UNIT – 2

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

 Sriniketan Experiment
 Gurugaon Experiment
 Marthandam Experiment
 Baroda Experiment
 Firkha Development Scheme
 Etawah Pilot Project
 Nilokheri Experiment
 Approaches to Rural Community Development
 Approaches to Rural Community Development : Tagore
Approach
 Approaches to Rural Community Development : Gandhian
Approach
 Approaches to Rural Community Development : C.
 Rural Development during Colonial Period

Efforts by the British Rulers:

 During the British period, the British government was

never serious about the rural development. But, they
acted under compelling situation like famines and
economic distress.

 During 1800 to 1825, it was reported that there were

five famines; during 1825 to 1850, two famines; during
1850 to 1875, six famines; and during 1875 to 1900,
there were eighteen famines in different parts of the
country.
 Efforts by the British Rulers

 The Famine Commission of 1880, 1898, 1901, the

Irrigation Committee of 1903, the Commission on Co-
operation of 1915 and the Royal Commission on Indian
Agriculture 1928, were the efforts of the Government to
improve the economic condition of the common man, but
seldom were the reports of the commissions implemented
in right spirit.

 During these periods, the most active role in the field of

rural development was played by the Christian
missionaries who aimed at the all-round development of
their Christian converts.

 In the year 1887, British Government heeding to the

 Efforts by the British Rulers

 But, this department did not do much related to

agriculture development except the collection of
agricultural statistics.

 Famine Commission’s (1880) recommended

establishment of separate agriculture department
in the government.

 It was Lord Curzon who was Viceroy of India, during

1901-05, whose effort succeeded in establishing
department of agriculture at provincial levels.
 Efforts by the British Rulers

 The Northwest province (at present Uttar Pradesh) was the

first province to set up an Agriculture Department. and an
Imperial Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa (Bihar).

 This was followed by the Indian Agriculture Service, which

was constituted in 1906.

 The Government of India Act 1919 empowered the transfer of

all the Development Departments connected with rural
development to the major provinces and there after
agricultural development become a state subject.
 Efforts by the British Rulers

 The Royal Commission on Agriculture (1928)

suggested the government to establish Agriculture
Departments and agricultural research
institutes to help the cultivators in providing the
necessary guidance to increase agriculture
production.
 Development Initiatives by
Philanthropists

Prior to independence of the country, many reformers and

philanthropists started various innovative rural development
programmes either alone or with association with other
organizations for the benefit of the poor people. Some of them
are:

 Rural Reconstruction Programme (1890) in Baroda:

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III started rural reconstruction

programme in the whole state of Baroda in 1890. He
emphasised that there should be long rule of determined
welfare administrator for achieving rural development.
Besides, political and social stability, supportive
legislation, etc. are required for quick result.
 Development Initiatives by
Philanthropists

The important approaches of the

Programme:

• Integrating and collaborative works of various

departments
• Proactive administrative approaches to different
social issues
• Working together of different local bodies,
associations, voluntary agencies, etc at village
level for speedy development.
 Development Initiatives by
Philanthropists
 Scheme of Rural Reconstruction (1903) :

• Daniel Hamilton started Rural Reconstruction programme in

‘Sunderban’ areas of West Bengal in 1903 with the basic principles of
co-operative management and solving of rural
problems.

• He established Cooperative Credit Society, Central Cooperative

Bank, Cooperative Marketing Society and Rural Reconstruction
Institutes in their adopted villages for overall development of the rural
people.

• The rural reconstruction institute provided various training facilities

to the villagers on cottage industries. Through these institutions an
effort was made to organize people into groups.
 Development Initiatives by
Philanthropists

• When people come together, there is bound to happen

something. This something happening is contributing for
development.

• Through Cooperative Banks, society was served with financial

support, which was very essential for bringing changes. Even
today financial support is a key element of ensuring
development.

• The latest examples of financial support for the weaker sections

of society include Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Life
insurance schemes just paying Rs.1.00 per month etc.
 Development Initiatives by
Philanthropists

 Servants of Indian Society (1905) :

• The person who brought to and taught political life to

Gandhiji was Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He was also
having concern for introducing developmental
initiatives in rural areas.
• The servents of Indian Society was funded by Gopala
Krishna Gokhale as a political society at Poona. It laid
strong emphasis on socio-economic and educational
activities.
• Later Gokhale started training centres in Madras
State(Chennai), United Province and Central Province
(Madhya Pradesh) and published booklets on the
 Development Initiatives by
Philanthropists

• The training centres in villages imparted training on

agriculture and cottage industries. There is organic
relationship between the agriculture and cottage
industries in villages.

• Cottage industries support agriculture by providing

implements and other inputs. In turn agriculture
provides raw materials to cottage industries.

• Hence, all development thinkers emphasized on

development of small scale and cottage industries.
 Development Initiatives by
Philanthropists
 Economic Conference of Mysore (1914-18):

• This was launched by Dr. M.S. Visweswarya as the Divan of

Mysore state. It was planned to have an overall development of
the locality. Agriculture was given priority in the scheme.

• Various committees were formed with officials of district and

taluk to survey the needs and formulate plans for
implementation. The committee used to survey the needs and
prioritise the problems for addressing.

• The main aim of the programme was to achieve the all-round

progress of rural areas by giving emphasis on agriculture
development.
 Sriniketan Experiment

 During the time when Tagore was in charge of the

family’s estates in East Bengal he was exposed to the
poverty and oppression engulfing the rural mass.

 This whole scenario made him keenly sensitive towards

these people and he decided to pull them out from
this poverty and oppression.

 Tagore’s ideological framework attracted Leonard

Elmhirst, a British agronomist to come to India upon
the invitation of Tagore to work with him.
 Sriniketan Experiment

 They both began to formulate methods for

social and economic change.

 To translate his dream into reality, the Institute

of Rural Reconstruction in Sriniketan was
established in 1920.
 Sriniketan Experiment

The object of Sriniketan programme is to bring back life

in its completeness into the villages making them self-
reliant and self-respectful. The objectives of the
mission were :

 To win the friendship and affection of villagers

and cultivators by taking a real interest in all that
concerns their lives and welfare, and by making a
lively effort to assist them in solving their most
pressing problems.
 Sriniketan Experiment

 To take the problem of the village and the field

to the class room for study and discussion
and to the experimental farm for solution.

 To put the students in the way of acquiring

practical experience in cultivation, dairy,
animal husbandry, poultry keeping, carpentry
and smithing, weaving and tannery; in
practical sanitation work; and in the art and
sprit of cooperation.
 Sriniketan Experiment

 To give the students elementary instruction in the

science connected with their practical work.

 To encourage in the staff and students of the department

itself a spirit of science service and willing sacrifice
for the people of the surrounding villages.

 To train the students to a due sense of their own intrinsic

worth, physical and moral and in particular to teach
them to do with their own hands everything which a
village householder or a cultivator does or should do for
a living, if possible, more efficiently.
 Sriniketan Experiment

 The experiment was strongly supported by a team of

foreigners and Bengalis.

