AP’s Capital Amaravati is getting loans – from World Bank, ADB, KfW Germany, HUDCO et al. Likely.
Union approved NMNF. 1.0 Crore farm families into Natural Farming on 7.5 lakh hectares with Rs.2500 Crore. In 15 months. Less than 25 cents, quarter acre per family? Rs.2500 per family? Can we look at this as seeding 7.5 lakh hectares. The work that begins now would be completed in the next 3-5 years, with additional budget. With 150,000 CRPs. 10 potential CRPs per GP. Each CRP works with 5 hectares or 12.5 acres, to develop and showcase. This is intense work with 20 farmers. Extensively, each CRP works with 70-80 families. Plausible to begin. Rs.2500 Crore translates as Rs.13,000 per CRP/month for 12 months, including training. But no other costs. May not be right.
Let us see how guidelines are evolving. We need to commission in January 2025 to seed ‘something’ substantial. AP and NRO states have to take the lead. CSOs can lead. NRLM may give funds additionally to converge with and do more farm families and farms into NF. Will the PM PRANAM guidelines get finalized soon and the Government of India starts giving 50% (47.5% precisely) subsidy savings? This financial year, 2024-25? If yes, PM PRANAM can also fund some of the NMNF transformation effort, by taking this subsidy savings. Will World Bank, ADB, KfW – can they come forward to fund NF scaling? Next 100-200 days can be crucial in figuring out all of these.
With 15 Crore farm families in India, at least 10 Crore have to transform. Remaining join the bandwagon in due course. 10-15 lakh CRPs, for at least 5 years each are needed. 5-10 years to position them. It turns out to be a 15-20 year agenda. Amrt Kaal agenda. We need to add technical support beyond CRPs. Education, Models, Enterprises, Certification architecture, community collectives, and so onso on. All this means Rs.500,000 Crore, with 50% for CRPs – remuneration, capacity, models et al. This juggernaut requires tiered leadership: scaling, systems, integration nationally; at state level; at district level; and in field. This leadership and teams that drive are required. How is it emerging? If not, it could turn out to be a ‘routine’ scheme, done in bits and pieces. Mission would then be a misnomer. A promise of systems change, scaling, and communities taking charge of their destiny would be believed. PKVY, BPKP, just started, but could not go scaling.
NMNF offers promise. A la NRLM, NULM. Nation is keen. Government is mounting it step-by-step. Opposition is for it. People are not asking why, but what and how. Examples, models, protocols for/in various situations are there. Theory of change is demonstrated. Investment into architecture is trickling in. Scientific community is turning around. Can we all help in delivering this promise?
AR Rahman – Saira Banu announce separation after 29 years of marriage. Dhanush – Aishwarya Rajnikanth are granted divorce, after 18 years of marriage. Grey divorces? Impact-wise, are they not worse than death? Ambiguous loss? Loneliness? How do they adjust, find support, be social, practice self-care, manage stress, navigate living usefully and deliberately? Meditation, reflection help.
Paradox: increasing work limiting conditions, physical-mental-emotional ill health vs. workloads increasing. Can we practice ‘presence’, quality of interactions, ‘internal’ check, celebrate small victories, and reflect? Daily. Can we enjoy the beauty of life’s simple moments?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, keep flowing. Chalo ekla, milke. Relentless. In N? abhyaasayoga for 7L.
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