Sunday 17 May 2015

Rural Enterprises of India

The children run with frolic with their bare foots as they experience the softness of the green grass underneath. The pristine water gushes down the streams as  the fishes continue their downward journey. A huge peepal tree provides shade as many sit beneath. The goats bleat in ecstasy as the cow continues to feed on the grass. The scarecrows stand tall and stout as the lush green crops wave about it. The air here has a freshness which is unique. Ah!!! the beauty of our villages.

As we continued our journey from Goa to Mangalore, we passed many a villages. We decided to stop at such villages and interact with the locals there to understand and help them in matters  related to rural enterprises. Today agricultural land has become scarce so it has become important to find new sources of income for the rural areas in India. Our rural villages have a plethora of knowledge in terms of agriculture, herbal medicines, some unique art forms which if leveraged well can really help to build the economy. Development of enterprises in rural areas is important today as this can create entrepreneurs. Further entrepreneurship means alleviation of poverty, elimination of rising unemployment and control in migration.


As we stopped at the beautiful coastal villages and met the village head to discuss regarding micro enterprise we met many an inspiring individuals. One of them was Murugan. Murugan like many followed the herd and to better the income of his family moved to the city. In the hard life of city he toiled hard for days on end at the various construction sites. Though he toiled as hard as he could he felt dejected as he never could earn enough. All his earnings passed like grains of sands through his hand. His dream of improving his financial condition looked like a distant dream. Thus tired of the harsh life he returned back to his beautiful village of Kumta in Karnataka. As he pondered what he should do next a thought came to his mind. Thousands of cars, buses and trucks pass by the highway near his village day in an out. As people drive, the sun does take a toil on all and they look around for some refreshing drink to quench their thirst. So he started to sell the refreshing coconut water near the highway. Slowly his business started to grow and now he earns around twenty thousand per month. As the spending in villages is less today he has been successful in saving his money and has fulfilled his dream of seeing his daughter's well educated and settled in their lives.  As Murugan realised  this vast potential that villages offer he wishes to take this message further. In this regard he visits the city and talks with the villagers working there and tells them regarding the advantages of setting up enterprises in the village itself as this is much more lucrative. Thus Murugan is a true mentor in all rights as he has been earnestly working for the welfare of his village and village folks. Thus affecting and touching the lives of many.

Thus, after this inspiring meet with Murugan we were invigorated with exuding energy and thus motivated we headed to enterprising city of Mangalore.

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