Athena Infonomics 63d ago

At the inaugural Rubanomics Global Forum Leadership Roundtable in Oxford, Shri Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, offered a powerful reflection on how we need to rethink development itself. Moving beyond traditional binaries, rural vs urban, state vs market, he emphasized a shift towards viewing economies as interconnected, adaptive systems, where growth, resilience, and inclusion must evolve together. Drawing on India’s experience, he highlighted how large-scale public programmes have expanded connectivity, strengthened livelihoods, and brought millions into the fold of economic participation. But the larger point was clear: future growth cannot be built through isolated interventions or segmented thinking, it must be designed as a system that responds to both opportunity and risk. A key part of this transformation lies in how we think about rural regions, not as parallel spaces, but as central drivers of economic expansion, resilience, and inclusion. He also pointed to the emerging role of AI as an amplifier of human potential, enabling better market intelligence, targeted support, improved service delivery, and stronger livelihood pathways. But equally important was the reminder that technology must be grounded in local contexts, traditions, and trust. As he noted, the question is no longer whether rural regions will be part of future growth, but how we design systems that enable them to lead it. The conversation at Rubanomics reinforces a larger idea — that inclusive growth at scale will depend not just on innovation, but on collaborative action across systems, sectors, and geographies. #RubanomicsGlobalForum #SkollWorldForum #EquitableGrowth #SocialImpact #InnovationEcosystems #GlobalDevelopment