On a recent visit to Korea, I listened with rapt attention to the narrative of transformation of the country from a ‘basket case’, a euphemism for a poor country looking for doles, to one of the most leading economies of the world.
‘What could have been the main causes of this spectacular transformation?’, one wondered. when such a question was posed to the people of Korea in a country wide poll some time back, a majority of the people voted for the “Saemaul undong”. Literall meaning “a new village”, the Saemaul undong was a movement rolled out in 1970 by the then Military Head of State, General Park chung Hee.
It was a movement aimed at transforming the people and landscape of the village based on the principles of self-help, co-operation and diligence.
While different villages responded with varying levels of enthusiasm and results, this movement with its system of evaluation and rewards also rolled out a spirit of competition and positive inspiration for the villagers to take charge of their villages and collectively move towards transforming their individual villages.
The movement initially started with a shelf of ten projects aimed at changing the quality of life of the villages and went on to become a nation wide movement that subsumed work places, factories and educational institutions. Systematic care and due importance was given to the careful selection of projects, their proper implememtation, extensive and regular training of all the stakeholders, monitoring, evaluation and course corrections. A large numebr of Saemaul leaders were created to infuse life and spirit into the nation building activities at the village and shop floor levels, alike.
The macro impact of this micro effort at every village, factory and institution was dramatic and went on to change the face of the country. This simple yet powerful idea unleashed the dormant human capabilities which was otherwise locked up under the heavy shackles of laziness, inertia, hopelessness and lack of self faith. One step led to another and gradually people came to genuinely believe in the rewards that undoubtedly follow hard work and sincere efforts. The income levels of the people perceptibly went up.
A powerful lesson that we in india could learn from the Saemaul movement is to work on augmenting human capabilities at the village and ward level for building a resurgent india, to truly take her place as the world leader in this century.
‘What could have been the main causes of this spectacular transformation?’, one wondered. when such a question was posed to the people of Korea in a country wide poll some time back, a majority of the people voted for the “Saemaul undong”. Literall meaning “a new village”, the Saemaul undong was a movement rolled out in 1970 by the then Military Head of State, General Park chung Hee.
It was a movement aimed at transforming the people and landscape of the village based on the principles of self-help, co-operation and diligence.
While different villages responded with varying levels of enthusiasm and results, this movement with its system of evaluation and rewards also rolled out a spirit of competition and positive inspiration for the villagers to take charge of their villages and collectively move towards transforming their individual villages.
The movement initially started with a shelf of ten projects aimed at changing the quality of life of the villages and went on to become a nation wide movement that subsumed work places, factories and educational institutions. Systematic care and due importance was given to the careful selection of projects, their proper implememtation, extensive and regular training of all the stakeholders, monitoring, evaluation and course corrections. A large numebr of Saemaul leaders were created to infuse life and spirit into the nation building activities at the village and shop floor levels, alike.
The macro impact of this micro effort at every village, factory and institution was dramatic and went on to change the face of the country. This simple yet powerful idea unleashed the dormant human capabilities which was otherwise locked up under the heavy shackles of laziness, inertia, hopelessness and lack of self faith. One step led to another and gradually people came to genuinely believe in the rewards that undoubtedly follow hard work and sincere efforts. The income levels of the people perceptibly went up.
A powerful lesson that we in india could learn from the Saemaul movement is to work on augmenting human capabilities at the village and ward level for building a resurgent india, to truly take her place as the world leader in this century.
- Mrs. Jayanti S. Ravi
