India today is facing a huge demographic divide.  Agriculture provides employment to around 60% of the population, but its contribution to GDP is less than 20%. In contrast,  the Services contribute around 60% of the GDP with dependent population around 20%. It is thus obvious that the rural population is economically much poorer in comparison to their counterparts in Services sector.

Since land is limited, it is nearly impossible to raise the total agriculture GDP.  However, if the population depending on agriculture is reduced, we can improve their lot. But the rural folks must acquire necessary skills to migrate from agriculture. But, the poverty and poor infrastructure in rural hinterland make this difficult.  This has made them more isolated and feeling of insecurity. Their isolation has also caused strong resistance to improved techniques and methods to raise agricultural production. They even oppose industrialization in fear of losing agricultural jobs as they do not see jobs coming their way in absence of required skillsets.  It is thus a vicious circle of underdevelopment for rural folks.

Migration of untrained rural folks to metros in search of household jobs like maids, day labourers is now order of the day. Since they cannot afford the decent living in urban areas, the problems of slum crop up.

On the other hand, people with specialized skill-sets like Welders, Fitters, Plumbers, Carpenters, Fork-lifters etc. are in short supply. Not to speak of highly qualified professionals. Thus, providing skill-sets to rural population is the key. But it is easier said than done. Quality Education need quality teachers, which has to be provided by urban population. But there is strong resistance from urban population for taking rural or semi-rural postings. Some of their grievances are real. There is no proper school for children, no entertainment zones for family, no proper healthcare facilities in case of illness.

Who will be willing to switch to such locations?

We need reorientation of our policy framework. Instead of trying to provide urban facilities in rural areas, we should attempt rural folks to move out of the villages. This will reduce the population depending on agriculture and increase their percapita.

 But how?

We should attempt to upgrade the existing urban centres, specially the District Headquarters into modern day town. We must have all the modern day facilities for Primary as well as higher education, health Care, industrial training, commercial activities, entertainment, and good connectivity by rail, road and even air. Instead of creating such facilities at different locations, we should combine the facilities at one place. We must ensure that people working from these centres feel homely and donot curse their luck for being posted there. We must aim to create cities with facilities comparable to Metros.   

These District towns can attract rural population from villages for job, education and health care and even entertainment. These towns being within the reach of rural population, their migration to opportunities other than agriculture improve. These can easily create low skill jobs like rickshaw pulling, roadside eateries, tea and coffee shops. Improved income levels will make them spend more on education, healthcare and clothing.  With alternative sources of employment, the dependence on agriculture is reduced. Industrial Training Institutes will provide the rural youths to acquire necessary skills for industrial employment. Modern Educational facilities will provide the rural youths the opportunity of migrating to Services sector. Synergy of rural population with urban ones will facilitate adoption of modern agricultural techniques too. 

It is high time that the Govt. and Corporate Sector sit together for building the necessary infrastructure.   

Apart from opportunity for rural population in industry and other sectors, the exposure of rural population to modern world will help in improving the agro-processing industry. It will also provide market for rural artisans and many other opportunities. Industry will benefit from labour force cheaper to Metro cities. With rural population benefitting from the modern facilities within their reach, opposition to industrialization will also subside.   

We must admit that industry is needed not just for job creation, but also improving the supply of goods and services to meet the rising demand.

As the Govt. is fund-starved, it should concentrate on one district town every year. While choosing the district town, care should be taken for spreading the benefit to a larger population. In West Bengal, We may start with Bankura or Birbhum. These districts are grossly underdeveloped mainly due to low fertility of land. We need to create right infrastructure for making Doctors, Engineers, Teachers to stay there. Low fertile land can be useful for setting up the industry. Both of these districts are close to new Airport being built at Andal. This can be added attraction for Private sector.

 State Govt. can tap Central Govt. Funds through various schemes like Backward Area Grant Fund, JNURM etc. State can also offer any of the location in these districts to set up Central University.  While Choosing  location, care should be taken for creating all facilities at one place, so as to make it attractive to outsiders.

