IIM Raipur Hosts 5th India Rural Colloquy on Green Economy

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur, a leading institution recognized for #BuildingBusinessOwners, in collaboration with the Tribal Research Institute (TRI), the Department of Forest, and the Department of Green Governance, successfully hosted the 5th Edition of the India Rural Colloquy. Themed “Harit Arthvyavastha: Villages Leading Chhattisgarh’s Green Economic Transition,” the event brought together policymakers, grassroots leaders, students, and changemakers to reimagine rural India as engines of sustainable development.

The Colloquy featured a series of thought-provoking dialogues on how India's villages, where nearly 60% of the population resides, and over 80% in Chhattisgarh alone can drive the nation’s green economic transformation.

Prof. Sanjeev Parashar, Director-in-Charge, IIM Raipur stated “True development begins when each member of society is nurtured. The rural transformation we seek requires understanding, empathy, and inclusive strategies. By bringing together policymakers, grassroots leaders, academics, and students, we aim to foster meaningful dialogue on rural transformation and green economic transition. With over 60% of India’s population residing in rural areas, initiatives like this are essential to bridge the gap between policy and practice. IIM Raipur is proud to serve as a platform for such collaborations, ensuring that our academic insights translate into real-world impact.”

The inaugural session titled "Locality Compact for Green Economy Transition” witnessed heartfelt conversations with local leaders including female sarpanches, entrepreneurs, and progressive farmers who shared ground realities from rainwater harvesting challenges to harmful effects of chemical fertilizers.

Highlighting the event’s grassroots focus, Ms. Niharika Barik, IAS, Principal Secretary, Dept. of Panchayat and Rural Development, emphasized “The transition to a green economy is not just about technology but about local solutions, community ownership, and empowerment. The government is now a facilitator, and our people are the implementers.”

Mr. Bhim Singh, IAS, Secretary, Department of Panchayat & Rural Development, reiterated the importance of women-led development and panchayat-level engagement in schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission and the National Soil Health Mission, underlining that rural governance must lead the way in managing water, soil, and forest resources effectively.

Discussions highlighted the urgency of making policies more accessible and ensuring long-term sustainability. Farmers, sarpanches, and youth leaders voiced concerns about the loss of traditional farming practices, water scarcity, ineffective reforestation, and lack of awareness on bio-fertilizers and sustainable techniques. 

Dr. Rahul Bhagat, CM’s secretary & secretary, department of Good Governance & Convergence, stated “Green economy is not a luxury, it is a life strategy, this is about clean air, healthy soil, and resilient farmers. Every small act matters and must become a collective movement.”

Panel discussions explored themes such as value addition in rural economies, the role of women in sustainability, use of indigenous knowledge systems, and leveraging technology from drones to digital centers, to aid the farming community.

Concluding the event, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma lauded IIM Raipur and TRI for spearheading conversations around green development and emphasized the need for out-of-the-box thinking to transform rural India into self-reliant, green economic hubs.