The revolution of green economy is starting from villages: Fifth India Rural Dialogue was held at Raipur Management Institute
MoU signed between Forest Department and Transform Rural India Institute for cooperation in green transformation
Raipur, August 4, 2025
Taking a remarkable initiative towards realizing green development in Chhattisgarh with public participation, the fifth Bharat Gramin Samvad-2025 was successfully concluded today in a joint organization of Indian Institute of Management Raipur and Transform Rural India Institute. The topic of Chhattisgarh’s journey of green economic change under the leadership of villages was discussed in detail on the strategy to take the state forward in the green direction.
On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma joined virtually and shared his views, saying that if traditional knowledge and resources are used sustainably keeping villages at the centre, we can protect the environment as well as strengthen the rural economy. He said that the state can be made a green state by promoting organic farming, solar energy and employment opportunities at the local level. He also clarified that the state government is fully committed in this direction.
During the program, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Forest Department and Transform Rural India Institute for cooperation in green transformation. Management Institute Raipur presented five main pillars of green development of the state which included conservation of traditional farming and forest resources, green employment and environmental tourism, promotion of local production, people’s participation in solar energy based village-power management and creation of policy and institutional framework. Panchayat representatives, social organizations, women, entrepreneurs and subject experts participated in the program. Everyone expressed their views on topics like water conservation, quality of education, lack of traditional seeds, deforestation, waste management and dependence on chemical farming.
Additional Chief Secretary of Forest and Climate Change Department, Smt. Richa Sharma said that Chhattisgarh is a forest-rich state. The natural wealth and public participation here can lay the foundation of an ideal model of green development. Principal Secretary of Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Smt. Niharika Barik Singh said that gram panchayats will become the pivot of this green change and women will be given the leadership role in this change. Secretary of Panchayat Department, Shri Bhim Singh informed that now the panchayats will be evaluated on the basis of water conservation, cleanliness and green standards. Secretary of Good Governance Convergence Department, Shri Rahul Bhagat said that it is the need of the hour that the community should be made a participant and doer of the green economy instead of considering it only as a government plan.
Experts present at the event also suggested that revival of traditional industries in villages, judicious use of water resources, reviving cottage industries and promoting handicrafts can further strengthen the pace of green development.
