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Adopted in Union Budget 2017-18, Mission Nav Bharat Kendra is a convergence and accountability framework aiming to bring optimum use and management of resources allocated by 26 Department of the Government of India under various programmes for the development of rural areas. It is envisaged as state-led initiative with Gram Panchayats as focal points of convergence efforts.
Annual survey in Gram Panchayats across the country is an important aspect of Mission Nav Bharat Kendra framework. It is carried out coterminous with the People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) of Panchayat Raj and its’ purpose is to lend support to the process of participatory planning for Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).
Mission Nav Bharat Kendra is a sustainable rural development Organisation in India established in 2015. It has a skilled and dedicated team that creates sustainable programs to address rural India’s most-pressing needs. These programs are backed by an experienced research team that engages in participatory research, impact assessment, and interactive dialogues to determine informed actions to achieve sustainable results. Mission Nav Bharat Kendra has five key program areas: Water Management, Agricultural Development, Local Participation and Sustainability, Transform Lives one school at a time, and Outreach for Development.
At Nav Bharat Kendra, we are dedicated to fostering positive change across India. Our mission is to uplift communities, empower farmers, enhance education, and transform villages into vibrant hubs of progress. Founded with the vision of a better India for all, Nav Bharat Kendra strives to address the diverse challenges faced by our nation. Through innovative solutions, collaborative efforts, and grassroots initiatives, we aim to create a more inclusive and prosperous society.
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Nav Bharat Kendra is committed to empowering farmers, advancing education, transforming villages, promoting sustainability, fostering innovation, and promoting social equality and inclusion across India. Our primary objective is to empower farmers by providing them access to modern agricultural techniques, tools, and resources. We offer comprehensive training programs aimed at enhancing farmers' skills and knowledge, while also facilitating access to markets, credit, and technology to improve agricultural productivity. Additionally, we advocate for policies that support small-scale farmers and promote sustainable farming practices to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability and food security. In the realm of education, Nav Bharat Kendra works tirelessly to ensure access to quality education for all children, especially those in rural and underserved areas. We establish educational institutions and programs that focus on holistic development and skill-building, while also providing scholarships, mentorship, and support services to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our aim is to promote literacy, digital literacy, and lifelong learning opportunities to empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Nav Bharat Kendra is deeply invested in transforming villages into vibrant hubs of progress and development. We focus on enhancing rural infrastructure, including roads, water supply, sanitation, and electricity, while also promoting entrepreneurship and creating livelihood opportunities to reduce migration to urban areas. Additionally, we work towards strengthening community institutions and encouraging participatory decision-making in village development, with a strong emphasis on preserving local culture, heritage, and natural resources. Promoting sustainability is another core objective of Nav Bharat Kendra. We raise awareness about environmental issues and advocate for the adoption of eco-friendly practices among communities. Furthermore, we support renewable energy initiatives such as solar power, wind energy, and biogas production, while also implementing conservation projects to protect forests, water bodies, and biodiversity. Through collaborative efforts, we strive to develop and implement sustainable development policies and practices that benefit both people and the planet. At Nav Bharat Kendra, fostering innovation is key to driving social change and progress. We encourage a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among youth and communities, providing support for research and development in critical areas such as agriculture, education, and technology. Additionally, we promote the adoption of technology for social impact, including digital solutions for healthcare, education, and governance. By facilitating partnerships between academia, industry, and government, we aim to harness the power of innovation to address pressing societal challenges and drive sustainable development. Finally, Nav Bharat Kendra is deeply committed to promoting social equality and inclusion. We advocate for the rights and welfare of marginalized communities, including women, children, and minorities, and work towards promoting gender equality and empowering women through education, skill development, and economic opportunities. Addressing social issues such as caste discrimination, child labor, and access to healthcare is also a priority for us. Ultimately, our goal is to build a society that is inclusive, equitable, and just for all its members, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to the nation's progress.
