Transitions towards Sustainable and Resilient Rural Areas in Revitalising India: A Framework for Localising SDGs at Gram Panchayat Level

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors took up a very interesting and topical issue regarding the use of the SMART concept in sustainable development of rural areas. In this regard, they made a very thorough, critical and creative analysis of the literature.

This analysis is at a high scientific and substantive level. However, I have a few minor comments:

I do not know whether it is justified to extend the title of the article with the addition "at Gram Panchayat Level". Throughout the work, references to "Gram Panchayat" are marginal and it is difficult to see the role of this institution suggested by the authors. Moreover, this institution has not been defined anywhere - considering the fact that such a structure functions only in India, its essence and role need to be clarified.

The authors completely omit a very important issue regarding sustainable development through the implementation of the SMART concept, i.e. the possibilities and sources of its financing. The essence of SMART is innovation, and these are usually quite costly.

In the article I did not find any limitations, and there are certainly such - for example, the issue described above.

Other minor shortcomings and debatable issues have been mentioned in the form of comments in the text.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers/experts for their valuable comments, which we believe have helped clarify and improve our manuscript. The manuscript has been accordingly revised, and all the changes have been accommodated in the modified manuscript.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Thank you for the opportunity to review this manuscript.

India's sustainable development depends largely on the development of its rural areas, which constitute over 60% of the country's population. To achieve this, a framework for localising SDGs at the Gram Panchayat level can be developed, which can promote sustainable and resilient rural areas. Here are some key elements that can be included in such a framework:

- Setting goals and targets: Once priorities have been identified, goals and targets can be set for each priority area. This should be done in consultation with local stakeholders, including members of the Gram Panchayat, local NGOs, and community groups. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

- Mobilising resources: Mobilising resources to implement the goals and targets is essential. This can include leveraging government schemes and programmes, accessing private sector investment, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms.

- Building partnerships: Partnerships are essential for effective implementation of the framework. This can include partnerships with local NGOs, community groups, government agencies, and private sector entities. The Gram Panchayat can play a key role in facilitating these partnerships.

- Capacity building: Capacity building is essential for the successful implementation of the framework. This can include training for Gram Panchayat members and local stakeholders, technical assistance, and knowledge sharing.

- Monitoring and evaluation: Monitoring and evaluation of progress towards achieving the goals and targets is essential. This can be done through the use of data and indicators, and regular reporting to local stakeholders. Regular review and adaptation of the framework may also be required.

In summary, developing a framework for localising SDGs at the Gram Panchayat level can promote sustainable and resilient rural areas in India. Author(s) should consider reviewing all key elements of the framework including identifying key priorities, setting goals and targets, mobilising resources, building partnerships, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation.

Author Response

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers/experts for their valuable comments, which we believe have helped clarify and improve our manuscript. The manuscript has been accordingly revised, and all the changes have been accommodated in the modified manuscript.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Abstract: 21st-century Rural Development (RD) demands a new paradigm of sustainability capable of addressing difficulties and leveraging possibilities such as climate change, demo graphic shifts, international competitiveness, and rapid technological progress. Amidst these challenges, it is necessary to have a guiding framework from a long-term perspective that aids the integration of current RD policies while facilitating location and community-specific innovations to implement sustainable and resilient development strategies. India has witnessed several schemes and programmes for RD with exclusive objectives, varied focus areas and separate domains, resulting in compartmentalised policy frameworks and disjointed implementation. Such initiatives were often ideated from an urban perspective when it came to peri-urban rural areas or offering a generalist rural perspective (when referring to other rural regions, including those nested in ecological zones, thereby disregarding their local relevance. Accordingly, this study proposes a synchronised SMART Village Framework to tailor existing RD approaches for sustainable transformations aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and with a possibility of scaling its applicability in the local context. We initially conducted a bibliometric analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the emerging transformative approaches to RD, such as Smart Village (SV). Though in its nascent stage, the SV initiatives in India primarily envision Information & Communication Technology enabled transformations in rural areas, often forcing villages to establish the relevance of such interventions. The study recognises key challenges to RD in India by using the Problem Tree Analysis. It further defines a SMART Village framework that can be catalytic in transforming rural areas towards a sustainable and resilient state.

Line 91: Random space before SV

Line 92: Random space before [17]

Line 163: 1,28,276 (?) check value

Author Response

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers/experts for their valuable comments, which we believe have helped clarify and improve our manuscript. The manuscript has been accordingly revised, and all the changes have been accommodated in the modified manuscript.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf