- 1. An individual,
- 2. A family and
- 3. A village/ Gram Panchayat of Viksit Bharat should have a
- 4. Comparable Human Development Index (HDI) to that of developed nations.
- 5.Comparable ownership of assets to that of developed nations by individuals/ families.
- 6. Comparable infrastructures in villages to that of developed nations.
Definitions for individuals and families can be derived from the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) published by NITI AYOG in 2021 and 2023. Achieving pre-defined goals in each of 12 indicators of 3 dimensions of health, education and living standards shall qualify as a citizen of Viksit Bharat. The Gram Panchayat where all families achieve these goals shall become Viksit Gram Panchayat from the citizen point of view. All Gram Panchayats in a block, district and State achieving these goals become Viksit block, district and State respectively.
The 3 indicators under health dimension are malnutrition among children/ women or men, child mortality and antenatal care to pregnant woman. The two indicators under education are children below age of 14 not attending school and families where nobody above age 10 are educated. The 7 indicators under living standards are ownership of a pacca house, toilet, electricity connection, gas connection, drinking water availability within 30 minutes walk, bank account and ownership of at least two assets totaling to twelve indicators.
Kerala state has declared on 1st November 2025 that it has Eliminated Extreme Poverty.
The ownership of assets are listed as radio, television, telephone, computer, animal cart, cycle, motorcycle, refrigerator, truck and car. The last entry ‘car’ needs further examination.
Per thousand car ownership of certain developed countries are; USA – 850, Poland – 761, Italy – 756 etc. Permission for driving a car is not granted to children below the age of 16 years. This is a universal rule. So, if a country has a birth rate of 10 per thousand then 160 children are born per thousand in 16 years. Thus, car ownership of 840 (1000 minus 160) will mean car ownership by every individual above 16 years of age. Similarly, a birth rate of 15 will mean 240 children in 16 years. In this situation 760 cars per thousand population will mean individual car ownership. This analysis shows that in developed countries every individual owns a car.
The desire for ownership of ‘mobility assets’ in India is similar. This can be examined by analysing the trend in Motorcycle ownership. It has shown a rising trend from 11 percent of households in 1998-99, 19% in 2005-06, 40.6% in 2015 to 47% in 2025. The income level that allows a household to purchase a car symbolically should be achieved by every family and individual whether in actuality they buy a car or not. Actually, they should go for an electric vehicle.
Defining the income level
Unlike in the English language where rich people are called ‘Millionaires’ in India they are called ‘Lakhpati’. A family becoming ‘Lakhpati’ for a long period can afford a car in our country. It is heartening to note that the country has started using terminology like ‘Lakhpati Didi’. Also, the honourable Chief Minister of UP has set a vision of every family’s ability to earn ₹1.25 lakhs annually.
From these one can think of deriving definitions for ownership of assets or income levels of families/ individuals in Viksit Bharat. Government of Maharashtra has issued a government resolution on 14th December 2022 in which all 12 deprivation indicators of MPI have been sought to be tackled by enhancing the income level of households in 4 stages. However, its implementation will now take speed after the advent of VB G RAM G.
What facilities should be available in a Viksit Gram Panchayat? This we will come to know only after detailed participatory planning of pilot Gram Panchayats. However, each village should have road connectivity upto farms, paved internal roads with proper drainage, safe drinking water, Har Khet Ko Pani if average rainfall in the village is more than 500 mm. Good quality buildings for school, anganwadi, Panchayat office and recreation center, community hall etc. Telephone networks of mobile and electricity transformers (DP) that give proper voltage for running irrigation pumps are other necessities. Some villages are planning to purchase ambulances. However, one needs to ascertain its requirements. Some villages are keen on opening libraries.
Nand Kumar, IAS (Rtd)
