Every year, a large population, especially youth move into urban areas in search of economic opportunities, increasing pressure on city systems, especially metros and large cities, and often kicking off a yet another cycle of deprivation and poor quality of life. The economic measures announced by the Government of India are creating significant pathways to boost the local economies, by improving both ‘ease of living’ and ‘ease of doing business’ in rural areas. However, with one in every four Indians identified as multidimensionally poor (MPI report 2021, NITI Aayog), much is desired to be achieved.

The need of the hour is to innovate and amplify efforts for Transformation of the Rural Economy for bringing about economic development in rural India. The concept of “Transformation of Rural Economy” is based on the fundamental premise that the economic growth for a rural ecosystem can be maximized when exhibiting a ‘localized model’ that may include identifying, enabling and aggregating economic activities, allows amplification of growth drivers and acts as a catalyst for such economic activities through multiple modes of engagement – utilizing innovative approach of partnering with local actors /entrepreneurs, social enterprises and community-based organizations, complemented by effective administrative support.