 The Sriniketan programme covered broadly four

general areas: agriculture, crafts and industries,
village welfare and education.

 The agricultural activities were based on three

phases:
• Experiment;
• Training and
• Extension.
 Sriniketan Experiment

 Extension activities were given much priority. A

Demonstration Plot was created to impart training and
education to all the farmers through real life situation.

 One or two agricultural workers from Sriniketan often used to

go to the villages and farmers to supervise all activities.

 Dairy, poultry, pisciculture and bee-keeping were also

some of the salient activities associated with the experiment
in view of augmenting the rural resources and over all
development of the villagers.
 Sriniketan Experiment

Significance of Sriniketan Programme:

 The Cooperative movement was a significant aspect of

the experiment.

 Another concept ‘Dharmagola’ reflecting the principle of

cooperative was introduced in 1928 for the benefit of the
villagers.
 During the harvesting time, every family used to deposit
some amount of paddy in the respective Dharmagola and
in time of exigencies they could buy some after paying
minimum interest within their affordability.
 Sriniketan Experiment

 Mahila Samities (Women’s Association)

played a considerable role in the economic
and social welfare of the community.
 Sriniketan Experiment

Drawbacks:

 This institute could not get Government help

and support.

 It could not do research work and hence the

programmes remained limited.
 Sriniketan Experiment

SRINIKETAN PROJECT:
 Founded by Ravindra Nath Tagore for village
development.
 Main aim: All round development of rural people.
 Objectives:
 To help the rural people for the development of
cottage industry.
 To develop their resources so that they may know new
scientific methods of farming.
 Development of cattle.
 Development of multi purpose primary level education.
 To help self help initiative and rural leadership.
 Sriniketan Experiment

ACTIVITIES:
 Sanitation in villages.
 Adult Education.
 To arrange campaign for the eradication of Malaria,
TB and other infectious disease.
 To manage the pure drinking water.
 To manage saving for famine and flood.
 Development of Cottage industries.
 Sriniketan Experiment

AREA OF WORK:

 Sri Tagore started work in his Zamindari

villages of Kaligram Perganna for
example Atari, Raghupur, Rani nagar,
Tilakpur, Latara etc.
 Sriniketan Experiment

METHOD OF WORK:
 Survey of selected villages.
 Foundation of social welfare centre in each village.
Worker used to bring the rural problems up to this
centre and solutions were provided to farmers. It was
two way process.
 To manage the medicines which may be available to
rural people at proper time.
 Demonstration of improved practices.
 Community centres.
 Questions & Research
Articles

 https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/views/institute-of-rural-reconstruction-shantiniket
an-rabindranath-tagore/articleshow/46507052.cms#:~:text=Rabindranath%20Tagore%20's%20
work%20in,his%20ideas%20about%20village%20reform.
 https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/20910/22/sriniketan_experiment_in_rural_reconstruction.pdf

 What are the main objectives of Sriniketan

project?
 Why is Sriniketan important in rural
development?
 Gurgaon Experiment

 Rural upliftment movement on a mass scale was

first started by Mr. F.L .Brayne in 1920.

 Mr. Brayne was posted as Deputy

Commissioner of Gurgaon district in 1920.

 He was moved at the uncertainty of rainfall,

poverty, ill-health, ignorance, illiteracy of
the rural people.
 Gurgaon Experiment

 With a view to improve the overall living

conditions of the rural people living in
Gurgaon district he evolved a new technique
of village development called the "Gurgaon
Scheme."

 This was the practical application of the

principle that the central figure, i.e. the
villager himself must be made to take greater
interest in himself and in his village before any
results can be achieved
 Gurgaon Experiment

 The Government agencies should do more to

combine and co-ordinate their activities in order
to assist, help and guide him.

 The Gurgaon Scheme claimed to deal with the

whole life and the activity of the peasant(a
person who owns or rents a small piece of land on which he/she grows food
and keeps animals in order to feed his/her family )and
the family
and to present the complete remedy from the
terrible conditions in which he lived.
 Gurgaon Experiment

Objective:

 To jerk the villagers out of old groves and convince

them that improvement is possible and also to kill
their fatalism by demonstrating that both climate,
disease and pests can be successfully fought.

 He must be laughed out of his uneconomic and

unhealthy customs, and taught better ways of
living and farming.

 To deal with whole of the village life.

 Gurgaon Experiment

 The work should be started in whole district at

a time.

 Development work should be taken at campaign

level.

 Uplift is a mass movement, a combined assault,

and no area, no part of the life and no
method of attack can be neglected.
 Gurgaon Experiment

The developmental work taken up under Gurgaon

scheme:

 Institutional work comprised in the setting up of:

 School of rural economy to train guides for the rural uplift-

• The school managed a farm of 51 acres on long lease for the

purpose of providing practical training to the students.
 Gurgaon Experiment

• The curriculum of the studies including scouting,

co-operation, practical agriculture, first aid, infant
welfare, public health, domestic hygiene and
sanitation, stock breeding and elementary
veterinary training.

• The students were exposed to qualify in the

examination in first aid, and co-operation and
special test in all the other subjects.

• Those who qualified in this test were appointed as

village guides.
 Gurgaon Experiment

• The village guides were entrusted with the duties:

I. Development of co-operation

II. Public health work, collecting list for, preparing

people for vaccinators' visit

III. Cleaning of villages by digging of manure pits,

putting in of windows, ventilators etc. in the houses

IV. Agricultural demonstration and sale of improved

ploughs and other implements, improved seeds,
Persian wheel etc.
 Gurgaon Experiment

 Domestic school of Economics to uplift village

women-

• The curriculum of studies in the domestic school

included reading and writing up to primary
standard, in the case of illiterate women

• Some instructions in sewing, knitting and

making clothes, embroidery work, toy making,
cooking, hygiene, sanitation, first aid and child
welfare, etc.
 Gurgaon Experiment

 Health Association to promote public health

 Women's Institution to manage the ladies'

garden in Gurgaon and also to organize games
and magic lantern shows for the women and
first-aid classes.
 Gurgaon Experiment

 Rural Sanitation Work: with a view to improve

living conditions in the villages by using manure
pits as latrines and preserving sweepings, rubbish
and dung in properly dug pits.

 Efforts were also initiated to fight epidemics like

small-pox, plague and cholera.

 Agricultural Development Programme: The

programme was launched to exhort farmers to set
up model farms, use improved seeds, adopt
Gurgaon plough and other improved implements
 Gurgaon Experiment

 Use preventive measures against crop pest, killing

of field rats and monkeys and drawing out other
harmful insects by keeping lanterns in the fields.

 The programme also emphasized on the

consolidation of fragmented land holding on
co-operative basis.

 The principal objective of this programme aimed at

increasing yield per hectare, so that the farmer
gets a fair return on his efforts.
 Gurgaon Experiment

 Education: Under the scheme, the school teacher was

made the center of all development activities in the
village.

