Bhubaneswar: Rural distress is one of the important concerns of policy-makers in India. To discuss this issue, the PG Department of Public Administration, Utkal University, in association with World Bank-Odisha Higher Education Program for Excellence and Equity (WB-OHEPEE) organised a national seminar on the topic ‘Rural Distress in India: Policy Concerns’ at DDCE Conference hall Wednesday.
On the occasion, the chief guests — Vice chancellor Soumendra Mohan Patnaik, PG council Chairman Bramhananda Satapathy, Magsaysay Awardee Palagummi Sainath, , HOD of Public Administration department Padmalaya Mohapatra, Convenor Swarnamayee Tripathy, Bandana Pattanaik, International Coordinator, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) Bangkok and Jyotirmayee Tudu — spoke precisely about agricultural distress which is primarily responsible for rural distress in India. It has resulted in exploitation of villagers at the hands of money lenders, workforce casualisation, increased rural-urban migration, decreased focus on education and health of children, and increased instances of farmer suicides.
Experts are of the opinion that revitalizing rainfed agriculture, diversifying rural economy, mechanising agriculture and developing ancillary industries to process agricultural products will help us revive the rural economy and society.
Sainath said that agrarian distress is a civilisation crisis. Inequality in India is growing. There is steady shift from rural to urban, from agriculture to industry and from food crops to cash crops. The members of Parliament do not really understand rural distress and are far removed from reality. The Parliament needs to have special sessions on agricultural distress. “Agricultural institutions need to address the needs of farming communities particularly women. A special session in the Assembly should also be dedicated to the agricultural sector,” he added.
Mohapatra said that we have to instill an interest in farming in our youth. We need to enhance the dignity of agriculture as a profession.
The national seminar also discussed over many topics such as Migration and Rural Distress: Revitalizing rainfed Agriculture, Rural Distress and Public Policy in Odisha, Media: Social Responsibility and Rural Reporting, Women’s Agency, NGO and Rural Development.
