Career in Rural Development

PUBLISH DATE 30th January 2017

India is a predominatly rural country with a vast population living in the rural areas. According to the 2011 census 68.85 percent people live in rural areas. There is an urgent need to transform their livelihood security, from the below poverty line to above and traditional pattern of life to modern way of life. In order to tackle such issues, the concept of rural development evolved, in different phases with various dimensions. According to Robert Chambers, rural development is a process of improving the groups of people living in rural areas. Some of these are very poor, vulnerable, socially disadvantaged sections, women and old people. Rural Development involves the development of various sections of people as well as development of rural area.

Rural development is the inter-disciplinary subject in nature, which involves various disciplines of science & technology, agriculture, health, social work, economic development, human resource development, natural resources management, participatory technology, demography, statistics, finance, rural industries and so on.

Rural development is an important discipline, which may be seen both as an ideology and a practice. It means planned change by public agencies based outside the rural areas such as the national government and International organizations. It may also be the bringing of the countryside into an active state, as well as the transformation of the nature of the country side into something more superior in terms of activities. According to the World Bank, Rural Development must be clearly designed to increase production. It recognizes that improved food supplies and nutrition, together with basic services, such as health and education, not only directly improve the physical well-being and quality of life of the rural poor, but it can also indirectly enhance their productivity and their ability for their promotion, which they can contribute to the national building process, by empowering the downtrodden. Rural Development ensures the modernization of the rural society and the transition from its traditional isolation to integration with the national economy. It is concerned with increased agricultural production for urban and international markets. This is essential so as to generate foreign exchange, and to attract revenue to finance public and private consumption and investment. In order to encourage increased production, rural development may offer a package of inputs and welfare services for the rural masses. Such inputs and welfare services include physical inputs (such as the provision of feeder roads, water and electrification), social inputs (namely health and educational facilities) and institutional inputs such as credit facilities, agricultural research facilities, rural expansion services among others.

Rural development implies economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation. Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralization of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects for economic development. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply, sanitation and housing coupled with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development.

Academic Programmes in Rural Development

A number of academic programmes are offered by the universities, research institutions and some important colleges in India. Such as diploma, PG Diploma, undergraduate, post graduate, M.Phil and Ph.D. programmes in Rural Development/Rural Studies/Rural Management, as per the UGC guidelines.

Academic Programmes: MRS (Master of Rural Studies) (2 Years Programme for Undergraduates)

MRS (Master of Rural Studies 5 Years Integrated Programme for +2/HSC Students)

M.Phil (Rural Studies – one Year)

Ph.D. (Rural Studies)

Educational Institution: Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamilnadu

Academic Programmes: MA (Rural Development) 2 year programme (Through Distance)

Educational Institution: Indira Gandhi National Open University, (IGNOU) New Delhi

Academic Programmes: MA Rural Development M.Phil & Ph.D. (Rural Development) MBA (Rural Project Management)

Educational Institution: Gandhigram Rural University, Gandhigram, Dindigul district, Tamilnadu.

Academic Programmes: MA, M.Phil & Ph.D (Rural Development)

Educational Institution: Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anandhapuram (A.P)

Academic Programmes: MA, M.Phil & Ph.D (Rural Development)

Educational Institution: Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarajunagar, (AP)

Academic Programmes: MA, M.Phil & Ph.D (Rural Development)

Educational Institution: Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamilnadu

Academic Programmes: MA, M.Phil & Ph.D (Rural Development)

Educational Institution: Bangalore University, Trichirapalli

Academic Programmes: Ph.D. Programme in Rural Development

Educational Institution: IIT, Delhi, IIT, Kharagpur, IIT, Mumbai

Academic Programmes: PG Diploma in Rural Development

Educational Institution: National Institute of Rural Management Development & Panchayat Raj Hyderabad

Academic Programmes: PG Programme in Rural Development

Educational Institution: Institute of Rural Management, Management Anand, Gujarat.

Academic Programmes: PG Programme / MBA (Rural Management)

Educational Institution: Xaviour Institute of Rural Management, Jaipur

Academic Programmes: MA (Rural Development)

Educational Institution: University, Vishakapattinam, Andhra Pradesh

Academic Programmes: MA M.Phil & Ph.D (Rural Development)

Educational Institution: Dr. BR Ambedkar University Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh

Academic Programmes: MA (Rural Development) Certificate in Rural Development M.R.S (Master of Rural Studies)

Educational Institution: Hemachandracharya North Gujarat University Patan, Gujarat.

Academic Programmes: MA (Rural Development) Certificate in Rural Development M.R.S (Master of Rural Studies)

Educational Institution: MBA (Rural Development Management)

Academic Programmes: Mahatma Gandhi Chitrkoot Gramodya Viswavidhyalaya, Satna, Madhya Pradesh