 The village school teacher with his school library, his

night school and his scouts must be the center of
uplift and culture

 He must be so trained that he can solve all the simple

problems of the villager, whether they are of agriculture,
social or moral or relate to public health.
 Gurgaon Experiment

 Co-operation: Co-operation was given special thrust as the

cornerstone of reconstruction of rural areas.

 Everyone will extend whole-hearted co-operation in the

development of the village economy.

 Social Reforms: Mr. Brayne had also realized that any

process of economic development should run concurrent
with speedy social reforms. Social reforms were aimed at:

 Prohibition of child marriages

 Education of girls in the mixed schools
 Abolition of Veil system- To keep (one's) modesty, shame and
honor
 Gurgaon Experiment

 Curtailment of ceremonial expenditure

 Introduction of marriage registers by which
litigation in family disputes is very much less
 Combating indebtedness
 Gurgaon Experiment

Drawbacks:

 as the village guides were not technical men, very

little permanent value was achieved.

 The project could not develop leadership in the

villages that would continue work when the village
guides had left the villages.
 Gurgaon Experiment

 This project was based upon the sentiments of F.L

Brayne and when he was transferred, gradually this
programme stopped.

 The main reason for the failure of this programme was

that the reforms were imposed on the people,
rather than initiated by themselves.
 Gurgaon Experiment

Summary:

 The rural upliftment programme on a mass scale

was firstly started by Mr. F. L. Brayne, Deputy
Commissioner in Gurgaon District of Punjab in 1920.

 According to him the main principle of this experiment

was development on practical basis.

 Success is not hoped unless the village people will

take interest in each programme. Duty
of Government workers is to cooperate, help and
guide the people".
 Gurgaon Experiment

Objective:

 To jerk villagers out of old groves and convince them

that improvement is possible and also to kill their
fatalism by demonstrating disease and insect control.

 To deal with whole life of the village.

 The work should be started in whole district at a

time.

 Development work should be taken at campaign

level.
 Gurgaon Experiment

Area of Work:

 Agricultural development and increasing food

production.
 Health improvement.
 Village sanitation.
 Social improvement (Reforms).
 Reforms in rural institutions.
 Emphasis on women education.
 Organization of cooperative societies.
 Coordination and publicity.
 There should be publicity to check the more expenses on
festivals and jewellery.
 Gurgaon Experiment

Method of Work:

 Propaganda was done by drama and music, to

mould the human thoughts.

 Guides were appointed to express the

programme at village level and to help the rural
people.

 The teacher of village schools used to teach

the village people the importance of programme
and dignity of labour.
 Marthandam Experiment

 The work was commenced by Dr. Spencer Hatch an

American Agricultural expert in Travancore under
the auspices of YMCA in 1921.

 The villages in Marthandam area were

underdeveloped economically and the economic
condition of the native majority was poor.

 Marthandam was a densely populated market place

in Kerala state then (South Travancore) for the
surrounding 40 villages within a radius of 5 kms.
 Marthandam Experiment

 The people were poor. The land was worn out.

There were a few cottage industries. The quality
of produce was poor. Wages were low.

 Water problem was chronic. Large number of

families were indebted. Interest rates were as
high as 300 percent per annum i.e. on a loan of
Rs. 1000/-, interest of Rs. 3000/- to be paid per
year.

 Dr. Spencer Hatch studied the problems and

initiated a five pronged rural reconstruction
 Marthandam Experiment

 The main objectives of this project were:

• Spiritual development
• Mental development
• Physical development
• Social development
• Economic development

 Dr. Hatch implemented an all round development in

agriculture, public health and education.
 Marthandam Experiment

 For this project , the extension secretary was appointed to

supervise the activities of the group.

 Marthandam was in a strategic position to serve the villages.

 It kept prize bulls and goats, model bee-lives,

demonstration plots for improving grain and vegetables
seeds, poultry runs with prize laying-hens, a weaving shed, etc.

 Inside the centre, there was equipment like honey

extractors, health charts and the items needed for other
cottage vocations.
 Marthandam Experiment

 At the centre, cottage vocations were taught and

agricultural implements tested. The emphasis
throughout was on self-help and co-operation.

 The successful output of this project was the Egg-

Selling Club. In 1939 which became a self
governing body.

 Another co-operative society was honey club, where

the villagers were taught the use of modern bee-
hives and extracting honey scientifically. The
honey was cured and marketed co-operatively.
 Marthandam Experiment

Activities:
 Educational: Night Schools were organized for
illiterates young and old.
 Libraries were managed by the Y.M.C.A. school
teachers.
 Regular training on various subjects connected with
various aspects of rural life such as cottage industries,
cooperation, cattle breeding, exhibitions, dramas, rural
leadership, demonstration methods, adult education,
sanitation, women and child welfare, physical
education etc. were organized
 Marthandam Experiment

 Social & cultural development: Indian dance forms

and drama like Kathakali and Kala-Kshapam were
encouraged.

 Exhibitions as a means of education and demonstration

were periodically organized. They also used to organize
dramas, exhibitions and inter-village competitions.

 Economic Development: To supplement villagers’

incomes, the then existing cottage industry was
reorganized to make it more remunerative.
 Marthandam Experiment

 The main industries which were reorganized were

poultry-keeping, bee-keeping, weaving,
cashew nuts, basket, mat and rope making
 There were other significant services were
rendered such as improving the breed of the
cattle and introducing quick growing fodder
grass.
 Spiritual Development: Daily morning and
evening prayers were organized regularly at the
centre.
 Marthandam Experiment

Approach:
 The experiment was sustained by Y. M. C. A. The agency
did not aim at quick results (short-term approach)
and it was a less of target minded and statistic minded
approach.
 The program was based on giving nothing for free
except education and advice only to make it
sustainable. They emphasized much on keeping the
costs to a significantly lower level.
 They spent hardly Rs. 8000/- per year. By 1940 there
were 13000 unpaid worker.
 Marthandam Experiment

 The main reason for cheapness of Marthandam program was

its inexpensive and simple buildings made out of thatch,
bamboo and reeds and a host of honorary workers.
 This indicates the people centred approach. Also various
village associations were formed and each association
had its honorary secretaries from the respective villages.
Thus, people had a considerable share in day-to-day
work.
 The organization worked on a single formula of “self-help
with intimate and expert council”. The most remarkable
thing was that people themselves did everything
without any outside help.
 Marthandam Experiment

 The project created a vehement urge for self-

development among villagers.
 To improve financial conditions of people, the
project adopted cooperative model and made
arrangement for marketing the products
produced by villagers.
 The Marthandam pattern was also followed by
various state governments and Y.M.C.A. workers
helped those initiatives.
 Marthandam Experiment

Entry Point:
 Before arrival of Dr. Spencer Hatch, there were already
100 organizations promoted by YMCA and managed
by honorary officers.
 Dr. Hatch selected Marthandam as a place for
establishing demonstration centre for educating villagers
because he wanted to make an impact on large no. of
people with extreme poverty.
 Also another basis for the selection was that the place
had a well road communication and YMCA had already
built up rapport with the villages around due to its
existing cooperative credit society operation.
 Marthandam Experiment

Intervention strategy:
 Conducted socio-economic surveys to get an idea
of socio-economic problems prevailing around the
villages.

