Self-sufficiency of villages is vital for livelihoods: Governor

Hyderabad, Oct 3: Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said on Saturday that self-sufficiency of villages was vital for the livelihoods of the people and the development of the nation.

She stated that we must all strive to ensure the all-round development of villages so as to make them self-sufficient in the true spirit of Gram Swarajya as envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi.

Addressing the valedictory of the 150th Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti Utsav, organised by the Gramodaya Chamber of Commerce and Technology (GCOT), the Governor said self-sufficient villages would immensely contribute to the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Referring to the migration of people from rural to urban areas, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said that had the villages were self-sufficient they would have been able to ensure the livelihoods of all the sections and the migration would not have been there on such a scale.

The Governor pointed out initiatives like Swachh Bharat, Atma Nirbhar Bharat, National Educational Policy and the recent agricultural legislations were aimed at fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s vision and ideals.

Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi had always insisted on cleanliness by saying that cleanliness was next only to godliness and at the same time called for the experiential learning in education. These two visions are being fulfilled through Swachh Bharat and National Educational Policy-2020 respectively.

As stated by Mahatma Gandhi, who said that India lives in its villages, the Governor exhorted the people to join hands in strengthening the village economy and agriculture so as to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

The Governor appreciated the efforts of Gramodaya Chamber of Commerce and Technology, which was started by alumni of Osmania University, for their efforts in the field of rural development.

GCOT functionaries A. Shyam Mohan, Mereddy Shyam Prasad Reddy, Dr. B. Pratap Reddy, Delhi Vasanth, Dr. G. Rameshwar Rao, P. Ram Reddy, Ramchander Pulijala, Prasad Rao Pasam, S. Ravinder, Sravan Madap and Raju VK were among those who were present in the virtual meeting.