URJAGRAM
URJAGRAM
Sustainable Development Framework
for Climate-Resilient Village Panchayats
targeting NetZero Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Sustainable Development Framework
for Climate-Resilient Village Panchayats
targeting NetZero Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
01.
Mapping Climate Impacts for Adaptation
This category focuses on identifying and addressing the impacts of climate change, particularly from extreme weather events, on key sectors such as health, agriculture, water, infrastructure, and livelihoods. 1. Disaster Resilience and Management Proactive disaster management strategies will predict, communicate, and build community resilience against extreme events like floods, heatwaves, and cyclones. Emphasis will be placed on climate-vulnerable regions, with tailored approaches for different geographies to ensure rapid adaptation. 2. Health Health security will be prioritized, considering rising temperatures, pandemics, and emerging diseases. The strategy will align with initiatives like the Lancet Countdown and state government health plans, integrating health resilience into the broader climate agenda. 3. Water Cycle Management This component will map water cycles, including waste generation and management. It will focus on village-specific water resource projects, addressing usage, quality, metering, infrastructure, and wastewater treatment to combat water scarcity and enhance resilience. 4. Food Cycle Management Ensuring nutrition security through a comprehensive food cycle approach—covering production, processing, storage, and consumption. Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and dairy will benefit from cutting-edge technologies like drones, IoT, and AI to enhance productivity and sustainability.
02.
GHG Emissions Sources for Mitigation
03.
Extras
01.
Mapping Climate Impacts for Adaptation
This category focuses on identifying and addressing the impacts of climate change, particularly from extreme weather events, on key sectors such as health, agriculture, water, infrastructure, and livelihoods. 1. Disaster Resilience and Management Proactive disaster management strategies will predict, communicate, and build community resilience against extreme events like floods, heatwaves, and cyclones. Emphasis will be placed on climate-vulnerable regions, with tailored approaches for different geographies to ensure rapid adaptation. 2. Health Health security will be prioritized, considering rising temperatures, pandemics, and emerging diseases. The strategy will align with initiatives like the Lancet Countdown and state government health plans, integrating health resilience into the broader climate agenda. 3. Water Cycle Management This component will map water cycles, including waste generation and management. It will focus on village-specific water resource projects, addressing usage, quality, metering, infrastructure, and wastewater treatment to combat water scarcity and enhance resilience. 4. Food Cycle Management Ensuring nutrition security through a comprehensive food cycle approach—covering production, processing, storage, and consumption. Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and dairy will benefit from cutting-edge technologies like drones, IoT, and AI to enhance productivity and sustainability.
02.
GHG Emissions Sources for Mitigation
03.
Extras
Emerging Climate
Crisis
India is highly vulnerable to the escalating
impacts of climate change and extreme
weather events. Floods, storms, and
heatwaves are expected to impose
substantial economic burdens,
threatening livelihoods and
infrastructure. The cost of proactive
action today is far lower than the huge
price of delayed intervention. Without
urgent measures, India not only risks
losing its hard-earned development gains
but also faces the possibility of stunted
future growth, jeopardizing the nation’s
long-term prosperity and resilience
Paris Agreement
and
UAE Consensus
In response to the looming climate emergency, the
global community adopted the Paris Agreement in 2015, setting a framework for collaborative efforts
to combat climate change. Building on this momentum, COP28 in Dubai achieved a critical
consensus to accelerate action and transition away from fossil fuels, reaffirming the need for unified
global efforts. Although these agreements are not
legally binding, they underscore the importance of collective responsibility in addressing the climate crisis. UrjaGram Sustainable Development
Framework aligns with this global consensus, tackling urgent climatic challenges while enhancing
the quality of life in communities, ensuring sustainable development at the grassroots level.
Third National
Communication of
India to United
Nations
Framework
Convention
on Climate Change
(UNFCC)
Climate change is driven by the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), primarily resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. According to India’s emissions inventory, fossil fuel combustion accounts for 73% of the country's emissions.The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)’s Emissions Gap Report 2024 has expressed urgency to decrease global emissions by 57% below 2019 levels by 2035, to stay on track of Paris Agreement target 1.5C. Despite its historically low
contribution to global emissions (only 3%), and per capita emissions of 2.9 tCO₂e, far below the global average of 6.6 tCO₂e, India is now the world’s third-largest emitter, following China and the United States.
To meet is growth aspirations, India’s energy needs are likely to increase by 35% in the coming decade. India’s national circumstances present unique challenges. As a developing nation with 18% of the global population—projected to reach 1.6 billion
by 2050—India must balance the provision of essential services with the imperative to reduce GHG emissions. With only 2.5% of the world’s landmass and 4% of its water resources, the country faces significant resource constraints. Moreover, the rural-urban divide adds complexity to the challenge, requiring innovative solutions that promote inclusive, climate-resilient growth while managing the dynamics
between rural and urban development.
