Abstract
The focus of this review is the sustainability of villages under the ‘Smart Village’ concept with special emphasis on the Border Villages, primarily that of the Punjab state. Based on various case studies, this article summarizes some of the major issues and challenges which these border villages face. What hindrances they have? Which rural development plans are implemented and how sustainable are their environments?The review is based on the implementation of ‘Smart Village’ concept in the villages worldwide, an effort to make them more sustainable.Fast progress and development of rural and urban communities is adversely affecting the environment on account of unsustainable technologies. Sustainability of ecosystem is the most important prerequisite of all development plans, be it the Smart City or Smart Village. The study aims to project different case studies taken up globally as well as locally under thisconcept.It reflects that border villages are in a state of neglect and need attention. It also aims to highlight various constraints and problems of the border villages along with certain trans-boundary environmental issues.Findings indicate that the various government plans/schemes launched at different times,are less effective due to lack of proper follow up.Theneed of the hour is to make a country wide comprehensive development plan to identify the actual issues. It must be in an integrated manner, primarilywithpeople’s participation to make the villages in the vicinity of international border environmentally smart and sustainable.
Highlights
Sustainability is the basic requirement to nurture all the natural resources for existence, thereby maintaining and avoiding their depletion for an ecological balance
Rural development with focus on the above issues laid the foundation of the SMART VILLAGE concept
There are many issues that have been overlooked while policy planning which would have accelerated the rural development towards sustainability
Summary
Sustainability is the basic requirement to nurture all the natural resources for existence, thereby maintaining and avoiding their depletion for an ecological balance. The basic theme of this programme pivots around the concept of Gram Swaraj (Self-reliant) and Adarsh (Ideal) Gram, foresighted by the Father of the Nation[17] and Village Swaraj.[18,19] This scheme aims at holistic rural development accomplished through improved living standards and quality village life. The purpose of this yojana (scheme) is to develop model villages, firstly by the adoption of some villages by their respective Member of Parliament to make them smart and sustainable. Map. 1: International Border (Western) of Punjab with Pakistan (Source: Maps of India)
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