How does a society, a nation, or a community become “developed”?
The practice and debate on development interventions during last few years have adequately shown that top-down interventions alone, while increasing numerical growth indices (e.g., GDP, per capita income, etc.), fail to adequately impact the lives of people and their environs. There is, therefore, a need to also look at alternative “grounds-up” models and approaches to development.
Such models of development will be characterized by a more integrated effort comprising some of the following:
Community-led, empowered self-governance systems (development / facilitation of participative/democratic and transparent local institutions for decision-making, planning and execution, which also include socially and economically weaker section of the community)
Sustainable and equitable use and regeneration of local natural resources (e.g., rain-water harvesting, composting, land-leveling, etc.)
Strengthening the capacities, confidence and skills of the community to solve their own problems, and create/ engage in livelihoods and income-generation activities.
Application and innovation of environmentally sustainable and ‘appropriate’ technology to solve local developmental problems (e.g., low-cost housing, local medicinal plants, renewable energy sources, etc.)
Overall well-being of the community, reduction in poverty and inequality, and development of local economy, etc.
This conference aims to bring together some of the practitioners of such developmental models and to provide opportunity to discuss, learn and co-create solutions which are more sustainable and inclusive outcomes.
Correspondingly, the theme of this conference is:
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