Rural Development Before and After Independence: Chapter - 2

S.K. Acharya, G.C. Mishra and Karma P.
Kaleon
CHAPTER - 2
Rural Development Before and

After Independence
2. Introduction
The district of Saharsa played an important part in the freedom
movement. The Home rule movement of Annie Besent in -
1917 and Styagarah Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1921
received widespread support in the district. In Saharsa, the
freedom movement was led, among others, by Sarvashri
Mahtal Lal Yadava, Shivanandan Mandal, Nand Kishore
Chaudhary, Rajendra Mishra, Ram Bahadur Sinha,
Yadunanadan Jha and Rajendra Lal Das. Supaul and
Madhepura Jails were full of Political prisioners. Thana Bihpur
(in Bhagalpur district) was the scene of great activity where Dr.
Rajendra Prasad was bitterely beaten by the police and the
people of Saharsa were much agitated over this picketing tool
place all over the district with full Vigour. The Period between
RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

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Dr. Saroj Kumar Singh
1930 and 1942 was marked by various Kishan agitations all

over the district for Bakast lands.
Rural development is an obligation of the Government to raise
the standard of living of the rural people. Since independence,
the Government has initiated developmental planning measures
and implemented through Five Year Plans. So far, though eight
Five Year Plans have been implemented, the problem of rural
poverty and unemployment has remained largely unsolved.
Even basic infrastructure facilities also are launching in most
of the Villages. The Integrated Rural Development Programme
(IRDP) is an organized effort to evolve the possibility of
developing infrastructural facilities along with inter-sectoral
avenue in an integrated framework at micro-level.’ It is not
merely a programme of rural development but a combined
effort under which all-rural development programs, which were
in vogue, were integrated. It represents a significant
achievement in the field of organization. The evolution of
lRDP has a historical background. But before discussing it, it is
essential to know what is rural development and what are the
rural development efforts before and after independence.
2.1. The Concept Of Rural Development

In India, the concept of rural development was born in the
context of agriculture and it remained for a long time
continuous with agricultural development.

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Rural Development Before and After Independence
The objectives of rural development, according to the World

Bank, are not restricted to any single Department but spread
over several, and the resultant mlx serves to raise agricultural
output, create new employment, improve health and education,
expand communication, provide housing etc. Thus, the World
Bank defined rural development in terms of an improvement of
the economic and social life of the rural poor. Rural
development encompasses all sectors of rural life. In its widest
sense, it implies development of every aspect of rural life.
The basic objectives of mal development is to organize,
develop and utilize the available resources of land, water, and
manpower in such a manner that the entire population
depended on these resources have an equitable Government of
India, Planning Commission, Interim Report on Integrated
Agricultural Development opportunity to meet, as a minimum
in its basic needs. Rural development involves:
1. Improvement in levels of weaker sections of the rural
population, as indicated by income, productivity, employment,
literary rate, health and nutrition, infant mortality rate,
expectation of life, exposure to mass media, housing, political
participation, status of women, supply of safe drinking water
and similar other minimum needs.
2. Decreasing the inequality in distribution of rural wealth and
incomes,

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3. Decreasing the inequality in rural-urban imbalances in

incomes and economic opportunities,
4. Capacity of the rural sector to sustain and accelerate the pace
of the above mentioned improvement over time.
G.R. Krishnaswamy's views on rural development involves
several categories of integration such as, integration of
different sectors of the rural economy with forward and
backward linkages, economic development with social
development, total area approach and target group approach,
credit with technical services, human resource development
with manpower needs and integration of income generating
schemes with the minimum needs programme of education,
rural health, water supply and nutrition.
2.2. Definitions of Rural Development

The Rural Development sector Policy Paper of the World Bank
(1975) observes that "rural development is a strategy designed
to improve the economic and social life of a specific group of
people - the rural poor. It involves the extension of the benefits
of development to the poorest among those who seek a
livelihood in the rural areas. The group includes small scale
farmers, tenants and the landless.""
Again a World Bank publication defines rural development as
"improving the living standards of the low-income population
residing in rural areas and making the process of their

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development self-sustaining"? It consists of development of

Villages in to healthy, self-sufficient, and prosperous units of
living and provides the basic requirements for a healthy and
comfortable living.
In a seminar on Approaches to Rural Development in Asia,
discussions were centered around a definition of rural
development as a process which lead to a continuous rise in the
capacity of the rural people to control their environment,
accompanied by a wider distribution of benefits resulting from
such control"' This definition is composed of three important
elements:
I. Rural development must be viewed as a process of raising
the capacity of the rural people to control their environment.
Environment does not mean only agricultural or economic
development. It includes all aspects of rural life - social,
economic, cultural and political,
2. Rural Development as a process should continuously raise
the capacity of the rural people to influence their total
environment, enabling them to become initiators and
controllers of change in their environment rather than being
merely the passive objects of external manipulation and
Control, and
3. Rural development must result in wider distribution of
benefits accruing from technical developments and the

