by Prabhjot Sukheja

Created on: January 21, 2012

Many of the portraits painted of rural life are filled with breathtaking landscapes and of small children running across the sloping mountain tops, eluding to the promise of tranquility, freedom aspiration ,innocence and calm .Picture the opening scenes of ‘Little house of prairie.’

Rural residents are generally happier; their expectations are lower, there is less emphasis on materiality, success and social mobility. Contentment is achieved through close knit communities and self sufficiency. Individuals tend to grow and rear their own produce .They are healthier as the daily activities bring their own reward and they can observe the fruits of their labour. Life is simpler and devoid of the capitalist culture .There is an authenticity in relationships between individuals and a lack of consumerism.

Education

Education is less competitive and classroom sizes are smaller. There is a larger emphasis on life skills and the attainment of literacy and numeracy skills. Teachers take a more holistic and a keener interest in the welfare of their students as there is less bureaucracy and therefore more opportunity to engage.

 Jobs

There is the potential for entrepreneurial activity and an assortment of jobs from labouring, farming and catering. Rural residents work extremely hard as they do not have the convenience of transportation links or the close vicinity of shops. Manual labour is an ongoing activity in the pursuit of day to day living .Many of the gadgets and implements for cooking and cleaning have not infiltrated the country and may not be seen as entirely productive.

Convenience

The absence of urbanization, encourages communication and a decreases in isolation experienced. Poles conduced confirm that rural residents feel safer in their own homes in the countryside compared to those who live in the inner cities. There is less deviant behaviour, abuse, vandalism and acts of violence against people and property. Social and moral codes of behaviour are installed through parenting and there is a lack of mass media dominance.

The country is quieter, the absence of pubs, bars, restaurants and entertainment complexes which have become part of city living. There aren’t a wide variety of shopping complexes to purchase designer goods or splash out for a special occasion.

Transportation

The absence of wall to wall traffic ensures that roads are more safe .Residents tend to pick up bicycles and there is greater level of community spirit and the vulnerable are protected by the individual and group actions of the community.

The lack of supermarket complexes and low concentration of restaurants, eateries and coffee shops encourage shopping for essential and dependence on home grown produce. The residents are healthier and less prone to the by products and effects of an unhealthy diet and the non existence of exercise.

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