Tired of hearing and cribbing about all kinds of problems with no solutions in sight? The Model Village in Kuthambakkam is a refreshing case of social, economic and political transformation which is a result of a persistence, commitment and a sense of belong that exists within this community under the leadership of Rangasamy Elango, a young Dalit Head of Gram Panchayat in this village in Thiruvallur District some 30km from Chennai.
In 1996, Elango returned to his native village to build economies of permanence by unleashing the potential of the villagers. A chemical engineer by profession, Elango believed in the idea of Panchayati Raj and the possibility of self-reliance in rural India and has now proven that it is possible make real systemic changes that count. He has also brought this system of self-reliance to other rural villages that embrace Panchayati Raj, thus heading toward creating a cluster of villages in India that would achieve success through decentralized governance.
Successes of Kuthambakkam
Self-Reliance
The people now see the benefits of processing agricultural produce locally, thus enjoying economic self-sufficiency and preservation of pride and dignity. Elango says, “We think of ourselves as consumers only of finished goods, but there is no reason why we cannot be the buyers of the unfinished goods as well as the processors who make the unfinished goods. In the same move, you can eliminate all the middleman costs and also find employment through new economic activity.”
Ecological Sustenance
The model villagers are in every way respectful of the environment and employ eco-friendly ways of co-existence with the environment i.e. recycling and use of renewable energy. In addition to water harvesting methods in place, the village also has street lights that use solar power.
Education
Thanks to progressive leadership, every child in Kuthakambam goes to school. Every member of the community engages in workshops and training in various ongoing projects including dairy processing, water harvesting technology, soap-making processing unit, groundnut oil processing among others. This ensures learning, skill-building and consequentially increased participation of the members in this unique community-building exercise.
Free Trade Zone
After observing the fruits of this system of mutual dependence in good faith, Elango began interactions with other Panchayat leaders in Tamil Nadu to create a cluster of villages to fall under this model of self-sustenance and founded a Panchayat Academy that now comprises of 700 Panchayat leaders across the state. If one village lacked a certain resource, another village within the cluster would help out and vice versa.
Integration through Twin-Housing
In a place where before the Panchayati Raj Act was introduced, more than 50% populated was Dalit and was still heavily discriminated, Elango managed to build 50 twin houses within a colony that means “place for equality” with each house inhabited by one Dalit and non-Dalit individual. Later, the Tamil Nadu Government adopted this infrastructural model and implemented it in the entire state.
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