Rural India back on politicians' itinerary

The farm sector's contribution to Indian economy is just around 20 per cent and rural India is in a shambles.

But with talk of mid-term elections in the air, the political class is not giving up any opportunity to project itself as a friend of this "other" India, which accounts for over 70 per cent votes.

Inaugurating the Rural Business Summit organised by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Rural Development and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath stridently called on industry, government and other stakeholders to concentrate on rural India.

"Till farmers are freed of indebtedness, agriculture will remain crippled," he said. Coming from a minister whose advocacy of special economic zones (SEZs) is no secret, the pro-farmer sentiments raised some eyebrows.

"Recently, I took some top industry leaders to my constituency in Madhya Pradesh. Amid the villagers, I told them that India cannot claim proudly that it has a 9.2 per cent growth rate," said the MP from Chhindwara. "This growth will not be sustained till it touches everybody... the bubble will burst if we do not change the course of our growth which should go to every part of the country," he said.

The election effect also touched Minister for Rural Development and RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who asked the "business class" to concentrate not just on their businesses but also work for the rural people.

The minister, who claims to be pro-poor, cleared the air. "You people make profits and I will support you in that. But please take care of your rural brethren," he said. "No business can run well if the buying capacity of the common man decreases," he said, pointing to the rising prices of essential commodities like vegetables.

So, the two ministers, who are reported to be at loggerheads on issues like land acquisition and SEZs, spoke in unison today.

Though during different sessions, both sought similar initiatives for rural areas "" capacity building for rural produce, bank linkages for agriculture and other income generating activities and wasteland development.

The highlight of the two-day summit will be the valedictory address by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who as a minister has nothing to do with the sector.

Mukherjee's presence is meant to showcase the UPA government's stated pro-poor approach. In tune with the election mood, the ministries of finance, panchayati raj, small and medium enterprises, textile, IT, tribal affairs and external affairs are involved with the summit.

PK Bansal, minister of state for finance, is scheduled to address a session on "Leveraging Financial Services to Rural Entrepreneurs" tomorrow.