We
started our discussion on the ToeHold Artisans initiative (Athini,
Belgaum), we had interacted with a few
days back as we waited for the Yatra train at the station in Whitefield. It
soon became clear that discussing (and arguing) in a group as large as 20, would
be a real challenge. So we decided to split ourselves into smaller groups. Our
presentation the next day was crisp, we conveyed our thoughts well and was
entertaining. Smaller groups seemed to work better.
We should
not feel bad for the inconvenience rain has caused today, said Mr.Elango. It
was a very small inconvenience for us, but a happy moment for the rest of the
area as rains were the life line for farmers there. We were visiting Kuthambakkam village near
Chennai. This village was supposed to have gone through tremendous change, both
socially and economically, thanks to the efforts of Mr.Elango, who quit his job
as a scientist and headed back to his village and became a sarpanch about 15
years back.
When
Mr.Elango said it is was at the level of the panchyats that one must work to
bring about real change, it seemed to make sense. Our personal experience was
also that smaller groups worked better. This seemed to be true of our
workplaces also.
Mr.Elango
spoke of creating self sustained clusters of villages/panchyats who would only
sell value added products based on indigenous knowledge and not just export raw
materials like now. This he said would help make villages economically
independent.
Visual Minutes by Rowan Watts & Marcel O'leary |
He also
spoke of the twin houses concept they experimented with, where the two parts
were occupied compulsorily by families of two different castes.
Decentralization
of energy generation and distribution was the other subject he spoke
passionately about. It makes a lot of sense to generate and consume energy in
smaller pockets. A hybrid model of large scale power generation, wide spread
local renewable energy generation and usage of appropriately rated appliances,
seems like a possible solution to the energy crisis in the rural areas.
But most
importantly it made sense when he pointed out that sensible enterprise building
considering these issues would bring in a larger sense of purpose helping
address these multiple problems.
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