[Points: Importance of the village—village life, past and present—steps taken to improve village—Community Development Projects.]
India is said to be a country of villages. In fact, it is estimated that about three-fourths of our people live in villages. Hence arises the importance of village welfare for the progress of the country.
Formerly village life was very happy. People had few wants and these wants they could meet in their own villages. They got their food from their own fields. The other needs were looked after by the land owners. They made roads, set up schools and dispensaries, and arranged for the religious and cultural entertainment of the villagers. Carpenters, weavers, smiths lived in the villages and served both the rich and the poor. So the villages were self-sufficient and the people there lived a contented and happy life.
But with the progress of industry, towns began to grow up. The landlords and other rich men began to live there. The lure of towns drew away other people also: Smiths, weavers, etc., lost their customers and had to come over to towns for a living. The result was, villages were left neglected and become ruined. But our leaders have now realised that there can be no question of improving the country without improving villages. To solve our food problem greater attention has to be paid to agriculture.
And for this, educated men with knowledge of improved methods of culti vation must have to be drawn to villages. Cottage in ustries must be developed in villages to make them self-sufficient as before. So attempts are being made by the Government under Community Development Projects to make village life as attractive as before. Roads are being constructed, dispensaries and health centres are being established, schools and libraries are being set up, and tubewells are being sunk to supply good drinking water. Loans on easy terms are given to cultivators, weavers, smiths, etc., to start business. As a result of these steps, considerable improvement, have already been effected. There is every hope that further improvements in village life will come in near future, resulting in the prosperity of the country.
