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Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development, Janak Palta McGilligan, Padma Shri Awardee at the launch of the Fifth Edition of the India Rural Colloquy.
The Fifth Edition of the India Rural Colloquy 2025, organized by Transform Rural India (TRI) at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) in Bhopal, focused on building safer, more inclusive rural communities, with a strong emphasis on women's voices and leadership.
Addressing the event, Madhya Pradesh’s Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development & Labour spoke about the urgent need for ecological responsibility. He noted that while the state is home to the origins of several rivers, it faces severe water scarcity in summer. He called for a shift in planning priorities—from material development to preserving natural and cultural assets. “Technology is important,” he said, “but it cannot replace human values, labor, and empathy.”
The Minister criticized the dominance of materialism in governance and emphasized reconnecting with ecological traditions. Citing the Narmada Parikrama path as a symbol of river reverence, he called for awareness and responsibility in protecting river sources. He shared that 92 river origins have been mapped in Madhya Pradesh, many of which are still protected by tribal communities. He urged the educated population to also play a role in this stewardship.
As part of the event, the Minister launched the Gram Panchayat Helpdesk initiative. Reshma Ninama, a grassroots leader from Alsiya village in Petlawad block, inaugurated the helpdesk. The initiative aims to support village-level governance and improve local planning.
Padma Shri awardee Janak Palta shared her experience building the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women. Starting with no staff and limited resources, she and her husband created a self-sufficient green campus. The institute now trains women in literacy, health, renewable energy, enterprise, and more. She highlighted the importance of local languages and simple technologies like solar cookers, wind-powered street lights, and organic farming tools.
Voices from the field highlighted the daily struggles of rural women. Anjali from Khategaon said that poor lighting and unsafe transport prevent women from stepping out after 5 PM. Rama Kevat, also from Khategaon, pointed to high dropout rates among girls due to distant schools and safety concerns. A senior woman Sarpanch from Barcha village shared how unsafe roads and social barriers discourage women from participating in local governance.
A panel discussion brought together officials from the Panchayati Raj Department, Women and Child Development, and the School of Planning and Architecture. The discussion focused on how to design rural spaces that are safe, inclusive, and climate-resilient. Dr. P.K. Biswas stressed that the Sustainable Development Goals must start from rural India and that gender equity and recognition of local knowledge are central to meaningful progress.
The event ended with key recommendations. These included designing gender-sensitive rural infrastructure, promoting grassroots innovations, strengthening local planning through better Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), and creating support systems for pilot projects that can be scaled up in select districts.
The Colloquy brought together voices from across Madhya Pradesh to reimagine rural development not as a top-down process but as a locally driven change led by women and marginalized groups. It highlighted the need to treat rural areas as living ecosystems, where tradition, dignity, and practical design go hand in hand.
Notable participants included Dr. K. Ravichandran (Director, IIFM), Dr. P.K. Biswas (Former Vice Chancellor, Skyline University), Aliva Das, Rajesh Singh, Neha Gupta, and Jitendra Pandit from TRI, along with senior government officials, academics, and grassroots leaders.
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