The RISC model for rural development

I am no rural development specialist or economist. But I can appreciate a good plan when I see one. The RISC concept is one such good plan and when I compare it with PURA, I can see the advantages it has over the latter.

I respect Dr. Kalam and his idealistic approach to bring development to the doorsteps of millions of rural Indians. But, when you think about it, he is not a specialist in this field. And although you may have full faith in the abilities and intentions of a lay-person, would you allow him to perform open-heart surgery on you? The answer is obviously no. You would seek out a specialist surgeon for the job. You would want a plan which is not only feasible, but which achieves its goals with economy and provides spin-off advantages as well.

When you think about it, the RISC model by Dr. Atanu Dey presents a chance to realize the development dreams of a large chunk of the Indian rural population, within one generation. The spin-offs would be even more impressive. Well-planned urban areas with infrastructure in place and room to develop. It would reduce the pressures on the already shaky infrastructure of the present urban areas.

And just imagine the magnitude of the boost to the economy this challenging concept will provide. The construction of hundreds of new and viable, well-planned, cities-in-the-making. This could be the chance for India, to properly plan out the urbanization of our rural population and to bring to them the fruits of development, within the foreseeable future.

Because no matter what, people are going to migrate from rural to urban areas. You can provide them with a planned urbanization, like what the RISC concept envisages, or take the path China has taken. But you can't keep them in the villages by trying to provide them with all amenities at their doorstep.