 Target area was 40 villages within 4 miles of

radius covering 40000 populations.

 Chief media used were rural dramas, rural

exhibitions, inter-village competitions and
demonstrations.
 Marthandam Experiment

 Village associations and Regional

development associations were formed.

 Demonstration centre at Marthandam

represented the nucleus of various village
development activities and provided
information, instruction and guidance.
 Marthandam Experiment

Drawbacks:

 The main shortcomings of the project were

inadequate funds and governmental help.

 The whole programme was centered on a person and

after the death of Dr. Hatch, there was a conflict on
the question of leadership.

 Due to no economic advantage to the non-paid

workers, this programme could not survive.
 Marthandam Experiment

Summary:

 The work was commenced by Dr. Spencer Hatch an

American Agricultural expert in Travancore
under the auspices of YMCA in 1921.

Objectives:
 To cater to the physical, spiritual, social,
educational and economic aspirations of the rural
people.
 Marthandam Experiment

Activities:
 Educational:
 Night Schools
 Libraries
 Regular training on various subjects connected
with various aspects of rural life.
 Marthandam Experiment

 Social & cultural:

 Indian dance forms were encouraged.
 Exhibitions as a means of education and
demonstration were periodically organized.

 Economic:
 The existing cottage industry was reorganized to make it
more remunerative.
 The main industries which were reorganized were
poultry-keeping, bee-keeping, weaving, jiggery-
making, cashew nuts, basket, mat and rope making.
 Marthandam Experiment

 Adopted the cooperative model and combined

cooperative trio-cooperative production,
cooperative credit and cooperative marketing.
 Other significant services such as improving the
breed of the cattle and introducing quick
growing fodder grass.

 Spiritual: Daily morning and evening prayers

were organized regularly at the centre to maintain a
spiritual atmosphere.
 Marthandam Experiment

People centred approach:-

 Simple and inexpensive yet effective model
to work for concrete results rather than show-off.

 More focus on performing activities of a

centre efficaciously rather than expanding and
opening up new centres.

 Secretaries of various centres and most of other

workers were honorary.
 Marthandam Experiment

 ‘Self help’ formula

 YMCA workers also helped various state

governments to emulate the model.
 Baroda Experiment

 This movement was started by Mr. V.T.

Krishnachari in 1932 in the Baroda state where he
was Dewan at that time.

 Its prime objective was to bring about a rapid

increase in standards of living, industrialization
and rapid expansion of the educational system.

 The second objective was to increase agricultural

production through the provision of basic
necessities for the development of the same.
 Baroda Experiment

 At first, some extension workers were taken on

deputation from Dr. Spencer Hatch of Marthandam.

 The first rural reconstruction centre commenced work

in April, 1932 in a group of villages around Kosambain,
Navsari district.

 After the centre had been at work for a year, the

number of villages under it was increased and
Baroda state issued an order explaining the aims of the
movement as follows:
 Baroda Experiment

 The centre should aim at effecting an improvement

in all aspects of rural life changing in fact the
outlook of the agriculturist, the target being creating
desire for a higher standard of living.

 Work intended to realize this aim should be intensive.

 It should be confined to a group of villages in

which it will be possible for the superintendent
and his trained co-workers to establish personal
contact with all the agriculturalists.
 Baroda Experiment

 Village leadership of the best type should be

developed.

 The centre should apply itself to the following

programmes:

Economic programme:

 Subsidiary occupations, kitchen gardening,

weaving, poultry farming, silk worm rearing,
bee keeping or any other trade may be found
suitable.
 Baroda Experiment

 In each village, Panchayat should be a live-body discharging

its function of providing drinking water, improving
sanitation, building village roads in other words adding to
the opportunities of village life.

Educational and moral programme:

 This included adult education, development

of community sense and of a feeling of solidarity in the
village

 propaganda against evils like early marriage and

unreasonable customs connected with social observances,
 Baroda Experiment

 the proper use of village libraries, the scout

movement and other educative work through
magic lantern.

 Village school should be the centre of such activities.

Method of work:

 Self help
 Dignity of labour, e.g., Shramdan etc.
 Self respect
 Truth and non violence
 Baroda Experiment

Summary:

 This movement was started by V.T Krishnachari in

1932 in the Baroda state where he was Dewan at
that time.

 The first objective was to bring about a rapid increase

in standards of living, industrialization and rapid
expansion of the educational system.

 The second objective was to increase agricultural

production through the provision of basic necessities.
 Baroda Experiment

 This Project was started in the district of Navsari in the

Gujarat State.

 Many programme such as gardening, poultry –

farming, bee-keeping spinning and weaving were
organized.

 Re-stablization of Panchayats and other

programmes of village progress were organized.

 The adult education had been extended.

 Baroda Experiment

Working System:

 By personal education and contact by the village

guides.

 To use the school teacher of village in the extension

of programme.

 To use the traditional means of extension.

 Firka Development Scheme

 The Firka Development Scheme was launched by

Madras Government in 1946 which aimed at the
attainment of the Gandhian ideal of “Village
Swaraj”.

 This scheme aimed at bringing educational,

economic, sanitary and other developmental
activities in villages and also revitalize the spirit of the
people and make them self-confident and self-reliant.

 Among Pre-Independence project, this was the

biggest project.
 Firka Development Scheme

 The short term objectives of the scheme was

to develop basic amenities and an institutional
framework for carrying out communication,
water supply, sanitation, formation of
panchayats and cooperatives.

 The long term objectives were to attain self-

sufficiency in food, clothing, shelter,
development of agriculture, animal
husbandry, khadi and village industries.
 Firka Development Scheme

 The administrative machinery consisted of Director of

Rural Welfare at the State level, the Collector at District
level, the Rural Welfare Officer at Firka level and 5 to 10
Gramsevaks under him. Besides these, staffs for
Agriculture and Public Works were also provided for every
Firka.

 In 1953-54, when the Community Development

Programme and National Extension Service
Programme were adopted by Madras State, the Firka
Development Scheme was merged with it.
 Firka Development Scheme

 This programme was stated by Government in the last

quarter of 1946 in Firkas throughout Madras state. It
was extended to another 50 additional Firkas at the
rate of two Firkas per state.

 Selection of Firkas: on the basis of backwardness

there.
 possibilities for increasing the production of
handloom cloths and other cottage industries.
 Firka Development Scheme

Objectives:
 To tackle the rural problem as a whole.
 Preparation of short term plans for the
development of rural communication, water
supply.
 Formation of Panchayat and organization of
cooperatives.
 long term plan to make the area self sufficient
through agricultural, irrigational and live stock
improvement.
 Development of khadi and cottage industries.
 Firka Development Scheme

Summary:

 Collector was primarily responsible for the good working.