Focus on Rural
Areas
Rural India, comprising more than 2,60,000 Village Panchayats and nearly 64% of the population, is especially vulnerable to climate change and requires targeted development strategies. Even with an estimated 50% urbanization by
2050, approximately 800 million people—more than the combined population of the U.S. and Europe—will still reside in rural areas. This highlights the urgent need to enhance the quality of life, close development gaps, and build climate
resilience across rural communities
Interventions in rural areas present the fastest and most cost-effective path to
climate adaptation and mitigation, while also accelerating progress toward India’s NetZero goal. Recognizing the diversity of India’s villages, the USDF will develop tailored development models, establishing a valuable repository of sustainable practices and technologies, empowered by digital connectivity and innovation
For India’s sustainable growth, rapid creation of low-carbon, non-farm sector jobs is essential. Measuring Gram Panchayat-level GDP could provide valuable insights into local economies, while fostering employment opportunities in
climate resilience and energy transition will be crucial to driving inclusive development.
Innovate to
Implement.
At the heart of the UrjaGram Sustainable Development Framework (USDF) lies a
dynamic, adaptive, and inclusive implementation strategy. This strategy is
meticulously designed to empower local communities—particularly women—to
co-design and drive sustainable, transformative change. The core philosophy
integrates climate adaptation, mitigation, and energy transition with women-led
local enterprises, fostering innovation through context-specific knowledge and
hands-on student engagement using the “Experiment, Learn, and Earn” (ELE)
approach.
The modular, scalable, and sustainable design of the project ensures flexibility
for diverse local conditions and seamless replication across regions. To validate
the framework, Proof of Concept (PoC) will be developed by launching pilot
projects in selected Village Panchayats. Insights and learnings from these pilots
will inform the creation of prototypes, which will then be implemented at scale
across multiple states, driving widespread adoption and long-term
sustainability.
Women-led local
enterprises
The capacity created amongst more than 92 Lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs), under
the National Rural Livelihood Mission of Ministry of Rural Development,
Government of India, can be leveraged to create employment opportunities in
climate change and resilience, sustainability and energy transition sectors. More
than 10 Cr households have been mobilized into SHGs in 7136 development
blocks. The increased focus of the government to create entrepreneurship among
rural women through Lakhpati Didi scheme, can be dovetailed with USDF. Skills
and training will be provided to women from SHGs, on Mission Lifestyle for
Environment (LiFE), Green Credit Program (GCP), and National Action Plan on
Climate Change (NAPCC) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC), Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) by Ministry of Power and
National Program on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) of Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
SHG members will also be sensitized on the selected topics being taught to
students in local schools on the subject related to sustainability, and maths, like
simple and compound interest, data handling and statistics from the textbooks of
local school.UrjaGram local team will selected from amongst SHG members and will be given
intensive training on sustainability, government interventions, project
development, implementation and management, and entrepreneurship. The team,
in turn will sensitize and train other women from SHGs to develop and implement
the projects based on local needs and priorities. The projects will be developed
based on policies, schemes and regulations of government and corporates.The UrjaGram team members are expected to be graduates. In case non-
availability of suitable graduate candidates, the selected team members will be
enabled in acquiring graduate qualifications from IGNOU in the area of
sustainability, development, management or technology.
The strategy envisions the establishment of local enterprises focused on
adaptation, mitigation and energy transition and sustainability, exemplified by
local economic activities with low-carbon footprint.
To implement the VPSIP, Block level subsidiary will be set up with local
stakeholders, and Interns having a shareholding in the subsidiary. Initially, they
have minority shareholding. Majority shareholding will be transferred to local
stakeholders calibrated with success of the project, and other predefined criteria.
Partnering with
local school
To create employment opportunities and utilize demographic dividend of India,
the students from local schools will be actively engaged. Special coaching classes
by a local tutor will be organized on selected chapters of maths and science from
the textbooks of class 8-10th, contextualizing on how the knowledge in the
textbooks can be applied in the local context. Explaining and connecting the
knowledge to the working of locally used equipment and technology used.
Topics on sustainability of food, water, health, agriculture, fuels and emissions,
selected from the their text books will be taught. Mission LiFE will be connected
to their environment.
Data Science and AI. Statistics, data handling, mathematical modelling based on
the chapters in the textbooks of class 8th-10th. Applying learning-while-doing
approach, and collaborating with UrjaGram Team and SHG members to develop
projects. Adaptive and interactive digital platform for learning and content
delivery will be used.
The interested students will be provided guidance and coaching for further
education and connect them with scholarships or internships
Internships
Adapting to climate change and implementing energy transition will not be
possible without skill development and training. Engaging students from the
colleges will form the important pillar of USDF.
