Implications of ignoring rural areas

Mental images often provide us with what we think we know about the world. For example, our notions about the problems of the poorest countries are saturated with images of starving children, cold-blooded multinationals and crooked politicians. Such images provide us a vision and a sense of direction. So for the past three decades, cities in the developing world have tended to follow the ‘concrete jungle’ model of urban development that Western cities did generations ago. This image of the future, of unbridled growth without concern for nature or livability has led to the rise of ‘Manhattans’ in developing world cities. Likewise the image of multiple lane roads and mass transit systems in Western countries has prompted similar initiatives in the developing world. The Orange Line and motorways are products of this xeroxing of mental images.

Interestingly most of these visions of the future are centered on urban futures. But an enormous vacuum in our thinking is about visions for our rural areas. It is an open secret that the most under-priortised of our current challenges is the gradual decline of the village. The result of which has been the merger of villages into neighbouring cities and the inevitable growth of urbanisation. For the first time in human history, urban population has surpassed the number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas today face a crisis of mass exodus, inequity, depletion of employment opportunities, climate change and sadly a loss of human dignity.

Yet, when I question experts on rural areas and rural uplift, I am met with amused gazes. What is our defining image or vision for our villages? What is the preferred future that we aspire to achieve in the rural areas in the next 25 to 30 years? There simply seems to be no answer and half-baked solutions. If we were to summarise the most rural uplift efforts in a nutshell, it would be ‘more urbanisation’ or simply ‘facilitating urbanisation’. To this day and age the dominant image associated with villages is that of backwardness, filthy lanes, nonflexible traditions and indifferent attitude towards technological innovations.

So there is a need for dialogue on making our rural areas self-sustaining and more resilient, so that they can brace themselves in the face of emerging issues. This has to start at determining a mental image of our preferred future. What is the future of rural culture and villages in the age of globalisation? There are so many questions on moving forward while preserving linkages with indigenous knowledge, sustainable and inclusive development of villages in Pakistan. Achieving the SDGs and integrity of rural life is closely interlinked with each other and it will be impossible to achieve SDGs without considering the future of rural intellect, culture and workplaces.

We could take the easy path and facsimile ideas inspired by clichéd images and stories of success in the developed world. But caution needs to be added. The method of best practice lesson-drawing (emulation) must be balanced with context-specific and history-sensitive analysis and prescriptions. Otherwise history is replete with examples of failed interventions and costly experiments. There already are a lot of questions on the efficacy, sustainability and environmental implications of the Metro system and Orange line. Likewise, the concrete jungle model of urban development has brought with it issues of equity, fresh water depletion, congestion, pollution and loss of cultural identity. Emulation has been a part of the human psyche since time immemorial. The trick is to envision what we want at the end of the day and balance it with a better appreciation and understanding of history and world experience.

Our success or failure in building sustainable rural areas will be a major factor in the success of our development agendas. If managed well, our villages still offer important opportunities for economic development and food security, and can form the base for expanding access to basic civic services, including healthcare and education, for a large part of our populace.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2017.

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