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

Summary

The 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.