Students from local IITs/NITs etc will be engaged as Interns to work on real-
world projects, and to train them for CXOs roles and entrepreneurship. They
will be provided training on technology evaluation, project development,
project implementation and project management, finance, HR and regulations.
Training material from the content already being taught by the college, will be
used to the extent feasible.
They will be trained to read Annual Reports, Sustainability reports, Balance
Sheets and Profit and Loss statements of top 100 companies of India. Master
class from the executives of the companies will be arranged.The Government has announced PM Internship scheme. The option of
dovetailing the scheme with USDF will be explored.
Prioritize Convergence
of Interventions
The strategy builds on the whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach to
converge government interventions at the family level, optimizing schemes to
develop climate resilience and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Priority, high impact and cross-cutting targets and indicators from SDGs, HDI, MPI,
GII etc. will be identified and focused.
Monitor and manage models, from small teams to massive scale
01.
Mapping Climate Impacts for Adaptation
This category focuses on identifying and addressing the impacts of climate change, particularly from extreme weather events, on key sectors such as health, agriculture, water, infrastructure, and livelihoods. 1. Disaster Resilience and Management Proactive disaster management strategies will predict, communicate, and build community resilience against extreme events like floods, heatwaves, and cyclones. Emphasis will be placed on climate-vulnerable regions, with tailored approaches for different geographies to ensure rapid adaptation. 2. Health Health security will be prioritized, considering rising temperatures, pandemics, and emerging diseases. The strategy will align with initiatives like the Lancet Countdown and state government health plans, integrating health resilience into the broader climate agenda. 3. Water Cycle Management This component will map water cycles, including waste generation and management. It will focus on village-specific water resource projects, addressing usage, quality, metering, infrastructure, and wastewater treatment to combat water scarcity and enhance resilience. 4. Food Cycle Management Ensuring nutrition security through a comprehensive food cycle approach—covering production, processing, storage, and consumption. Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and dairy will benefit from cutting-edge technologies like drones, IoT, and AI to enhance productivity and sustainability.
02.
GHG Emissions Sources for Mitigation
03.
Extras
Emerging Climate
Crisis
India is highly vulnerable to the escalating impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. Floods, storms, and heatwaves are expected to impose substantial economic burdens, threatening livelihoods and infrastructure. The cost of proactive action today is far lower than the huge price of delayed intervention. Without urgent measures, India not only risks losing its hard-earned development gains but also faces the possibility of stunted future growth, jeopardizing the nation’s long-term prosperity and resilience
Paris Agreement
UAE Consensus
In response to the looming climate emergency, the global community adopted the Paris Agreement in 2015, setting a framework for collaborative efforts to combat climate change. Building on this momentum, COP28 in Dubai achieved a critical consensus to accelerate action and transition away from fossil fuels, reaffirming the need for unified global efforts. Although these agreements are not legally binding, they underscore the importance of collective responsibility in addressing the climate crisis. UrjaGram Sustainable Development Framework aligns with this global consensus, tackling urgent climatic challenges while enhancing the quality of life in communities, ensuring sustainable development at the grassroots level.
UNFCC
Climate change is driven by the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), primarily resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. According to India’s emissions inventory, fossil fuel combustion accounts for 73% of the country's emissions.The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)’s Emissions Gap Report 2024 has expressed urgency to decrease global emissions by 57% below 2019 levels by 2035, to stay on track of Paris Agreement target 1.5C. Despite its historically low
contribution to global emissions (only 3%), and per capita emissions of 2.9 tCO₂e, far below the global average of 6.6 tCO₂e, India is now the world’s third-largest emitter, following China and the United States.
To meet is growth aspirations, India’s energy needs are likely to increase by 35% in the coming decade. India’s national circumstances present unique challenges. As a developing nation with 18% of the global population—projected to reach 1.6 billion
by 2050—India must balance the provision of essential services with the imperative to reduce GHG emissions. With only 2.5% of the world’s landmass and 4% of its water resources, the country faces significant resource constraints. Moreover, the rural-urban divide adds complexity to the challenge, requiring innovative solutions that promote inclusive, climate-resilient growth while managing the dynamics
between rural and urban development.
Focus on Rural
Areas
Rural India, comprising more than 2,60,000 Village Panchayats and nearly 64% of the population, is especially vulnerable to climate change and requires targeted development strategies. Even with an estimated 50% urbanization by 2050, approximately 800 million people—more than the combined population of the U.S. and Europe—will still reside in rural areas. This highlights the urgent need to enhance the quality of life, close development gaps, and build climate resilience across rural communities Interventions in rural areas present the fastest and most cost-effective path to climate adaptation and mitigation, while also accelerating progress toward India’s NetZero goal. Recognizing the diversity of India’s villages, the USDF will develop tailored development models, establishing a valuable repository of sustainable practices and technologies, empowered by digital connectivity and innovation For India’s sustainable growth, rapid creation of low-carbon, non-farm sector jobs is essential. Measuring Gram Panchayat-level GDP could provide valuable insights into local economies, while fostering employment opportunities in climate resilience and energy transition will be crucial to driving inclusive development.
