Rural Development in Action: A Case Study of Coastal Areas

This study takes up the case of a coastal region (in Karnataka) as to its different aspects of development process and prospects. Thematically, the book argues that specific sectoral development in the given area has to reckon with other integrated aspects. Agricultural development with reference to growth patterns of different crops, nature of operational holdings and forestry is analysed along with sectoral developments like sericulture and fisheries indicating the available development initiatives. In rural industrialisation, labour augmentation is an essential input and an evaluation of the self-employment programme in achieving the desired goals is analysed; also, the efficacy of a cooperative sugar factory is being attempted. Finally, considering the case of a micro-region, various elements of rural development (including IRDP) are studied as to the performance of the ‘Project’. The main emphasis of IRD Programme is on productive asset creation through subsidy. Subsidy should be only a short run phenomenon so that the technique of rural development is imbibed into the beneficiaries on a permanent footing. On the whole, the micro approach has to be specific and sustainable within the macro approach. The intensity and problems of rural development, though different from those of urban development have not been adequately conceptualised. A system of rural development has to include both micro (target-oriented short term objectives) and macro (long term oriented sector and area development) dimensions. It should shred the view of mere project-orientation in different agro-economic systems and objective regimes.