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Education Plus
Lease out the villages
SUMIRAN L. RAJ
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Private companies could develop them and enjoy tax benefits in return
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The whole idea of town planning and revolutionising the economy came to me during the “Bandhan 2008 – Rural exposure programme” held recently as part of the MBA curriculum offered at the Centre For Social Action, Christ College, Bangalore. We interacted with villagers and local authorities. The villagers spoke about problems including lack of drinking water, lack of transportation facilities and inadequate health facilities.
On the last day of the visit, the group made some suggestions and recommendations to address the villagers’ problems. However, I was a little sceptical about how long we would be able to sustain them. I had an insight due to my background. I could easily associate myself with the problems that the villagers were facing, having been born in a remote village in Bihar. I have seen first-hand the problems that villagers across the country face day in and day out. I have seen people use drain water for cooking. I have seen people sacrificing their meals just to be able to afford their child’s education. I have also seen people live without electricity.
Our mind has always restricted us in unlearning what we have learned so far. So was the case with recommendations. Why do we not realise that empowering is the engine of growth, not mere helping people to survive? So, all this made me think of an alternative way and an idea struck me.
We could identify villages with potential for growth with good commercial advantages. We could then bid these villages to different companies and lease them for a fixed period. The companies could then develop the villages in all aspects and in turn make use of the natural, economical and human resource available in the villages. These villages could then compete with each other and tax benefit could be awarded to the winning company.
Also, financial companies could be given permission to announce public mutual funds in different areas, including rural infrastructural development, rural hospital industry and integrated microfinance scheme. The companies owning the villages could then instruct their finance subsidiaries to motivate their top investors to dedicate a part of their portfolio base for inclusive growth of the company. Hence, it is a revenue generation situation for both companies.
The Government can also have a Public-Private Partnership for rural development by highlighting the need for “Inclusive India Growth Story” rather than buzzing the market-oriented India growth story and synergise the resources. Let the Government act like a super boss, monitor and control the activities. If a thought is given to this proposal, I think the present generation would be able to contribute to the "Inclusive India Growth Story and domestic vibrant Indian market.”
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