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.