How does ‘PURA’ help in the rural economic development? Discuss. (Not more than 150 words)(KAS MAINS 2020)
STRUCTURE
Introduction – A short introduction to PURA (15 words)
Body – Explain how 'PURA' help in the rural economic development (120 words)
Conclusion – Mention a short conclusion (15 words)
ANSWER
PURA in the shorter version of Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas to tackle the problem of migration of people from rural to urban areas for employment. It is the former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Who has proposed the concept of PURA in the VISION 2020 project initiated by him. Its objective is to make rural areas as attractive as cities are. This concept was presented by Dr. Kalam in Indian National Science Congress’s 90th conference in Chandigarh in January 2004. It’s goal and objectives are to provide India new heights and achievements, developed status and economy.
Some of its major objectives are given below:
Providing high cost advanced technology to village.
Linking a loop of villages by a ring road about 30 km in circumference with frequent bus services. That will integrate the population of all connected village into one market. Then, those villages could become a virtual city with a potential to expand and accommodate 3-5 lakhs people.
Treating rural development as corporate social responsibility.
Replacing agriculture by connectivity as the Driving Force of rural development.
Rural fund are for investment not for consumption.
Industry and services should be given priority in job creation and employment in farm sector should decrease.
Compensation to farmers should be given for the land acquired by an annual fee equal to twice the price of the produce they grow, not by a lump sum amount.
Land to employers sub-leased for both, Business and for residences for employee within walking distance. This will solve the problem of commuting daily to work, a compusion for the city living.
Providing same per capita investment to rural areas as cities do.
PURA priorities rural development, because ¾ of our population lives in rural areas, by neglecting them India cannot be a developed nation by 2020.
Main aspect of PURA is dependent on physical connectivity by providing roads, electronic connectivity by providing communication network, and knowledge connectivity by establishing professional and Technical institutions. It will have to be done in an integrated way so that economic connectivity will emanate. Such a model of establishing a circular connectivity among the rural village complexes will accelerate rural development process. The vision of the scheme in particular is providing dual benefits like rural infrastructure development along with economic re-generation activities.
