“The soul of India lives in its villages”, declared M. K. Gandhi.
Village life is the happiest compromise between the natural and the artificial. It is a merry game between man and nature. Hence, village life is the most natural life for the human beings.
The village is panorama of the charming scenes of nature. The scenery of the changing seasons has a profound effect on the village life. It brings a divine touch into human mind and makes life full of divine beauty. 60 percent of the population still lives in villages of India. The Villages are free from the hustle and bustle of a city life, villages are peaceful, calm, quite and full of greenery where one can breathe fresh air.
The village Panchayats are the last organizations but not the least in importance in the ladder of Government machinery and administration. From the early times, the villages in India formed units which were self-sufficient and administered by the Gram Panchayats.
When we talk of India’s progress or achievement, we only think of the standard of living in cities. Consequently the cities are flourishing and the villages are going down day by day. In every living life, there stands problem which we always have to fight to survive. Same is in the condition of the life of the people living in such villages. The problems are many and varied. I just list some of them.
The villagers are poor, ignorant and superstitious. Most of the villages have no basic amenities like good roads, schools and hospitals. The condition of village schools is not satisfactory. Moreover, the villagers don’t understand the importance of education. A large number of children are engaged in economic activities, mainly agriculture. They do not know the laws of health. In recent years the Central and the State Governments have taken major steps to improve the condition of the villagers. The village Panchayat and the Co-operative Credit Societies are two important factors in this respect. To my belief all these will strengthen rural economy and make villages not only habitable but also attractive and prosperous.’ [Official Website]
