India is considered a bright spot in the global economy, though economists differ on measures required to maintain this status. While the government's initiatives such as Smart city, Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India along with reforms are likely to have a positive impact on the economy, the key is to harness the untapped potential of rural areas and Tier II and Tier III towns. It's time to transform villages and small towns as sustainable model villages and towns through a combination of several initiatives such as creating handicrafts corridors across the country or introducing Make in rural India . Handicrafts and cottage industry corridors can not only help revive many such industries facing risk of extinction, but also help counter dumping of cheaper products by other countries. We need not need more schemes and programmes. The central government or state governments can customize existing schemes for towns and rural areas such as Swaach gram progra...
The concept of blue economy has gained significance in the recent years. The sustainable development goal (SDG) 14 of the United Nations lays emphasis on sustainable use of ocean, seas and marine resources. Countries in the Indian Ocean region have also recognized the potential and significance of oceans, coastal and marine resources. This resulted in the signing of the Jakarta Declaration on Blue Economy in 2017. However, there are challenges such as natural disasters, climate change, pollution, acidification, overfishing, and plastic waste. An open and collaborative approach is required by conservationists, general public, coastal communities, governments and businesses to safeguard, create, and ensure sustainable marine and coastal ecosystems as well as livelihoods. It is important for all stakeholders to have an understanding of the ultimate objectives of the priority sectors.