Nurturing Resilient Communities: An Overview

The rampant consumerism, wasteful lifestyle, and unchecked greed have pushed our planet to the brink and exacerbated social inequalities. Business as usual is no longer a viable option, as it threatens biodiversity and the survival of future generations. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the systemic unsustainable practices of our market and society. The traditional model of development, which prioritizes infinite growth, resource extraction, and increased consumption, inevitably leads to the dispossession of marginalized populations. It is necessary to adopt approaches that challenge our ever-increasing demands on limited resources and prioritize responsible innovation, production, and consumption that promote greater equity. In this chapter, we adopt the Gandhian approach and develop the Sarvodaya framework to create a self-reliant, locally based economy that benefits the base of the pyramid. Social entrepreneurs, influenced by Gandhian philosophy, have developed initiatives that offer viable alternatives for building a relatively more self-reliant, locally based economy. Through constructive work, trusteeship, Sarvodaya, Swaraj, Antyodaya, village-centric development, and communities of care, these entrepreneurs are creating self-sufficient and resilient communities and prefiguring a more sustainable and equitable future. These concepts can serve as a starting point for creating viable alternatives that benefit not only marginalized populations but also save the planet.