The issues of Income Inequality, urban migration and rural urban divide are interlinked. Dr.Abdul Kalam and Dr.P.V. Indiresan presented the PURA model to address these issues. A concerted and focused effort is needed to deliver success of the PURA Model in select geographies. It can serve as a Proof of concept for subsequent scaling up across the nation.

1. India’s over population is often cited as the reason for poverty
 Rural India can not be said to be over populated.
 It is under provided with job opportunities for its citizens.
 Hence the challenge is to create or move industries to rural India
 create higher order skill sets in citizens and
 create local jobs for them .
 It is a solution to the current migrant labour problem of many .
 Mass movement of labour from rural India has to be discouraged
through economic means.

2. Create Employment Opportunities in rural and semi urban India
 Govt investing in building rural infrastructure,
 moving private sector industries to rural through policy incentives,
 mandating that 80% of new educational institutions be set up there (
controversial?)
 promoting the MSME sectoral growth in semi urban towns are some
measures worth considering.

3. Land Holding patterns in India: (1hectare= 10000sqm: 1 ha= 2.47 acres)
https://www.gktoday.in/gk/agricultural-census/
There are five kinds of Land Holdings in India, depending on various sizes
as follows:
•Marginal holdings: Size 1 hectare or less
•Small holdings: Size 1 to 2 hectares
•Semi-medium holdings : Size 2 to 4 hectares
•Medium holdings: Size 4 to 10 hectares
•Large holdings: Size above 10 hectare
Small and
Marginal
farmers
constitute
85% of
households

4. https://www.quora.com/How-many-farmers-or-
agriculturists-are-there-in-India-and-how-many-are-
interested-to-work-in-agricultural-throughout-India *
Farmers and Agriculturalists in India
As per Registrar General of India & Census report 2011 the total farmers or cultivators population
of India is 118.7 million (2011) & 144.3 million agricultural workers/labourers which consists
31.55 % of total rural population.
Figures in millions
* Answer by Raghavendra Narayan in Quora , Oct 3, 2015

5. https://www.quora.com/How-many-farmers-or-
agriculturists-are-there-in-India-and-how-many-are-
interested-to-work-in-agricultural-throughout-India *
Farmers and Agriculturalists in India
* Answer by Raghavendra Narayan in Quora , Oct 3, 2015
A recent survey by the Centre for the
Study of Developing Societies (CSDS),
Delhi, and released by NGO Lokniti,
“State of Indian Farmers: A Report”,
conducted in 274 villages spread over
137 district of 18 Indian states, has found
that a big proportion of Indian farmers are
dissatisfied with their condition and would
like to shift to cities, if opportunities arise.
In that survey most of the farmers
think that city life is better than
villages (69 %)

6. https://www.quora.com/How-many-farmers-or-
agriculturists-are-there-in-India-and-how-many-are-
interested-to-work-in-agricultural-throughout-India *
Farmers and Agriculturalists in India
* Answer by Raghavendra Narayan in Quora , Oct 3, 2015
65 per cent farmers said that
other members from the
family also helped in activities
related to farming.
Around 62% farmers are
ready to quit farming if they
get good job (In %)
The survey found that nearly
three-fourths (72%) of farmers
like their profession & around
22% farmers said they do not
like doing farming.

7. How much does the Indian Farmer earn per year?
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rs-6-000-is-6-of-a-small-farmer-s-
annual-income-according-to-nsso-data/story-rddMw0hk6cSbxjo7E1GyKK.html
Feb 6,2019 by Abhishek Jha
85% of them
hold less
than 2
hectares and
earn about
Rs 7500
average per
month

8. Build
appropriate
skills
Create local
Employment
Create
Employment
opportunities
Create
Conducive
Ecosystem
Measure
Demand
Supply
Gap
Assess
Skill Gap
Measure
Population
demograp
hics
Measure
job counts
Create Skill
building
infrastructure
Continuing
skill
upgradation
Training Centres
Faculty
Funding
Assessment
Certification
Land Use Policy
Employment Policy
Funding Support
Market Support
Quality Certification
Inventory of
resources
Land
Water
Climate
Minerals
Promote
Entrepre
neurship

9. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/p-v-
indiresan/decongest-cities-the-pura-way/article22992112.ece
Decongest cities, the PURA way
P. V. INDIRESAN | Updated on November 02,
2012 Published on November 02, 2012
With the provision of urban amenities in rural areas, mega cities, with all the attendant risks
arising out of high population density, will cease to be necessary.
PURA, or Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas, is a scheme that aims to make rural
areas attractive places to reside for all, particularly the middle-class, by offering access to
virtually all the services that cities provide. However, PURA confines itself to providing
secondary-level services only — the kind large towns and small cities offer.

10. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/p-v-
indiresan/decongest-cities-the-pura-way/article22992112.ece
Decongest cities, the PURA way
P. V. INDIRESAN | Updated on November 02,
2012 Published on November 02, 2012
With the provision of urban amenities in rural areas, mega cities, with all the attendant risks
arising out of high population density, will cease to be necessary.
PURA is expected to attract industry too and generate a virtual cycle that will produce and
sustain jobs of the type that rural youth seek. That way, rural-urban migration is expected to
be mitigated.
Municipal Services: Water, energy, sanitation
Social Services: Education and training for employment, health services
Transport Services: Roads and public transport
Other services: Housing plus communications, commercial services, governance services
Transport connectivity