The India of 2047 should see a strengthening of rural governance. Panchayati Raj institutions need to be given financial and decision-making autonomy. Training programmes for local leaders can ensure efficient governance and implementation of development schemes for the final beneficiaries.
For India, realising the Viksit Bharat vision will require a context-specific approach. This includes leveraging the private sector’s capabilities, ensuring last-mile development in rural areas, and embracing green growth as a cornerstone of progress.
Inclusive education
Dedicated programs to develop infrastructure such as accessible washrooms for girls, and buildings that are disabled friendly through increased financial allocations are essential to achieve this inclusivity.
Preparing India’s workforce for the challenges of tomorrow—fields like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and biotechnology—demands a renewed focus on vocational training and employability. India’s higher education sector must become a global leader in cutting edge research. By 2047, Indian universities must rank among the world’s best, driving research in critical areas like climate change, healthcare, and technology. Enhanced funding, international collaborations, and academic autonomy will be crucial to take this forward.
Bridge rural-urban divide
India’s development story will remain incomplete without addressing the rural-urban divide. With over 65 per cent of the population residing in villages, bringing them into the fold of mainstream development is paramount for achieving the Vision 2047. For this we must focus on digital connectivity. BharatNet aims to provide broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats. By 2047, this vision should be expanded to ensure every household in rural India has high-speed internet, empowering them with access to education, healthcare, and e-commerce.
Transportation infrastructure must be strengthened, not just via roads but Railways as well. All-weather roads connecting every village under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) must be complemented by efficient public transport networks. High-speed and dedicated freight corridors should connect rural markets to urban hubs, fostering economic integration.
While initiatives like Jan Dhan Yojana have brought millions into the formal banking system. By 2047, every rural household should have access to credit, insurance, and digital payment systems, fostering entrepreneurship and economic independence. The Government can work with fintech firms and NBFCs to create instruments like alternate systems of credit scores and digitising micro-level business transactions to ensure more people get access to easy credit and are incentivised to enter the formal banking structure.
Finally, the India of 2047 should see a strengthening of rural governance. Panchayati Raj institutions need to be given financial and decision-making autonomy. Training programmes for local leaders can ensure efficient governance and implementation of development schemes for the final beneficiaries.
Working women
The female labour force in India remains underutilised. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey, female labour participation was around 41.7 per cent in 2023-2024 vis-a-vis 78.8 per cent for males. This disparity reflects deep rooted social and cultural barriers. According to the World Bank, women in India are also more likely than men to be working in more vulnerable jobs which offer lower income and job security.
Such systematic inequalities constrain our overall growth. According to a March 2024 National Family Health Survey, advancing gender equality could lead to a 30 per cent increase in India’s GDP. This highlights the urgency with which we must address the issue of female labour force participation (FLFP).
In my vision for a developed India, women will enter the workforce in equal numbers as men, leading to higher household incomes and this would have a multiplier effect on consumption and investment in the economy. Research consistently shows that organizations with more women in leadership achieve higher performance and profitability than their peers.
Increased financial independence will help women access better healthcare, education, and housing. This will not only benefit us in the short term, but will create ripple effects, strengthening society as a whole.
To be continued…