in this mission to create a prosperous and balanced nation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Rainfall

Rainfall refers to the amount of precipitation, usually measured in millimeters, that falls on a specific area over a period of time. In the video's context, it is mentioned that the village experienced 2300 millimeters of rainfall, which significantly affected the village's agricultural practices and overall development.

💡Poverty

Poverty is a state of having little to no financial resources or means of subsistence. The script describes the village's struggle with poverty, which was characterized by a lack of employment opportunities, quality education, and access to clean drinking water.

💡Migration

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another, often in search of better living conditions or economic opportunities. The video script mentions that people from the village migrated to cities due to the harsh living conditions and lack of opportunities.

💡Education

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and habits. The script highlights the lack of quality education in the village, which was one of the factors contributing to the villagers' decision to leave for cities in pursuit of better opportunities.

💡Agriculture

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock for food, fiber, and other products. The video script discusses the transformation of the village's agricultural practices, shifting from rain-fed crop patterns to cash crops, which led to an increase in income.

💡Water Management

Water management involves the control of water resources to ensure their efficient and sustainable use. The script describes the implementation of water management strategies that contributed to the village's transformation and development.

💡Crop Management

Crop management refers to the practices and techniques used to optimize the growth and yield of crops. The video mentions crop management as one of the key factors that led to the village's economic turnaround and the introduction of cash crops.

💡Self-sufficiency

Self-sufficiency is the ability to meet one's needs without external assistance. The script talks about the village's journey towards becoming self-sufficient in terms of food and water, which is seen as a step towards a stronger nation.

💡Development Model

A development model is a framework or strategy for economic and social advancement. The video script refers to the village's development model, which has been recognized and replicated, contributing to its transformation into a high GDP village.

💡Community Involvement

Community involvement refers to the active participation of community members in local initiatives and decision-making processes. The script emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the village's development, particularly in projects related to water and crop management.

💡Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is a model of progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The video script illustrates the village's journey towards sustainable development through various initiatives, including water and crop management.

Highlights

The village experienced a drought from 1972 to 1989 with only 2300 millimeters of rainfall, leading to poverty and a lack of employment and quality education.

There was an absence of drinking water and irrigation facilities, causing people to leave the village for cities.

The village became a government's 'paanishment posting' area, which led to the cessation of government schemes and further deterioration of the village's condition.

A man who moved to the city for education and had a promising cricket career decided to return to his village in 1989 to improve its condition.

With the support of youth and women, he chose to work in the village, initiating projects starting from seven key points.

The seven points included waste management, family planning, prohibition of alcohol, voluntary labor, open grazing ban, water management, and crop management.

These initiatives led to soil and water conservation, which in turn changed the village's landscape and introduced cash crops.

The village's income increased dramatically, from 800 rupees to 300 capita, making it a high GDP village in the country.

People who had moved to cities started returning to the village, with nearly 112 families leaving Mumbai and Pune to come back.

The village saved a significant amount of water, equivalent to the usage of 50 families in Mumbai.

The village became a model for self-sufficiency, leading to the concept of a strong India based on the relationship between villages and cities.

The model village became a case study, and the Maharashtra government appointed the initiator as the executive chairman of the Maharashtra State Level Committee.

Five model villages are being developed in every district of Maharashtra, and the government announced the creation of 100 model villages across India.

The village's development included international recognition, turning it into a global example of local to global development.

A decision was made to build a mosque for a single Muslim family and a Christian home, promoting communal harmony and cooperation.

The village, once blacklisted, now has no need for police presence, showcasing its transformation and peaceful coexistence.

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between villages and cities and contributing to the vision of a strong India.