Roadmap
Framework
Roadmap
Framework
Roadmap
Framework
Roadmap
Framework
Innovate To Implement
At the heart of the UrjaGram Sustainable Development Framework (USDF) lies a dynamic, adaptive, and inclusive implementation strategy. This strategy is meticulously designed to empower local communities—particularly women—to co-design and drive sustainable, transformative change. The core philosophy integrates climate adaptation, mitigation, and energy transition with women-led local enterprises, fostering innovation through context-specific knowledge and hands-on student engagement using the “Experiment, Learn, and Earn” (ELE) approach.
The modular, scalable, and sustainable design of the project ensures flexibility for diverse local conditions and seamless replication across regions. To validate the framework, Proof of Concept (PoC) will be developed by launching pilot projects in selected Village Panchayats. Insights and learnings from these pilots will inform the creation of prototypes, which will then be implemented at scale across multiple states, driving widespread adoption and long-term sustainability.
Women-led local
enterprises
The capacity created amongst more than 92 Lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs), under the National Rural Livelihood Mission of Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, can be leveraged to create employment opportunities in climate change and resilience, sustainability and energy transition sectors. More than 10 Cr households have been mobilized into SHGs in 7136 development blocks. The increased focus of the government to create entrepreneurship among rural women through Lakhpati Didi scheme, can be dovetailed with USDF. Skills and training will be provided to women from SHGs, on Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), Green Credit Program (GCP), and National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) by Ministry of Power and National Program on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India SHG members will also be sensitized on the selected topics being taught to students in local schools on the subject related to sustainability, and maths, like simple and compound interest, data handling and statistics from the textbooks of local school. UrjaGram local team will selected from amongst SHG members and will be given intensive training on sustainability, government interventions, project development, implementation and management, and entrepreneurship. The team, in turn will sensitize and train other women from SHGs to develop and implement the projects based on local needs and priorities. The projects will be developed based on policies, schemes and regulations of government and corporates. The UrjaGram team members are expected to be graduates. In case non- availability of suitable graduate candidates, the selected team members will be enabled in acquiring graduate qualifications from IGNOU in the area of sustainability, development, management or technology. The strategy envisions the establishment of local enterprises focused on adaptation, mitigation
Partnering with
local school
To create employment opportunities and utilize demographic dividend of India, the students from local schools will be actively engaged. Special coaching classes by a local tutor will be organized on selected chapters of maths and science from the textbooks of class 8-10th, contextualizing on how the knowledge in the textbooks can be applied in the local context. Explaining and connecting the knowledge to the working of locally used equipment and technology used. Topics on sustainability of food, water, health, agriculture, fuels and emissions, selected from the their text books will be taught. Mission LiFE will be connected to their environment. Data Science and AI. Statistics, data handling, mathematical modelling based on the chapters in the textbooks of class 8th-10th. Applying learning-while-doing approach, and collaborating with UrjaGram Team and SHG members to develop projects. Adaptive and interactive digital platform for learning and content delivery will be used. The interested students will be provided guidance and coaching for further education and connect them with scholarships or internships
Internships
Adapting to climate change and implementing energy transition will not be possible without skill development and training. Engaging students from the colleges will form the important pillar of USDF. Students from local IITs/NITs etc will be engaged as Interns to work on real- world projects, and to train them for CXOs roles and entrepreneurship. They will be provided training on technology evaluation, project development, project implementation and project management, finance, HR and regulations. Training material from the content already being taught by the college, will be used to the extent feasible. They will be trained to read Annual Reports, Sustainability reports, Balance Sheets and Profit and Loss statements of top 100 companies of India. Master class from the executives of the companies will be arranged. The Government has announced PM Internship scheme. The option of dovetailing the scheme with USDF will be explored.
Concept development and design by
Amar Nath
With a distinguished career as an IAS officer, Amar Nath has served in key positions in various States/Union Territories
Governments and Government of India, including Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. His
leadership and expertise were further enhanced during his tenure as Additional Secretary in the Department of
Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.
Concept development and design by
Amar Nath
With a distinguished career as an IAS officer, Amar Nath has served in key positions in various States/Union Territories
Governments and Government of India, including Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. His
leadership and expertise were further enhanced during his tenure as Additional Secretary in the Department of
Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.
Concept development and design by
Amar Nath
With a distinguished career as an IAS officer, Amar Nath has served in key positions in various States/Union Territories
Governments and Government of India, including Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. His
leadership and expertise were further enhanced during his tenure as Additional Secretary in the Department of
Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.