With heavy rains lashing the region confining one indoors these days, it is not unusual to have the search for some worthwhile pastime narrowing down to spending one’s time in front of the idiot-box. With various Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms affording one a plethora of viewing pleasure, offering contents of diverse nature, the boredom is soon replaced by some entertaining moments before the television.
More than being a light-hearted experience; watching the popular web series, ‘Panchayat’ and ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ on Prime Video served to be a reminder of the deplorable state of the country’s rural belts which still continue their inconsequential existence, unknown to many. While the ‘Panchayat’ explores the dynamics of village governance, ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ captures the everyday workings of the village and its overlap with the under-resourced health facility.
The former showcases the social and political landscape of a rural Indian village, including local elections and the efforts to bring about change. The latter, meanwhile, tackles the challenges of healthcare in rural India, including bureaucratic hurdles and the impact of these issues on the villagers. Both the series, however, provide glimpses into the daily lives and social dynamics of the villages.
As amusements, these web-series may go down well with the audience, but the fact remains that as ‘takes’ on the rural Indian life, we are occupying ring-side seats to the harsh realities which assail the dwellers of these hamlets.
It is believed that India is a country where villages are deeply ingrained in its identity and culture, often seen as the heart and soul of the nation. Presumably this perception stems from their role in preserving cultural traditions, their contributions to the agricultural sector and the strong sense of community they foster.
But from the very outset it is more than evident that rural regions in the country face persistent challenges including poverty, limited access to essential services like healthcare and education, and economic disparities compared to urban areas. The contention that villages are the agricultural backbone of the country by providing the majority of the country’s food supply and sustaining a significant portion of the population has a tone of hollowness to it considering that farmers have arguably been the most neglected community in the country.
As a matter of global concern, their woes have featured on various platforms. But other than the customary crocodile tears being shed on their miserable existence, nothing much has been done to alleviate their problems. Above and beyond agricultural distress, inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints and limited access to education and healthcare are factors that have severely hampered progress in rural areas.
Addressing challenges such as limited infrastructure, access to education and healthcare is seen as essential for inclusive sustainable development. Yet, the languid response of the government to these issues of serious concern has relegated India’s rural regions to the margins.
Despite the fact that these bodies are crucial for grassroots level governance; limited financial resources, excessive political and bureaucratic interference, and insufficient capacity building have hindered the ability of panchayats to function as effective units of self-governance as envisioned by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, thus impacting service delivery and community development.
We talk of villages playing a crucial role in the overall economic landscape. But without rural development which focuses on enhancing the quality of life for rural populations through various initiatives like agricultural growth, infrastructural development, and access to essential services, the idea comes a cropper. Regrettably, the government’s application of such theoretical frameworks related to the rural poor is yet to be fully integrated into its practices.
The gap between academic understanding and practical implementation suggests a need for bridging between research, policy and on-the-ground action to improve the lives of the rural poor. The tendency of the government, particularly in developing countries, to favour urban areas and populations in their policies and resource allocation, often at the expense of rural areas, has taken their toll on villages. This urban bias is evident in various aspects, including unequal access to resources, healthcare, education and economic opportunities.
However, the argument that in rural India, a considerable portion of the population faces barriers to accessing quality education due to a multitude of reasons including socio-economic factors and gender disparities is rebutted by the revelation that most of the top-notchers in the civil services and those gaining entry into prestigious educational institutions in the last few years hail from the rural domain of the country.
Has the government been nurturing the ‘misconception’ that remaining rural is remaining backward! At a time when owning a ‘farm house’ in the countryside is a ‘status criterion’ amongst the who’s who of the society, can being rural be seen as a curse! Of course, some states do have their towns extending into villages. But whether this is an example of an unprejudiced approach to development or an instance of rapid urbanisation of the state is anybody’s guess!
Life and everyday happenings in Indian villages created with an idea of entertainment do appear amusing on the screen. But the challenges faced by the rural communities should definitely be a matter of concern for the government.
(Pachu Menon is a senior columnist and author based in Goa.)