New Delhi, Jan. 31 -- I have lived in the rural town of Phaltan in western Maharashtra since late 1981. I will describe the changes that I have witnessed in the last 40 years. Similar changes have taken place in other parts of rural India where urbanization of rural areas is taking place at a great cost to the quality of life and reduction in farming areas. Unfortunately, corruption has resulted in unplanned growth in these areas; so all the ills of urban areas have come to rural areas without getting their benefits.

In 1981 we purchased a barren 2-acre plot around 5 km from the centre of Phaltan town, which is about 250 km from Mumbai. We got this land at a throwaway price since the owner had cultivated it to death. The owner hardly use...