Chapter 7: Conclusions and Pragmatic Strategies

This section recapitulates the major research findings based on the analysis in each of the chapters and presents the various policy implications emanating from the same. Having explained why rural India deserves better development strategies, pragmatic interventions, genuine public concern and, above all, strong political will of the governments, it pleads for realistic approaches affecting the overall social welfare. It must be realised that the attainment of social development largely lies in the provision of the human basic needs and necessities, especially to the destitute, vulnerable and unaffordable sections. Public authorities including the government being the providers cannot afford to deprive these needs and suspend the provisions any longer. If equality in welfare is achieved and development discrimination is erased, the government shall be proactive for these causes. The development of individual and family-centric social infrastructure (good housing, drinking water, sanitation, quality energy and lighting) is yet to complete the cycle of the total need of the rural areas. If the development of community-centric social infrastructure (parks and greeneries, service outlets, arts and culture centres, emergencies and fire, cemeteries and others) is still a luxury in semi-urban areas, less said the better about them in rural areas. With this backdrop, this chapter also offers several policy inferences for policy changes and approaches in public interventions, given the domestic need as well as international concern/pressure/mandate to achieve an inclusive, healthier and welfare-centric society. The following are the main concluding observations of the book and feasible policy implications as inputs to the public commitment.