“India’s soul rests in her villages”, said Mahatma Gandhiji, nearly 80 years ago. This is so apt and relevant, to this day. We have 6,40,000 villages and 83.3 crore people in these villages, which means 65% of our people still live in villages, notwithstanding the urban migration that we often discuss on. The rural population has increased by 32% in last two decades (1991 – 2011) and therefore, they should be part of sustainable development agenda. If India has to grow, our villages have to be prosperous and should have access to all basic amenities, education and healthcare, that the urban population have access to. While in the cities, the modus operandi for sustainable development has been in terms of enhancing resource utilization efficiency, on the rural front, green agenda would be to make available all resources and facilities required for a good living.
Today, major challenges faced in our villages are open defecation, drinking water scarcity, lack of adequate health care, access to basic amenities & school and power shortage.
In the above context, converting existing villages to green and self-sustainable is of paramount importance to the Nation. IGBC Green Village rating is designed to address many of the rural challenges. The green concepts and techniques in the villages can help address National concerns like water availability, energy availability, reduction in fossil fuel use, handling of waste and conserving natural resources. Most importantly, these concepts can enhance health and well-being in villages, which is assuming greater importance.
“A Green Village is one which offers access to clean energy, adequate water, basic education, good healthcare, hygienic sanitation, leading to economic prosperity and enhanced quality of life, in a manner that is environmentally sustainable