Administrative Head's Column

Tagore’s plan for development of a model village

Swami Bhaveshananda

Rabindranath Tagore was very much interested for the development of rural poors. He is one of the pioneers of rural development. His passion, insight and dedication for this cause are the source of inspiration and learning for all of us.

He conceived a model for development of a village based on his long experience and deep insight.

 His plan for model village is given below:

1.     One village is to be selected for all round development. If we can make it an ideal one, God himself will come and make it a great, don’t believe number and volume. Truth being small in size also always triumphs.

2.     Details information about village is to be collected. Information collection is an essential and foremost step towards development of a village.

3.     A night school is to be established initially at a nearby town to train the development workers.

4.     Honourary teachers will teach them on construction of roads, ponds, etc survey of land and land revenues, health and sanitation, agriculture, veterinary, first aid and preparedness for disaster management etc.  

   In addition to these they will teach about the theory and practice of development in western countries.

5.     Suddenly one cannot enter and start developmental works. Doctors and teachers who have been working in a village can perform a sea change among rural masses. They have to integrate rural development with their professions.

6.     Work for rural development as well as imparting/spreading education should go side by side. Workers must have to acquire skill in all these fields.    

7.     Cultivation, animal rearing, processing of milk, fruits etc, are to be done on co-operative basis in a large scale and in a cost–effective way. This helps the farmers to gain bargaining capacity in selling their output and purchasing their inputs.

8.     Agro-based industries are to be established at village level employing local people as workers and local products as input for the industry. 

9.     Villagers are to be made self reliant to do everything for their villages. Works like construction of roads, sanitations and cleanliness of all houses and their surroundings, school and establishment of village court to solve all local problems etc are to be done by the villagers themselves.

10.            All villagers should get education and be strong enough in health, mind and intellect. So, zamindars even will not dare to implement anything which is immoral or illegal.

11.       A model Pradesh (village) is to be developed where everyone will get food, education and all other essential services. Different recreational and cultural programme like music, dance, kirtan, drama, study of scriptures etc will be going on.

Thus, there will create an environment for prosperity, joy, peace and unity. This example will inspire the villagers of other areas. This ultimately will lead to national development.