High road to development passes through villages

It was a pleasant surprise to see the chief minister of a state writing in newspapers about agriculture and rural development and inviting public opinion on the issue for a special session of the legislature. Ministers, leave alone the chief minister, generally tend to sidestep the demands and views of the general public when formulating decisions. Whether the ideas generated through this unique gesture are accommodated in the final policy remains to be seen. But Mr Y has certainly forced the opposition on the back foot.
The special session, which will be held on September 9, 10 and 11 will thus be closely scrutinized.
Rural Karnataka is not in a great state. Farmers battling crop failures and poor compensation prices are dealt a lethal blow by way of intermittent power supply. Most areas complain that they get power only about three hours a day. And then there is this great paradox: while finding employment in rural areas is a Herculean task, land owners complain of a shortage of farm hands and high cost of labour. Migration to cities is another issue of concern. A rural youth would much rather work as a helper in an MNC than till his own land.
How can the government strike that balance between clocking impressive growth figures and retaining farmland for agriculture? By providing access to schools, healthcare and means of earning a decent livelihood. And the assurance of a healing touch when diseases or drought strike. Going by what Mr Y wrote in the newspapers, he is aiming to achieve just that. If he succeeds, it could be a role model for all other states.

Lessons from rural Karnataka
On a recent trip towards the western coast, I couldn’t help but notice the splendour of Karnataka. Mother Earth was blooming in all its glory as the rain gods showered it with all their love. But that was just nature doing its duty. We humans, on the other hand, seem to have forgotten what we are supposed to do. Heading into Shimoga from Bhadravathi, I kept asking my colleague why there was no road despite the area being home to two of the most powerful politicians in the state: Mr Y and his son, Raghavendra, Member of Parliament. I still haven’t got an answer.
The stretch between Kumta and Karwar is another paradox. While the landscape will fill up your senses, the road (or the lack of it) will knock the wind out. And this is supposed to be a National Highway, mind you.
Rural areas would give higher priority to access to better healthcare and education systems higher than access to better roads. But not fixing the roads is symptomatic of our reluctance to solve problems of rural areas.