Rural development is the cornerstone of sustainable development, and the SDGs recognize its importance. The truth, however, is different in that rural issues tend to take a backseat compared to urban problems. Rural-urban inequality in development and living conditions is leading to migration as a survival strategy for the rural population. Regional inequality is worsening and the need of the hour is to find criteria and measures to overcome this situation. A look at development concerning hard and soft infrastructure is needed to achieve the goal of equitable growth for these long neglected and vulnerable sections of the population, and to strike a balance between urban and rural living conditions.
With more than 60 percent of India’s population living in rural areas, rural development is particularly significant to achieving the goal of sustainable rural development. While sustainable rural development has had increased attention in India, the focus on rural-oriented development policies has still far to go and is a work in progress.
Rural areas continue to lag behind urban areas concerning poverty and food insecurity, lack of employment and income opportunities, healthcare facilities, limited access to social protection, climate change, and environmental degradation. Therefore, migration becomes a deliberate decision for rural people to overcome the challenges they face. Income inequality, disparities in housing, safety, health, and employment, gaps in access to rural education, and barriers to employment and career progression for women are key sources of inequality.
This requires a rebalancing of rural and urban development. A reciprocal relationship constructed on a foundation of equality is the order of the day. Balanced development requires policymakers to appreciate that the close relationship between the two, and urban-rural linkages are key to holistic development. The needs and requirements of both areas are different, however, the interdependence requires each to feed on the other for sustainable rural development.
While sustainable rural development has received increased attention in India, the focus on rural-oriented development policies still has far to go, and is a work in progress.
S M Sehgal Foundation’s Agriculture Development Program promotes sustainable livelihoods in India by building capacities of farmers, including women farmers, on improved agricultural practices and new technologies that increase crop yields, conserve water, and improve soil fertility. The team works with small-holder and marginal farmers in rain-fed and irrigated areas to facilitate adoption of advanced and sustainable agricultural practices that include soil health management, climate-smart interventions, crop production management, input-use efficiency, small farm mechanization, water-efficient irrigation techniques, horticultural development, livestock management, and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture.
Mission Nav Bharat Kendra:
With one-seventh of the world’s population, India’s economic stability is dependent on the sustained growth of agriculture and allied activities. The Government of India set an ambitious target of doubling farmers’ income. However, the crucial challenge for India’s agricultural development is to ensure that small and marginal farmers are able to gain adequate remuneration from farming and contribute to the country’s increasing demand for food. Less-efficient traditional farming practices limit farmers from realizing the full potential of their landholding. In addition to the traditional challenges, climate change is a major concern in agriculture that impacts small farmers. Deviations in rainfall, changing temperatures, efficiency, and availability of inputs, all have an impact on the crop yield, quality of the produce, and overall output.
At the same time, cultivable soils are slowly becoming difficult to farm on due to high cropping intensity, inappropriate application of fertilizers, and inadequate usage of manure, among others that are causing severe nutrient deficiencies in soils. All these factors add to the risks in small and marginal-scale agriculture, thereby making it non-remunerative.
The Agriculture Development Program uses a learning-by-doing approach to build on the knowledge and capabilities of farmers to maximize their crop productivity and better manage soil health. It lays heavy emphasis on regular capacity building and on-field demonstrations to educate farmers on sustainable agricultural practices.
The Agriculture Development team at Mission Nav Bharat Kendra conducts crop demonstrations and carries out training sessions to help farmers understand the importance of soil testing, appropriate seed rates, quality seeds, seed-sowing methods, correct quality and quantities of plant protection chemicals, weed management, pest management, use of compost, and other advanced techniques. The use of bio-fertilizers, micronutrients, and macronutrients is promoted to improve soil microbial activity. This increases organic matter in the soil, leading to a significant increase in agricultural productivity, thereby boosting farmers’ income.
The crop demonstrations are carried out on the farmers’ own fields, with the control and experimental fields side-by-side. This put into action the theory of seeing-is-believing, where farmers observe the results themselves, while learning firsthand the practical application of the new and sustainable techniques. The results also motivate farmers to adopt and scale these improved farming practices, thereby increasing crop productivity.
