Sustainable Rural Development and Self-Reliance

Stan Burkey (1993) in his book “People First: A guide to self-reliant participatory rural development” highlighted the prerequisites of sustainable rural development. The conspicuous point are the use of participatory approach and involvement of local people with by motivating them to use their own resources (manpower and material). The following words on a page appeals a lot in the context of sustainable development.
“Go to the people
Live with them
Love them
Learn from them
Start with what they have
Build on what they know
And in the end
When the work is done
The people will rejoice:
“ We have done it ourselves!”
Stan Burkey….. (1993)

Being a reader, I would like to share perceptions pertinent to the above words/sentences. These words/sentences appear like a journey of people towards sustainable development. If we get deep insight it would be as clear as a day that for sustainable development, the local people can play a vital and pivotal role to reinforce and strengthen the development process on continuous basis. The first step towards sustainability is “Go to people”. It clearly reflects that if we want to develop rural people then we should go to rural areas to meet the rural people. “Live with them” indicates that living with rural people also paves the way of development by interacting rural people and experiencing the rural living styles in the real setting. “Love them” reflects that merely showing concern is not enough; there should be affectionate empathetic sentiments towards rural people by considering them valuable for you.

“Learn from them” underlines the importance of indigenous knowledge. Apparently it seems odd that learning from the local people, however, it is worthwhile to learn the indigenous knowledge from the local people (as wisdom). It is quite obvious that rural people have a wide range of local knowledge. So, it looks logical to learn from rural people for sound foundation of sustainability.

Sustainability also emerges from “ Start with what they have”. The desirable way towards sustainability is depending upon our own resources and taking a step towards self-reliance rather than depending upon other outside sources/resources. “ Build on what they knowledge” indicates that the local knowledge and wisdom should not be ignored for the solid grounds of sustainable development because informal channel is very strong for flourishing local knowledge. The local wisdom and knowledge are deep rooted and should be harnessed in an effective way.

And at the end…. When the work is done……. The people will rejoice …… “We have done it ourselves!”.

The aforesaid words/sentences reflect the core thriving forces, enthusiasm, self-motivation, self-esteem, self-confidence. It the real stimulus of feeling the worth and strength of “self-done and self- reliance” in the context of accomplishments. It is so much so important and significant that even after the stopping the assistance from the outside, development process will be continued due to ownership.

Whenever we talk about the development there appears a spark of progress and prosperity….. but …..how long it will continue…… we rarely think of it. Merely “Development” is not the real destination; our real destination should be sustainability in terms of development. Sustainable development is the real spirit of prolong and perpetual achievements with the active participation of local people. People are like the body parts society. If the people are active and self-reliant….. the society can thrive and flourish in a sustainable way.