“We need overhauling of the entire system of rural development full of inefficiencies, unhealthy practices and misuse of the provisions in schemes with polluted mindsets of the nexus of politicians and corrupt officials,” opined former Vice Chancellor and Kurukshetra based Needonomist, Professor M.M. Goel. He was delivering online lecture organised by Academy of Grassroots Studies and Research of India (AGRASRI), Tirupati on the topic ‘Relevance of Needonomics for Atmanirbharta in Rural India’. Dr. D. Sunder Ram Founder Director and moderator of the event delivered the welcome address and presented a citation on the achievements of Prof. Goel.

For atmanirbharta in rural India, we need to learn from Saemaul Model of rural development and ‘palli palli’ culture of South Korea involving all with only eleven per cent contribution of the government through training and material instead of money in cash to villages, explained Prof. Goel.

He said that atmanirbharta in rural India is necessary and sufficient condition for sustainable development with the use of solar energy, rain harvesting and rural tourism as in Malaysia.

We have to adopt NAW (Need, Affordability and Worth) approach of agro products marketing with needonomics in choices of all kinds, explained Prof. Goel.

Atmanirbharta in rural India calls for street smart villagers as consumers, producers, distributors and traders, told needonomist Goel. To obtain atmanirbharta in rural India, we need REACH model consisting of five steps including reading Gita, empowerment with enlightenment, altruistic approach, commitment and holding needs, believe Prof. Goel.