A template for attaining sustainable growth throughout the world

The 7th Edition of the Ideal Village Conference was held at Banaras Hindu University’s Swarantrata Bhavan. The conference was organised by Stanford University, WHEELS Global Foundation, Pan-lIT Alumni, and Banaras Hindu University to look at the best practices from successful rural transformation implementation

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Several Central and State Ministers, Industry and CSR Leaders, Rural (Panchayat) Community Leaders, Bureaucrats, Policy Makers, Academic Leaders, Social Impact Organizations, Foundations, Trusts, Academia, Research Labs, and NGOs discussed six conference tracks during the three day conference, including water and sanitation, healthcare and nutrition, energy and environment, and education and skill development.

WHAT IS IDEAL VILLAGE? 

Speaking about the conference's theme, Dr. Kanwaljeet J.S. Anand, Stanford University, stated that more than 800 participants from 20 countries, including more than 50 businesses and colleges, were attending. He added: We can shake the foundations as and when there is an ideal village happening around us, across India.

Some may call this a battle cry of the business, teachers, and administrators. But, this is more than a battle cry. We are trying to change the environment. We can shake the foundations as and when there is an ideal village happening around us, across India.

Arjun Malhotra, Co-founder HCL Group and Wheels Global Foundation, said the foundation organized its first conference back in 2005. He added: We have a smart village program going on in the Aravallis. The solutions that we are looking at will be applied all over the world.

After that during the inauguration address Surya Pratap Shahi, Agriculture Minister, Agriculture Education and Research, UP Government, noted that the endeavor for rural development was started by Prime Minister in 2014. He added: This is a revolutionary meeting being held today. It is looking at development. The government is dedicated to rural welfare. Mahatma Gandhi said that we want a village government. The concept of ideal village also came from there.