The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Rural development does not get its due, laments Gandhian

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 13, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Rural development does not get its due, laments Gandhian

Markandan pleads for total prohibition

Coimbatore: From being a field worker in Bhoodan Movement to the Vice-Chancellor of Gandhigram University - the life of the 70-year-old Gandhian has been one of toil and service to humanity. He was even imprisoned for a fortnight in 1964 along with Gora Ramachandra Rao and Sarvodaya leader S.Jagannathan when he joined an agitation demanding land of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple for poor dalits for lease.

N. Markandan, who joined the Bhoodan Movement in 1956, worked in various places including Nagaland, became the secretary of former Vice-Chancellor of Gandhigram University M. Aram in 1980 and Vice- Chancellor in 1997.

He was the one who set up Entrepreneurship Development Centre in the university helping not only students but also the youth in the surrounding villages.

He also introduced Village Placement Programme, which made 10-day rural camp for each semester mandatory for students. Besides, he incorporated `Extension' in the curriculum itself and set up a park for non-conventional energy.

Currently he heads Inba Seva Sangham, an NGO involved in rural development in Karur district.

Dr. Markandan, who deems Acharya Vinobha Bhave, T.S.Avinashilingam Chettiar, Dr.Aram and Dr. K. Kulandaivelu as his mentors, speaks to G. Satyamurty about the pathetic plight of rural folk.

"Gandhi dreamt of dung heaps becoming little gardens of freedom. But it is unfortunate that rural development has been given little attention," he laments.

Being basically an agricultural country, both agriculture and industry should be developed in the country simultaneously --- hand in hand. There should be no lopsided development. Of the 115 crore people in the nation, more than 70 per cent are living in rural areas. Most of them are poor farmers. If there is no rural development, what will they do? Where will they go?

He points out that wells, even close to rivers, have become dry. There is no water for irrigation. The farmers are left with no other option but to sell their land.

"Take for instance, Coimbatore. While some rich people are sinking deep borewells near the Noyyal for raising cash crops even six to seven km away, several acres of agricultural lands have been sold for other purposes."

Rural areas have become virtual deserts and rural economy is almost ruined.

Industrialisation

He disputes the theory that industrialisation is providing employment to the rural folk. They may get Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000 a month. "But what will happen to agriculture and food production?" Globalisation and liberalisation might help sell umpteen goods at cheaper rates. "But what about the purchasing power of the rural folk?"

Even Governments have been extending poor treatment to rural development. While the allotment in the Central budget for Rural Development was 22 per cent, Defence got 26 per cent, he points out.

Harijan colonies have become dilapidated and most of the people have no land to till. They don't even have proper toilets. The primary health centres meant for the poor have no staff.

Referring to the Gandhiji's pet avocation of charka spinning for rural folk, Dr. Markandan wonders why there has been no improvement of the charka. "While an income of Rs. 30 to Rs. 35 a day will be OK (by spinning charka) in tribal areas, it is a pittance in urban areas. Then why don't you introduce electricity in charka spinning which will fetch more wages?"

"It is imperative to improve the technology of the village industries and government must spend more for their modernisation."

After years of delay, only a portion of the total rebate amount of Rs. 40 crore for khadi has been released by the Government and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.

Once again, quoting the Mahatma that if he happened to become a dictator for a day, he would close down all the liquor shops without giving any compensation, Dr. Markandan pleads for total prohibition as liquor plays havoc with the poor.

Education

According to him, education in rural areas is "awfully bad." "Even Sarva Shiksha Abhyan is working well only in a few places. Public school education should be revamped thoroughly. Once one completes 12th standard, he must be confident to face the world."

Education must be "value, work and knowledge-oriented" as Gandhi said. Regrettably, the current education system is creating a "class structure".

School education must be free and the poor should be given scholarships for higher education.

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