3. Localization of SDGs: Bela Gram and the Rise of Net-Zero Panchayats

The transformation of Bela Gram in Maharashtra into India\'s first net-zero panchayat highlights the critical role of decentralized governance in achieving national climate targets. This grassroots model, showcased at Mumbai Climate Week 2026, emphasizes that climate action is most effective when led by local leadership and community participation. • Community-Led Climate Action: Bela Gram achieved net-zero status through a \'bottom-up\' approach, focusing on massive afforestation (90,000+ trees), transitioning from traditional biomass to LPG, and achieving 100% waste segregation. • The \'Prosumer\' Revolution: Success stories like Kerala’s Perinjanam (Solar Gramam) demonstrate the economic viability of renewables, where 850 households became \'prosumers\' (producing and consuming solar energy), reducing electricity bills by 80%. • Decentralized Resource Management: Tribal regions like Siyari (Jharkhand) utilized the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) to pivot from coal dependency to solar lift irrigation and lake revival, proving that even mining-affected areas can transition to green energy. • Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): Local interventions such as the construction of mud check dams and boulder dams in Bihar, and lake revival in Karnataka, have mitigated the impacts of erratic monsoons and groundwater depletion. • Integration of Awards and Incentives: Recognition through the Rashtriya Panchayat Puraskar and Vasundhara Award acts as a catalyst, encouraging competitive federalism at the village level to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). • Policy Recommendation: Grassroots leaders advocate for making solar rooftops mandatory for new constructions, moving toward a \'people-centric\' energy transition that balances development with ecological integrity. Constitutional and Legal Provisions • 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992: Mandates the creation of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The 11th Schedule contains 29 subjects, including Agriculture, Social Forestry, and Nonconventional Energy, which empower villages to act on climate. • Article 243G: Endows Panchayats with the authority to prepare plans for economic development and social justice, forming the legal basis for \'Local Climate Action Plans.\'• MMDR Amendment Act, 2015: Established the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), a non-profit trust in mining-affected districts to be used for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations. • Article 48A: Directive Principle of State Policy (DPSP) instructing the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife. Key Definitions • Net-Zero Panchayat: A village-level administrative unit where the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced is offset by an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere through carbon sinks or renewable energy. • Prosumer: A consumer who also produces value (in this context, electricity via rooftop solar panels) and feeds the surplus back into the grid. • Solar Lift Irrigation: A method of irrigation that uses solar energy to power pumps to lift water from a lower elevation (rivers, ponds) to agricultural fields. • Carbon Sink: Anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases—for example, the 90,000 trees planted in Bela Gram. Conclusion The evolution of Bela Gram and its peers signifies a shift from \'global policy\' to \'local practice.\' By leveraging constitutional powers and innovative funding like the DMF, Indian villages are proving that the path to India’s 2070 Net-Zero target passes through its 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats. These models provide a scalable blueprint for climate resilience that prioritizes both planetary health and local livelihoods. UPSC Relevance • GS Paper II (Polity & Governance): Decentralization of power, role of PRIs in achieving SDGs, and the impact of the 73rd Amendment on environmental governance. • GS Paper III (Environment & Economy): Climate change mitigation strategies, renewable energy transition, and the importance of District Mineral Foundations (DMF) in sustainable development. • Essay & Ethics: Ideal for topics on \'Thinking Globally, Acting Locally,\' grassroots leadership, and the ethics of sustainable development.