Once the rural economy improves, the revenue of Govt. will automatically rise by way of VAT, Excise etc. 

We are talking of integrated township.  Bankura in West Bengal can be considered as a model. The reasons for selecting Bankura is:

It is a district town.

It has its own heritage in the form of terracotta temples.

It is connected by Road to Kolkata, Durgapur and Kharagpur.

It is connected by Railways.

It is not too far from upcoming Andal Airport.

It has a Degree College as well as Engineering College.

Land in the District is less fertile to its counterparts in Burdwan or East Midnapore.

Surrounding areas are grossly underdeveloped leading to Maoist influence.

 It falls under Backward Districts with Maoist Influence making it easy for accessing the central funds for building infrastructure.

High-level Development in Bankura will lead to improved economic activity in neighboring districts of Purulia and West Midnapore.

 

After selecting Bankura, our action plan should be:

Improving connectivity:

Roads:

Bankura town should be connected to new Airport in Andal by a four lane Highway.

Roads connecting to Kharagpur and Kolkata via Arambagh should be widened, preferably four lane. If we go by a two lane expressway, we should reserve land for expansion  in the middle of the Road as Boulevard, instead of sides.

Road connecting Chandrakona Road and Panskura should be widened.  A long viaduct at Ghatal for passage of rainwater through Shilawati river should be build for all weather passthrough. This will provide connectivity to Kolkata, both via Delhi Road and Bombay Road.

Local Bus Services be introduced.

A Central Bus terminus linking Bankura with Kharagpur, Durgapur, Purulia, Asansol, Burdwan, Panskura and Kolkata should be set up.

Central funds for Backward Area Grants and JNURM can be utilized for these purposes.

Railway:

Bankura is connected via Rail to Kolkata via Kharagpur.

A new railway line between Bishnupur and Tarakeshwar, which is under progress will provide another connectivity. Work in this section should be expedited.

To make Bankura a major hub, we must have a much upgraded railway station with adequate of number of Platforms and a goods shed to cater the needs of Industries in the district. 

There should be direct trains for Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai with Bankura as originating station.

Local trains originating from Bankura to Asansol, Kharagpur and Durgapur should be introduced.   

      Education: 

After Improved connectivity, we must provide good schools for attracting the workforce from major towns.

Branches of well known Schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ramkrishna Mission, Delhi Public School, DAV schools should be set up.  State Govt. will not need much funds for these.

A Central University should be set up in the District.

All the educational institutions should be within a radius of 20 Kms from main centre point and well connected by local bus services.  

   

Health Care:

Centre should be requested to set up an AIIMS type of institution for providing good health care for inhabitants. Setting of Medical Colleges will help attract medical students, as well as improve the healthcare infrastructure in the district. Providing good connectivity to cities like Durgapur, Asansol, Kharagpur will attract the visiting teachers for medical education. Private Sector, especially hospital chains may also be tapped to build up modern hospitals around the Bankura town.

Entertainment:

There are already some areas of interest like Bishnupur for its terracotta temples, ManiMukutPur for camouflage of rivers, Ayodhya Hills in Purulia etc. There are already some infrastructure in form of tourist lodges there. These should be upgraded.  Private Sector should be asked to build up Entertainment Zones for locals as well as visitors.

Industrial Park and Industrial Training Institute:

To provide adequate job opportunities, Govt. should build up an industrial Park large enough to accommodate at least some medium size industries apart from small scale units. The Park should contain some common facilities like convention centre, Food Plaza, internal roads, Electric sub-station, Waste disposal and recycling facilities, Logistic Hub, Fuel station, Parking Zone . The Park must contain an industrial training institute.  Ideal Size of the Industrial Park should be around 2000 acres. The Park should be around 25 Kms away from the city.                            

Commercial Centres:

The nodal town must have state of art commercial centre. The commercial centre should be well connected with rest of the township. Private Sector can be easily tapped, if other infrastructural facilities as discussed above is taken care of.

Developing one centre at a time is important as its completion will provide confidence among prospective investors for other townships.