Use of appropriate machines and modern technology in agriculture has the potential to address and overcome challenges such as poverty, resource scarcity, climate change, hunger, and malnutrition. Introducing farm mechanization in agriculture saves time and labor costs, decreases input cost, reduces the risk of weather and labor uncertainties, increases the quality and quantity of produce, and improves return over investment and farm income over time.
The Agriculture Development Program increases the penetration of mechanization among small and marginal farmers by providing farm machines to enterprising farmers at subsidized rates. Farmers contribute to the cost of the machinery, which instills in them a sense of ownership as well as entrepreneurship. The program trains farmers to operate and maintain the machines and subsequently earn an extra livelihood by renting these machines to other farmers.
While small-holders and marginal farmers have the fundamental know-how of farming, they have limited awareness of allied agri-entrepreneurship activities to supplement their income. There is a need to build upon the capacities of farmers to undertake calculated risks for increased profits and financial sustainability.
The Agriculture Development Program encourages entrepreneurship among small-holder farmers, and landless women in particular, by supplementing the existing sources of income, mitigating the risk of farmers, and in some cases protecting biodiversity, and promoting food security. The Agriculture Development team educates farmers about the nuances of various enterprises and business models, and facilitates backward and forward linkages. Some of the entrepreneurship activities promoted include high-value crop cultivation, horticulture development, goatery management, and farm machinery, among others.
Availability of water is critical for the sustenance of agriculture and for ensuring food security. India is a water-stressed country, and agriculture consumes more than 80 percent of the total available water. Therefore, it is imperative to bring water use efficiency in the agriculture sector.
The Agriculture Development Program improves irrigation water-use efficiency by promoting the use of micro irrigation, mulching, laser leveling, direct seeded rice, and use of water absorbents to maintain soil moisture. The use of these water-saving irrigation practices reduces the consumption of water by 25–85 percent, while also improving farm productivity and reducing the cost of labor and the incidences of weeds and diseases in crops. It further educates farmers that efficient use of water is the key to sustainable agriculture.
Water conservation in India is a multifaceted challenge that requires concerted efforts across various sectors. With agriculture being the largest consumer of water, promoting efficient irrigation techniques like drip irrigation and crop diversification can significantly reduce water usage in farming. Urban water management is another critical area, where implementing rainwater harvesting systems, rejuvenating urban water bodies, and promoting water-efficient practices in industries and households are essential steps towards conservation. Additionally, addressing industrial water usage through water recycling and reuse technologies, coupled with stringent regulations, can contribute to sustainable water management.
Effective policy frameworks and governance are pivotal for ensuring the success of water conservation efforts in India. The government needs to prioritize conservation, equitable distribution, and sustainable use of water through robust water management policies. Strengthening institutions responsible for water governance and fostering community participation in conservation initiatives are imperative for long-term success. Moreover, technological innovations such as desalination and wastewater treatment can offer viable solutions to augment water supply and improve water quality, thereby supporting conservation efforts.
Raising public awareness and promoting education about the importance of water conservation are vital components of the strategy. Engaging in educational campaigns, community outreach programs, and integrating water-saving practices into school curricula can instill a culture of responsible water usage among the populace. Furthermore, addressing climate change impacts on water resources by developing climate-resilient infrastructure and implementing adaptive water management strategies is crucial. By adopting a holistic approach that integrates policy interventions, technological innovations, and community engagement, India can effectively address its water challenges and ensure sustainable water management for future generations.
Collectivization of producers, especially small and marginal farmers, into farmer producer organizations has emerged as one of the most effective pathways to address the many challenges of agriculture, but most importantly, improved access to investments, technology, inputs, and markets. The Agriculture Development Program strengthens institutional capacities of farmer-producer organizations along with training on better agronomic practices and technologies to improve the quantity and quality of their produce. The Agriculture Development team builds capacities of the farmer producer organizations to establish backward and forward market linkages, facilitates access to credit and strengthens the supply chain management. The overarching aim is to strengthen the operational and financial sustainability of these farmer producer organizations.
As a populous nation, India faces an enormous challenge in coping with the consequences of climate change. The majority of the country’s population resides in villages and depends largely on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, fisheries, and forestry for their livelihood. This vulnerability puts Indian farmers in great need of adaptation strategies in the face of climate variability and change.