 For assistance, one rural welfare officer of the rank of
Naib Tehsildar was put in charge of 2-3 selected
Firkas.
 Every Firka was divided in to 5-6 groups of villages.
 Each group was under the charge of Gram Sewak, who
was of the rank of revenue inspector.
 Each Firka or group of Firkas was provided with special
staff like Agricultural field man, P.W.D. supervisor and
minor irrigation overseers.
 Firka Development Scheme

 Development committees consisting of officials and

non officials were formed.
 At state level, State Rural Welfare Board was formed.
 Five non official agencies were selected and given
grants for doing Firka development in:
• Rural communication.
• Drinking water facility.
• Sanitation.
• Agriculture.
• Khadi and other village industries.
 Etawah Pilot Project

 The idea of starting this project was conceived

and born in 1947.
 It was put into action with headquarters at
Mahewa village about 17 miles from
Etawah (U.P.) in September, 1948.
 First 64 villages, which were then increased to
97, were covered under this project.
 Lt. col. Albert Mayer of USA, who came to
India with the American forces in 1944, was the
originator of this project for his scheme,
assistance was given by USA and UP
Government.
 Etawah Pilot Project

 Mayer studied all the other projects and form them he

came to the conclusion that:
• A programme should be based on the need of the
people.
• This programme should be extended by conducting
demonstration and evaluation work.
• The programme should include cottage industries
development so that subsidiary occupation could be
developed.
• A project has to be well organized and planned.
• Rural development should take into account all the
aspects of the human being. It is not enough to have
a programme for just one class or group of people.
 Etawah Pilot Project

 In this project major emphasis was given on increasing

agricultural production by the use of green manure, better
seeds, agricultural implements fertilizers, adult education and
reactivation of saline soils.

 Characteristics of the scheme:

• The extension workers were known as a colleague.
• These colleagues met villagers informally and discussed
their specific problems.
• They kept personal touch and personal contact with them.
• Colleagues were educated up to graduate level.
• There were counsellors behind colleagues, who guided them
in technical aspects.
 Etawah Pilot Project

 This project was started in 1948 by Mr. Albert Mayer of

USA who came to India with the American forces in
1944.

 He was the originator of this project at a village called

Mahewa in UP.

 A pilot project for development of Etawah district in UP

was formulated by him with the following objectives :
 Etawah Pilot Project

• To know the degree of productive and social

improvements, through self confidence and
cooperatives
• To find how quickly these results could be attained
• To know whether the results remain permanent even
after the special pressure is withdrawn; and
• To assess how far the results were reproductive in
other places.

 In the project, development officers at various levels

were posted.
 Etawah Pilot Project

 At village level, there was a ‘multi-purpose’

village level worker (VLW) with four or five
villages under him.

 This programme works were, by and large, similar

to earlier projects; introduction of improved
variety seeds, chemical fertilizers, improved
implements, plant protection measures,
horticultural development, soil conservation,
improved cultural practices and the like.
 Etawah Pilot Project

 There were projects in animal husbandry,

cooperation, credit provision, marketing and supply,
improvements of roads, water supply, drainage etc.

 There were adult literacy programmes, tour for

farmers, village leader training camps, mass contact
programmes, etc.

 The project total expenditure was 1.54 million rupees.

 Etawah Pilot Project

 Of this total expenditure only 1.3 per cent was on

grants-in-aid and subsidy. This was very little share.

 It also did not distribute materials of any kind at free of

cost to the people.

 The emphasis was self-help. Advice alone was free.

 Initially the work was started in 64 villages. After one

year the number of villages covered by the project went
up to 97. in 1951, another 125 villages were included.
 Etawah Pilot Project

 This project was finally merged with the National

Extension Service (NES) block.

 The most convincing achievement of this project was in

agriculture, particularly in wheat production due to
adoption of improved production technologies.

 This project solved the problem of unemployment

and under employments.

 Success gained in Etawah could not be maintained after

Mayer’s departure in 1957.
 Etawah Pilot Project

Summary:

Etawah Pilot project

The idea of this pilot project was conceived in 1947 but was
put into action in September, 1948 at Mahewa Village
about 11 miles away from Etawah in United Province. Lt.
Col. Albert Mayer of U.S.A. was the Originator of this
project. Initially 64 villages were selected which then
increased to 97. The Government of UP and Point-4
programme of U.S.A. provided help for this project.

Objectives: of etawah pilot project

• To see the extent of improvement possible in an
 Etawah Pilot Project

• To see how quickly results could be achieved.

• To ascertain the permanency and applicability of
results to other areas.
• To find out methods of gaining and growing
confidence of the villagers.
• To build up a sense of community living.
• To build up a spirit of self help in the villagers.
Activities: in etawah pilot project
• Broadening the mental horizons of the villagers by
educative and persuasive approach.
 Etawah Pilot Project

• Training of village level workers.

• Co-ordination between Departments and
Agencies.
• Conducting demonstrations.
• Covered subjects like crop yields, soil
conservations, animal husbandry sanitation
and social education.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 It started during 1948 under the leadership of Mr. S. K. Dey

who was then the Minister Of Community Development.

 Its primary purpose was to develop a new township to

rehabilitate displaced persons from West Pakistan.

 The project was built in a swampy barren land around the

vocational training centre on the highway of Delhi and
Ambala.

 S.K.Dey launched the new scheme called ‘Mazdoor

Manzil’ for construction of township at Nilokheri.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 This scheme gave the people :

• Training on agricultural implements preparation,
• Training on cottage industries,
• Training on carpentry etc.

 Alongside technical and vocational training, work

centres were started in the crafts like weaving calico
printing, soap making, laundry, bakery, tin
smithy, black smithy, general mechanics, leather
and a multitudes of other crafts and trades.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 The Nilokheri project was unlike any other village

development project.

 Its objective was to rehabilitate the refugees in a planned

settlement where they could get everything which is required
for a town or a village.

 The colony had school, an agricultural farm, polytechnic

training centre, dairy, poultry farm, piggery farm,
horticulture garden, printing press, garment factory,
engineering workshop, soap factory, etc.

 Nilokheri was an excellent exercise in the planning of a town.

 Nilokheri Experiment

 It was started to settle the 7000 displaced persons

(from Pakistan) and later integrated with 100 villages
surrounding Nilokheri.

 It was built around the vocational training centre that

was transferred from Kurukshetra in July 1948 to the
1100 acres of Swampy land on Delhi Ambala highway.

 This scheme was called "Mazdoor Manzil".

 Objectives: Self sufficiency for rural cum urban

township in all essential requirements of life.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 Making provision of work and training for the people

according to their native background.

 To check middle men.

 To enable transactions between the consumer and the

producer, to approach a vertical order.

 Activities: Polytechnic training for B.D.O. and S.E.O.

and V.L.W.

 Housing and marketing facilities.

