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Informative Article | Humanities | India | Volume 13 Issue 1, January 2024 | Rating: 5.5 / 10
Exploring Rural Transformation: Unnat Bharat Abhiyan Initiatives
Dr. Roma Smart Joseph
Abstract: Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, is a transformative initiative aimed at addressing human and economic development in rural villages through the active engagement of higher educational institutions. The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT, Delhi) serves as the National Coordinating Institute (NCI) for UBA. The primary objective of UBA is to achieve comprehensive development by encouraging higher educational institutions to adopt at least 5 villages and collaborate closely with local communities. The initiative emphasizes a participatory and multi - disciplinary approach, knowledge exchange, and capacity building to ensure community - driven and sustainable development. UBA focuses on building institutional capacity, providing training, and highlighting the significance of fieldwork, stakeholder interactions, and societal objectives in higher education. The research paper reflects on the key features of UBA, such as its participatory approach, multi - disciplinary strategy, and emphasis on knowledge exchange and capacity building. These features distinguish UBA as a holistic and impactful initiative for rural transformation. The paper also highlights the major areas of intervention, incorporating human development and sustainable economic development aspects. The diagram presented illustrates how interventions in economic development support and enhance human development outcomes, creating a virtuous cycle. It also explores some novel approaches introduced by UBA, including interactive virtual tours, success stories podcasts, collaborative art projects, rural entrepreneur spotlights, sustainable living workshops, rural tourism campaigns, and a virtual volunteer program. These innovative ideas aim to engage a wider audience and drive meaningful outcomes.
Keywords: Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Rural India, Development, Higher educational institutions, Sustainable transformation
Edition: Volume 13 Issue 1, January 2024,
Pages: 1091 - 1094