The Agriculture Development Program supports climate-smart agriculture focusing on adapting and building resilience to climate change, using an approach to transform agriculture systems to effectively respond to the challenges posed by climate change and to ensure food security. The Agriculture Development team works with farmers to promote water use efficiency in agriculture, soil health, and nutrient management, use of renewable energy and appropriate machines, protected cultivation, and the adoption of salt-tolerant varieties of cereal and vegetable crops.
The Agriculture Development Program promotes animal health to improve milk productivity. Profitability of dairy farming depends on three main factors: breed of the animal, management, and feeding practices. Inadequate feeding causes nutrition imbalances in milch animals, so they do not attain the desired body weight, they remain unhealthy, and produce less milk. The Agriculture Development Program encourages farmers to regularly deworm dairy animals and include high-quality mineral additives to their diet, including green fodder. The method is sustainable as dietary supplements are locally available, and training is provided on how to give them to the animals.
Energy efficiency is a critical component of sustainable development, offering numerous benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, enhanced energy security, and cost savings. Advancing energy efficiency involves deploying various strategies across sectors. This includes investing in energy-efficient technologies like lighting systems and appliances, enforcing stringent building codes, and promoting energy management systems in industries and commercial buildings. Additionally, raising awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and incentivizing energy-saving behaviors are essential. Governments play a vital role in promoting energy efficiency through policy incentives, regulations, and financial mechanisms, while integrated planning and design approaches can optimize energy use in urban and transportation systems. Conducting energy audits and benchmarking performance help identify opportunities for improvement and track progress towards energy efficiency goals. Overall, a holistic approach involving collaboration between stakeholders is crucial for realizing the full potential of energy efficiency in achieving sustainable development objectives.
The Agriculture Development Program advocates for the adoption of renewable energy in farming practices without compromising on productivity. Usage of renewable energy reduces input costs particularly as an alternative for petroleum products. This has a positive impact on the environment as it reduces the carbon footprint of agriculture. These measures include solar water pumps and solar sprays, among others.
The needs and wants of rural development are different than those required for urban development, and they tend to change across geographies and regions. In a vast and dichotomous country like India, rural development focuses primarily on the development of resources required for day-to-day activities. The primary reason for a limited sectoral approach to rural development stems from an irrational placing of manufacturing facilities, underdeveloped infrastructure, and a host of other problems. Hence the concentration is on electrification, employment, basic healthcare, and water management. A cluster management approach is followed and development work happens for a group or area under one cluster.
In the case of urban development, the focus area shifts to better systems, traffic management, transportation, infrastructure, management of buildings, management of institutions, etc. The attitude, literacy, willingness to change, and flexibility of target audiences in each case is different.
Rural and urban development play complementary roles in overall economic development. While the drivers for both may be different, they must grow and prosper simultaneously for the improvement of the Human Development Index.
While there is no defined criterion for ensuring a balanced urban-rural development, private, nonprofit, and public institutions need to come together on this vexing issue.
Driven by political or financial considerations, the rural development process is sometimes suppressed by urban interest. This rural-urban gap is a long-standing issue in India. For sustainable rural development to occur, rural communities must able to enjoy appropriate public services and infrastructure. Investment in public services and infrastructure in rural areas should be a priority that will contribute to growth in agricultural development and to the development of non-farm sectors.
Successful rural development requires coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders, and functioning institutions are fundamental for the future of rural areas. Investing in capacity development at an individual, organizational, and societal level is necessary; and the implementation of policies and strategies will lead to balanced urban-rural development and an integrated approach.
Over the years, the Indian government has introduced many initiatives to strengthen the nation's economy. The Indian government has been effective in developing policies and programmes that are not only beneficial for citizens to improve their financial stability but also for the overall growth of the economy. Over recent decades, India's rapid economic growth has led to a substantial increase in its demand for exports. Besides this, a number of the government's flagship programmes, including Make in India, Start-up India, Digital India, the Smart City Mission, and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, is aimed at creating immense opportunities in India. In this regard, some of the initiatives taken by the government to improve the economic condition of the country are mentioned below:
While there is no defined criterion for ensuring a balanced urban-rural development, private, nonprofit, and public institutions need to come together on this vexing issue.