 Nilokheri Experiment

 Management of schools, hospitals and

recreation centre.

 To make the cultivable land of all 700 acres of

Swampy land.

 Cooperative credit facility.

 Small scale industries were run on cooperative

basis.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 Nilokheri is located in Karnal district of Punjab (now in

Haryana). The Nilokheri project was launched for the
settlement of refugees who migrated to Punjab during the
riots which took place soon after independence.

 The project was initiated by Mr. S.K. Dey who was then, the
Minister of Community Develop­ment.

 The original plan of Nilokheri was to have a township of 7,000

people and to link it with villages having a population of
about 25,000.

 It was contemplated that the Nilokheri town would have cen­

tre of medical relief, Public health and sanitation.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 There was also a provision for high school education,

technical and vocational training, horticulture,
poultry, piggery, fishery, sheep breeding and other farms
of animal husbandry.

 It was within the scope of the project to change the

villages according to the scheme of development.

 It was planned to accommodate the refugees who

were then living in the camps.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 How­ever, the complete scheme for urban and rural area

could not materialise as the Ministry of Rehabilitation was
concentrated only with the displaced persons who could be
settled in the new town, and in the villages around there were
already old inhabitants.

 Alongside technical and vocational training, work centres

were started in all the crafts which were taught in the former
institutions.

 Weaving calico printing, soap making, laundry, bakery,

tin smithy, black smithy, gen­eral mechanics, leather and a
multitude of other crafts and trades came in as production
nucleus.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 The Nilokheri project was unlike any other village

development project. Its objective was to
rehabilitate the refugees in a planned set­
tlement where they could get everything which is
required for a town or a village.

 The clusters of neighbouring villages were also

planned to be attached with the Nilokheri town.
But, this could not be done as the villages were
already settled and had their felt needs
fulfilled.
 Nilokheri Experiment

 The project did not have a formal role of non-officials.

S.K. Dey who was basically an engineer did not pay
much heed to social and cultural as­pects of
village.

 Despite this weakness Nilokheri was an excellent

exercise in the planning of a town.

 It would be worthwhile to say here that Indian

villages are never found in planned settlements.
 Approaches to Rural Community
Development

 Rural Development is the process of improving the

quality of life and economic well-being of people
living in rural areas, often relatively isolated and
sparsely populated areas.

 Traditionally, rural development was centered on the

misuse of land-intensive natural resources such as
forestry and agriculture.

 However today, the increasing urbanization and the

change in global production networks have
transformed the nature of rural areas.
 Approaches to Rural Community
Development
 Rural development still remains the core of the overall
development of the country.

 More than two –third of the country’s people are dependent

on agriculture for their livelihood.

 One-third of rural India is still below the poverty line.

Therefore, it is important for the government to be productive
and provide enough facilities to upgrade their standard of living.

 Rural development is a term that concentrates on the action

taken for the development of rural areas to improve the
economy.
 Approaches to Rural Community
Development

 However, following few areas demand more

focused attention:
• Education
• Public health and Sanitation
• Infrastructure development (electricity,
irrigation, etc.),
• Facilities for agriculture extension and
research.
• Availability of credit.
• Employment opportunities.
 Importance and Objectives of
Rural Development
Importance of Rural Development:

 Rural development is important not only for the majority

of the population residing in rural areas, but also for the
overall economic expansion of the nation.

 Rural development is considered to be of noticeable

importance in the process of the evolution of the
nation.

 It is a strategy that tries to obtain improved

productivity, higher socio-economic equality, and
stability in social and economic development.
 Importance and Objectives of
Rural Development

 The primary task is to decrease the famine

that exist in roughly about 70 percent of the rural
population, and to make sufficient and
healthy food available.

 The secondary task is to ensure the availability

of clothing and foot wear, a clean environment
and house, medical attention, recreational
provision, education, transport, and
communication.
 Importance and Objectives of
Rural Development

Objectives of Rural Development:

 To improve productivity and wages of rural

people.

 To guarantee increased and quick employment

possibilities.

 To demolish unemployment and bring a notable

decline in underemployment.
 Importance and Objectives of
Rural Development

 To guarantee an increase in the standard

of living of the underprivileged population.

 To provide the basic needs : elementary

education, healthcare, clean drinking water,
rural roads, etc.
 Different Approaches to Rural
Development in India

 There are no universally accepted

approaches to rural development. It is a
choice influenced by time, space and
culture.

 The term rural development connotes overall

development of rural areas to improve the
quality of life of rural people.
 Different Approaches to Rural
Development in India

 It encompasses the development of agriculture and

allied activities, village and cottage industries
and crafts, socioeconomic infrastructure,
community services and facilities and, above all,
human resources in rural areas.

 Hence the types of approaches to rural development

are as follows:
 Broad front Approach.
 Sectoral Approach.
 Participatory Approach.
Different Approaches to Rural
Development in India

• Area Development Approach.

• Target Approach.
• Basic Needs Approach.
• Employment-oriented Integrated Approach to
Rural Development.
• Integrated Development Approach.
• Growth Center Approach.
• Community-Driven Development(CDD) or
Approach.
• Gandhian Approach.
• Tagore Approach.
 Broad-Front Development
Approach
 Community Development and Panchayat Raj were
often described as broad-front development strategies as
they aimed at development of villages covering all the
major spheres like Agriculture, Animal Husbandry,
Rural Industries, Communication, Health, Education,
Women Welfare and Social Welfare.

 In early fifties, rural development efforts began with

broad-front development approach.

 The Community Development Programmes (CDP) and

National Extension Service (NES) initiated in 1952 fell
under this approach.
 Broad-Front Development
Approach

 Though CDP, as a holistic approach, did not succeed as

expected. The impact of programme was ephemeral.

 It could not make a dent into social fabric as was

expected. The critics also point out that :
• It brought about a great disparity between the rich
and poor
• It hardly touched the problem of meeting the felt
needs of the people,
• It failed to bring about the process of
modernization through social education, and
• Lack of people’s participation.
 Broad-Front Development
Approach

 In spite of the criticisms these programme’s

added a new dimension to the process of
change and generated community
consciousness to solve community problems.

 The broad-front development approach was a

significant approach, which laid the
foundation stone for the upliftment of rural
India.
 Sectoral Approach

 Sectoral development planning in individual sectors like

education, health, housing and social security are
included in sectoral approach of development.

 This approach advocates compartmentalization of

development in different sectors.

 Its inadequacies stem from this compartmentalized approach.

 By 1960’s the situation was rather critical on the food front.

The need for great concentration on food production led to
strategy for locating potential sectors and well-endowed
districts and areas capable of yielding higher agricultural
production.
 Sectoral Approach

 More attention was paid in improving productivity per

acre than on extending the acreage.

 For this purpose Intensive Agriculture Development

Programme (IADP) and intensive Agricultural Area
Programee (IAAP) were launched.

