Unnat Bharat Abhiyan: Bridging India's Rural-Urban Divide

The initiative, envisioned by faculty at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), focuses on sustainable rural development and technology use, rooted in a blend of Gandhi's and Ambedkar's visions for India's villages.

Conceptual Framework

• Gram Swaraj: Gandhi's vision of self-reliant village republics.
• Village Critique: Ambedkar's view of villages as sites of caste oppression and communalism.

Origins and Goals

• Launched in November 2014 by the Ministry of Education.
• Aims to empower rural areas through collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and villages.
• Encourages learning from rural communities, fostering a mutual growth dynamic.

Program Structure and Impact

• Coordinated by IIT Delhi, involving 4,183 institutions and 19,783 villages as of May 2025.
• Supported by 14 Subject Expert Groups and 50 Regional Coordinating Institutes.
• Strategic partnerships with ministries and institutions to deepen impact.

Initiatives and Community Engagement

• Promotes sustainable practices like agriculture, clean energy, and digital literacy.
• Notable projects include lemongrass cultivation in Haridwar and low-cost water purifiers in Manipur.
• Focus on community-driven initiatives blending scientific innovation with local wisdom.

Educational Transformation

• Encourages academia to engage directly with rural life for socially relevant research.
• Transforms villages into dynamic spaces for collaborative, action-oriented research.
• Aims to nurture scholars attuned to rural realities and aspirations.

Future Directions

• Seeks to harness India's extensive academic network for rural engagement.
• Plans to expand reach in remote areas to foster self-reliant communities.
• Aims to fulfill Gandhi's vision of self-reliance and Ambedkar's vision of justice and dignity.