Driven by political or financial considerations, the rural development process is sometimes suppressed by urban interest. This rural-urban gap is a long-standing issue in India. For sustainable rural development to occur, rural communities must able to enjoy appropriate public services and infrastructure. Investment in public services and infrastructure in rural areas should be a priority that will contribute to growth in agricultural development and to the development of non-farm sectors.
Successful rural development requires coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders, and functioning institutions are fundamental for the future of rural areas. Investing in capacity development at an individual, organizational, and societal level is necessary; and the implementation of policies and strategies will lead to balanced urban-rural development and an integrated approach.
India’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices is estimated to be at Rs. 296.58 trillion (US$ 3.56 trillion) in 2023-24. Additionally, the Nominal GDP at current prices in Q2 of 2023-24 was Rs. 71.66 trillion (US$ 861.2 billion), as against Rs. 65.67 trillion (US$ 789.2 billion) in 2022-23, estimating a growth of 9.1%. As of 03rd October 2023, India is home to 111 unicorns with a total valuation of US$ 349.67 Billion. Out of the total number of unicorns, 45 unicorns with a total valuation of US$ 102.30 Billion were born in 2021 and 22 unicorns with a total valuation of $ 29.20 Billion were born in 2022. India presently has the third-largest unicorn base in the world. The government is also focusing on renewable sources by achieving 40% of its energy from non-fossil sources by 2030. India is committed to achieving the country's ambition of Net Zero Emissions by 2070 through a five-pronged strategy, ‘Panchamrit’. Moreover, India ranked 3rd in the renewable energy country attractive index.
According to the McKinsey Global Institute, India needs to boost its rate of employment growth and create 90 million non-farm jobs between 2023 to 2030 in order to increase productivity and economic growth. The net employment rate needs to grow by 1.5% per annum from 2023 to 2030 to achieve 8-8.5% GDP growth between same time period. The current account deficit stood at US$ 8.3 billion, or 1% of GDP, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023-24 as compared to US$ 9.2 billion or 1.1% of GDP in the preceding quarter.
Exports fared remarkably well during the pandemic and aided recovery when all other growth engines were losing steam in terms of their contribution to GDP. Going forward, the contribution of merchandise exports may waver as several of India’s trade partners witness an economic slowdown. According to Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles Mr. Piyush Goyal, Indian exports are expected to reach US$ 1 trillion by 2030.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe role of a rural development is to improve the livelihoods and lives of the rural communities and families residing in the most impoverished and precarious conditions, with emphasis on the empowerment of women and girls, who have long been disadvantaged. For example, Nav Bharat Kendra , a sustainable rural development in India, has five main programs supported by a skilled research team that engages in participatory research, impact assessment, and interactive dialogues to determine informed actions to achieve sustainable results
A good rural development promotes sustainable livelihoods by building the capacities of farmers on improved agricultural development practices and use of the latest technologies that increase crop yields, conserve water, and improve soil fertility. The organisation work with farmers in rain-fed and irrigated areas to facilitate the adoption of advanced agricultural practices including crop production management, soil health management, input-use efficiency, small farm mechanization, horticultural development, water-efficient irrigation techniques, livestock management, and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture.
Rural development focuses on the actions taken for the development of rural areas. A few areas that usually demand more attention and initiatives in India are education, public health, sanitation, women’s empowerment, infrastructure development, agriculture research and extension, availability of credit, and employment opportunities. S M Sehgal Foundation, a sustainable rural development NGO in India, engages in five key program areas: Water Management, Agricultural Development, Local Participation and Sustainability, Transform Lives one school at a time, and Outreach for Development.
The most common challenges are illiteracy, unemployment, geographical inaccessibility, lack of infrastructure, malnutrition, transportation, medical facility, and fundamental needs. However, financial constrain, migration for employment, limited access to advanced tools, logistics, traditionalism, and conservatism, are other issues that will be resolved with the solutions mentioned above.