 Both IADP and IAAP constituted landmarks in the

development of agriculture.
 Sectoral Approach

 The programme placed agriculture on a qualitatively

different footing with wide ranging
repercussions on rural scenario.

 The programmes resulted in a spectacular

breakthrough in total agricultural production
and productivity per hectare but at the expense
of social equality and social justice.
 Participatory Approach

 This concept has been developed from Participatory

Development (PD).

 Participatory development is a process through which

stakeholders can influence and share control
over development initiatives, and over the
decisions and resources that affect themselves.

 Participatory Development (PD) is a process to

engage local populations in development
projects.
 Participatory Approach

 PD uses local decision making and capacities to

steer and define the nature of an intervention.

 PD aims at achieving a localized capital

accumulation process based on the skills
development and local resources generation.
 Participatory Approach

 The essential feature of PD is social

mobilization.

 PD gives a new self-confidence through which

the community can engage in more ambitious
projects involving collective action and
management.
 Area Development Approach

 This approach contemplates that development of an

area depends not only on the development of an
adequate infrastructure network but also the way
factors of the local economy are activated around
the production infrastructure.

 In other words, for development of an area, spatial

and functional integration is necessary.
 Area Development Approach

 Thus, while rural growth centers provide ideal

location for the provision of infrastructural facilities,
their hinterlands are regarded as basic planning units
for integrated multi-sectoral planning to achieve
integrated development of an area.

 The approach, while taking area poverty into

consideration, provides a balance between various
sectoral activities as well as spatial pattern of
growth; however, it does not ensure that economic
growth is being shared by all classes and
communities of the rural areas.
 Target Approach

 In order to accommodate the lagging

sectors/regions rural development was re-
conceptualized to highlight the improvement of the
social and economic life of a specialized group of
people.

 The target group comprised of marginal and small

farmers, landless agricultural laborer for whom
special programmes such as Small Farmer
Development Agency (SFDA) and Marginal
Farmers Development Agency (MFALDA) were
started.
 Target Approach

 It was noticed that the target group approach

showed a better results where information
facilities were satisfactory and administrative
and organizational arrangements were
reasonably strong.

 This approach was for the correction of

regional imbalance.
 Target Approach

 Many programmes of Target Approach like

Tribal Area Development Programme (TADP), Hill
Area Development Programme (HADP), Drought
Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Desert
Development Programme (DDP), and Command
Area Development Programme (CADP) were fairly
successful in terms of implementation.
 Basic Needs Approach

 The basic needs approach gives primacy to the need for

a minimum standard of living of the poor as a central
concern of development planning.

 It therefore contributes to the formulation of a

development strategy, which aims at reducing poverty
and inequality, promoting growth of employment
and distributive justice.

 The basic needs concept is a wider scope covering

personal and social consumption and also human rights,
people participation, employment and growth with justice.
 Basic Needs Approach

 The Minimum Needs Programme (MNP) in India was

introduced in 1974 during the first year of fifth plan period.

 The fifth plan proposed MNP with the objectives of

establishing network of basic services and facilities of
social consumption in all areas of up to nationally accepted
norms within a specified time frame.

 It is essentially a programme of investment in human

resources development and seeks to improve the
consumption of those living below poverty line and
thereby improving productive efficiency of people and
their quality of life.
 Employment-oriented Integrated
Approach to Rural Development

 With a view to overcome the limitations of earlier

approaches and to improve the quality of life of the poor
living in the rural areas, a multilevel, multi-sector,
with multi-section concept of integrated rural
development was launched in 1978-79.

 The different programmes were brought under single

umbrella of Integrated Rural Development Programme
(IRDP).
Employment-oriented Integrated
Approach to Rural Development

 It aimed at ensuring accelerated welfare and

development of the poorest of the poor
based on Gandhian concept of Antyodaya.

 Several programmes for providing

employment to rural poor, namely rural works
programme, rural employment guarantee
programme, IRDP, Development of Women and
Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) and Jawahar
Rozgar Yojana (JRY) were introduced.
Integrated Development Approach

 The area development approach by and large failed

to address the question of inequalities in the
distribution of employment, incomes and assets.

 In the context of this problem the integrated

development approach has been developed.

 A mere geographical emphasis, as is the case

with the area development approach, has been
found to be inadequate in solving the problems.
Integrated Development Approach

 The Indian economy and social structure are

characterized by widespread poverty, poor
health conditions, illiteracy, exploitation,
inequitable distribution of land and lack of
infrastructure and public utilities.

 This means that the problem requires an

approach that will take into account all these
factors in devising a comprehensive strategy
to further rural development.
Integrated Development Approach

 The concept of “integrated rural

development” came into vogue with the need
for a multipurpose thrust to rural planning.

 It stresses that various facets of rural

development, which have an impact on rural life,
are interrelated and cannot be looked at in
isolation. Thus, an integrated approach towards
rural development is essential.
 Growth Center Approach

 It is most appropriate for planning integrated

rural development.

 Based on the principle of “equal accessibility”,

this approach brings all facilities, services and
local administration within easy reach of the
population.

 The growth center are equipped with the

following facilities:
 Growth Center Approach

• Training center to impart practical training and build

capacity to enhance productivity of agriculture and
rural industries.

• Mobile training-cum demonstration unit to

provide on the spot training, repair and maintenance,
services for agricultural and industrial machineries.

• Marketing-cum-warehousing facilities for providing

safe storage and marketing of farm produce and
cottage industries products.
 Growth Center Approach

• Forest and grass nursery to provide fruits,

fuel, fodder and forest cover.

• Developmental school based on the

“earning while learning principle”.

• Residential housing complex for workers in

the project area.
 Community-driven
development(CDD) Approach

 It is derived from community-based development

(CBD).

 The underlying assumption of CDD projects are that:

• Communities are the best judges of how their
lives and livelihoods can be improved and
• If provided with adequate resources and
information, they can organize themselves to
provide for their immediate needs.

 CDD programmes are motivated by their trust in

people and hence it advocates people changing their
 Community-driven
development(CDD) or Approach

 By treating poor people as assets and partners

in the development process, CDD is more cost-
effective compared to centrally-led NGO-based
programmes.

 CDD can also be supported by strengthening

and financing community groups, facilitating
community access to information, and promoting
an enabling environment through policy and
institutional reform.
 Tagore Approach

 Tagore as a great visionary realized the logical,

scientific and realistic way of the solutions to
problems associated with the lives of the rural mass.

 First phase of Rural Reconstruction – East Bengal

Experiment :

• Tagore came into direct contact with the rural

Bengal after he took the charge of their Zamindari
estate at East Bengal.
• It was during that period the idea of rural
reconstruction came to his mind . That was the
beginning of his rural reconstruction programme.
 Tagore Approach

• His programme included health, education,

cottage industries, agriculture, fisheries,
weaving etc.
• He introduced the experiment of tractor for
cultivation, furnace for potteries and
ceramics, a husking machine for paddies.
• An all-round development of a village was
his ultimate objective which to his mind was
necessary for making a self-sufficient and
self-confident society.
 Tagore Approach

 Rural Bank:

• The concept of rural bank occupies a very significant

place in Tagore’s Rural Reconstruction Programme.
• While acting as a Zamindar, he observed that one of the
main reasons of rural poverty was the ruthless
exploitation by the Zamindars, the middlemen and
the money lenders.
• The only way to rescue the villagers was to lend money
at a rate of lower interest.
• With this objective, Tagore established Patisar Bank in
1905.
 Tagore Approach

 Sriniketan Experiment :

 The institution of Sriniketan was not an isolated

experiment, but an integral part of Tagore’s total
educational and reconstruction work.

 The objectives of the mission were:

• To win the friendship and affection of villagers and
cultivators by taking a real interest in all that
concerns their lives and welfare, and by making a
lively effort to assist them in solving their most
pressing problems.
 Tagore Approach

• To take the problem of the village and the field to

the class room for study and discussion and to
the experimental farm for solution.
• To put the students in the way of acquiring
practical experience in cultivation, dairy, animal
husbandry, poultry keeping, carpentry, and
smithing, weaving and tannery; in practical
sanitation work; and in the art and sprit of
cooperation.
• To give the students elementary instruction in
the science connected with their practical
work.
 Tagore Approach

• To encourage in the staff and students of the

department itself a spirit of sincere service
and willing sacrifice for the people of the
surrounding villages.
• To train the students to a due sense of their
own intrinsic worth, physical and moral
and in particular to teach them to do with their
own hands everything which a village
householder or a cultivator does or should do
for a living, if possible, more efficiently.
 Tagore Approach

 Rural Industries:
 Tagore felt it necessary to revitalize the decadent
cottage industries and to train the local artisans
and village youth so that they could make use of
the new innovations.
 With this idea he set up Shilpa Bhavana at
Santiniketan.

 Institute of Rural Reconstruction:

 The Institute of Rural Reconstruction started
operating through two broad divisions of work.
 Tagore Approach

 It maintained a number of demonstration and

service units concerning agriculture, animal
husbandry, cottage industries, health, education and
village organization.
 The institute manifested itself in three different types of
activities namely research, extension and
education.

 Rural Library:
 Rural library was an essential part of the rural
reconstruction programme of Tagore.
 Tagore Approach

 The utility of library has been always recognized by

Tagore.
 So, from the very beginning there was a central
library for learning and research.
 Another local library to serve the local people and to
grow interest for reading and learning among them.
 The most unique feature of this library system was
the introduction of circulating library in 1925.
 It was actually a mobile library where one village
worker used to give door to door service by carrying
books in a bag.
 Gandhian Approach

 Gandhian approach to rural development attaches

supreme importance to moral values.
 It gives primacy to moral values over material
conditions.
 The Gandhians believe that the source of moral values
in general lies in religion and Hindu scriptures like
the Upanishads and the Gita.
 The concept of ‘Rama Rajya’ is the basis of Gandhiji’s
idea of an ideal social order.
 Gandhiji defined Rama Rajya as “sovereignty of the
people based on moral authority”.
 Following are the basic tenants of the Gandhian ideal
social order:
 Gandhian Approach

A. Ideal Village :
• The village is the basic unit of the Gandhian
ideal social order.
• Gandhi’s ideal village belongs to the Pre-British
period, when Indian villages were supposed to
constitute the federation of self-governing
autonomous republics.
• According to Gandhiji , this federation will be
brought about not by compulsion but by the
voluntary offer of every village republic to
join such a federation.
 Gandhian Approach

• The work of the central authority will only be to

coordinate the work of different village
republics and to supervise and manage
things of common interest , as education,
basic industries , health, currency,
banking etc .
• The central authority will have no power to
enforce its decisions on village republics
except the moral pressure or power of
persuasion.
 Gandhian Approach

 Decentralisation:
• Gandhi firmly believes that village republics can be
built only through decentralisation of social and
political power.
• In such a system decision –making power will be
vested in the Village Panchayat.
• The representatives would be elected by all adults
for a fixed period of five years.
• The elected representatives would constitute a
council, called the Panchayat.
 Gandhian Approach

• The Panchayat exercises legislative, executive

and judicial functions.
• It would look after education, health and
sanitation of the village.
• Resources for Gandhian approach to managing
village affairs would be raised from the
villages.
• The Panchayat would play its role in propagating
the importance of moral and spiritual values
among the rural people.
 Gandhian Approach

 Self-sufficiency:
• The village should be self-sufficient as far as its
basic needs- food , clothing, shelter and other
necessities – are concerned.
• The village should produce food-crops and cotton in
order to meet its requirements .
• Some lands should also be earmarked for cattle and
for a playground for adults and children.
• Village economy should be planned with a view to
providing full employment to all the adults of the
village.
• Each man should be guaranteed employment to
enable him to meet his basic needs in the village itself
so that he is not forced to migrate to towns.
 Gandhian Approach

 Industrialization :
• Industrialization leads to passive or active
exploitation of the villages.
• Industrialization replaces manpower and hence it
adds to unemployment .
• In order to avoid such a catastrophe , village and
cottage industries should be revived.
• They provide employment to meet the needs of the
villagers and facilitate village self-sufficiency.
• Gandhians are not against machine per se if it
meets two aims: self-sufficiency and full
employment .
 Gandhian Approach

• According to Gandhiji, there would be no objection to

villagers using even the modern machines and tools
that they could make and could afford to use.
 Trusteeship:
• Gandhiji was not against the institution of private
property . But he wanted to restrict the right of
private property to what was necessary to yield
an honourable livelihood.
• For the excess he prescribed the principle of
trusteeship.
• Gandhiji emphasized the principle of trusteeship
in social and economic affairs.
• He firmly believed that all social property should
be held in trust.
 C.Subramanian Approach

 Integrated Rural Development according to C.Subramanian the

then Finance Minister of India, means ‘A systematic, scientific
and integrated use of our natural resources enabling every
person to engage himself in a productive and socially useful
occupation and earn an income that would meet at least the
basic needs.’

 Integrated Rural Development is a strategy which focuses

attention on the rural poor and attempts to improve the
quality of life of the weaker sections of the society.

 The strategy is just not an attempt of increasing agricultural

productivity but ensuring that the poor and the weaker sections
share the benefits of economic and social progress.
 C.Subramanian Approach

 The concept of Integrated Rural Development came into

vogue with the need for a multi-purpose thrust to
rural planning.

 It is a ‘multi level, a multi-sector, and multi-section

concept.’

 As a multi-level concept, it encompasses rural

development at various levels in the spatial hierarchy
such as the viable cluster of village communities,
blocks and districts.
 C.Subramanian Approach

 As a multi-sector concept, it encompasses

agriculture, industry , education, health and
transportation.

 As a multi-section concept, it encompasses

socio-economic development of the target group
of the weaker sections or sub-sections of the
rural population, such as, landless laborers,
artisans, small farmers, marginal farmers,
Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.