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participation of weaker sections of the rural population in the

process of development.
Michael Torado mews that rural development encompasses:
1. Improvement in levels of living including employment,
education, health and nutrition, housing and a variety of social
services,
2, Decreasing inequality in the distribution of rural incomes
and in rural-urban balances in Incomes and economic
opportunities, and
3. The capacity of the rural sector to sustain and accelerate the
pace of these.
The famous sociologist, James H Crops has defined rural
development as a process through collective efforts, aimed at
improving the well-being and self-realization of people living
outside the urbanized area. He further contends that the
alternate target of rural development is people and not
infrastructure and according to him, one of the objectives of
rural development should be to widen people's range of choice.
Mishra and Sunderam defined mal development as not merely
development of rural areas but also the development of quality
of life of the rural masses in to self-reliant and self-sustaining
modem little communities. Rural development IS therefore
development of rural areas in such a way that each component
of rural life changes in a desired direction. Another scholar,

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Lassey emphasizes that the focus of rural development should

be on.
I. Preservation of ecological integrity with a view to provide a
continuous Supply of life-supporting resources,
2. Extent and appropriate land use,
3. Healthy living conditions,
4. An aesthetically pleasing environment,
5. Effective socio-economic and Environmental institutions,
6. Improved human welfare in terms of minimum economic
and social Level,
7 Physical structures adopted and landscape of pleasing design,
and
8. Comprehensiveness, that is, the full range of physical,
biological and factors in ruins.
The Ashridge Conference on Social Development defined rural
development as a movement designed to promote better living
for all in the whole community with the active participation
and initiative of the community.' According to UN Report,
"rural development has come into international usage to
connote the process by which the efforts of people themselves
are united to those of Governmental authorities to improve the
economic, social and cultural conditions in the life of the
nation and to relate them to contribute fully to national.”

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In the words of Robert Chambers, "rural development is a strategy to enable

a specific group of people, poor rural women, and men to gain for
themselves and their children more of what they want and need. It involves
helping the poorest among those who seek a livelihood in the rural areas to
demand and control more of the benefits of rural development. The group
includes small-scale farmers, tenants and landless.’- Thus rural development
is a multi-dimensional process which includes the development of socio-
economic conditions of the people living in the rural areas and ensures their
participation in the process of development for complete utilization of
physical and human resources for better living conditions. It extends the
benefits of development to the weaker and poorer sections of rural society.
It also enhances both the capacity and capability of administrative and
socio-economic development agencies and agricultural marketing units
working in the rural areas.
2.3. Rural Development during the British Rule--------

Since time immemorial, India has been predominantly a rural
country. Thus, rural development has always been in the
priority concern of national development. In those days, our
villages were self-sufficient and self-sustained and the
respective rulers made any effort for the betterment in their
conditions. But during the British rule, they were not
concerned with the socio-economic development of India and
thus our rural economy was severely damaged resulting in the
miserable conditions of the rural. It was the famine of 1899,

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which forced the British Government to think about the people

of India who were dying of hunger. The recurrent famines
forced the State Administrators to seize the food grains and
arrange for the distribution among the famine-affected people.
All was done without any apparent legal sanction, motivated as
the action purely was by determination to control profiteering
and alleviate rural suffering." Later, with the recommendations
of Famine Commissions of 1866 and 1880 and with the
initiative of Lord Curzon, Provincial Department of
Agriculture with Agricultural College and Provincial Research
Institute were established in 1906 the Indian Agricultural
Service was constituted. A number of British officers
according to their interest and inclination tried out a few
experiments in rural reconstruction. The spread of such
Programs were thin and only small financial outlays could be
made for them. They were not pursued with any noticeable
sense of urgency. The primary concern of the administrations
as maintenance of law and order and collection of revenue, not
development. Thus, colonial interests were the primary
objectives and rural development was secondary.
2.4. Rural Development During The Pre-Independence

Period
In the pre-independence period, a number of rural development
programs were started by the Nationalists and Social reformers.

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Some of these programs gradually disappeared or some were

merged with Government sponsored schemes later. 'This is
because of various reasons like lack of encouragement of the
Government, lack of financial support, inadequate,
inexperienced and untrained staff. The other reasons are lop-
sided approach to different aspects of development, absence of
needed supplies and services, inadequate co-ordination and co-
operation from other departments and agencies. There are
many efforts i.e. Gandhian Approach in Rural Development in
Champaran, Bihar (1917), Gandhian Experiment in Rural
Reconstruction (1920), Sriniketan Project (1921) of Poet
Rabinder Nath Tagore, Marthamdom Project (1921)– Spencer
Hatch of YMCA, Gurgaon Project (1927) – F.LK. Bryne,
Rural Reconstruction Movement (1932) – V.T.
Krishanmachari, Sevagram (1936) – Mahatma Gandhi, Grow
More Food Campaigns 1942 – F.L.Bryne, Indian village
upliftment Scheme in 1945, were started for rural development.
But, the most important rural development efforts during the
pre-independence era were:
1. Rural Reconstruction programme by Mahatma Gandhi
2. The Sriniketan Experiment
3 The Martandam Experiment
4. The Gurgaon Experiment
5. Rural Reconstruction Programs in Baroda, and

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6. The Firka Development scheme.
2.4.1 Rural Reconstruction Programme by Mahatma

Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi started the programs for rural reconstruction
at Sevagram in Wardha In 193 8. His 18-point Constructive
Programme included the use of khadi, promotion of village
industries, basic education, adult education, rural sanitation,
removal of untouchability, upliftment of the backward classes,
welfare of women, education in public health and hygiene,
prohibition, propagation of mother tongue and economic
equality.
The Gandhian Constructive Programme is essentially a
programme of human activity in various fields that is beneficial
for the economic growth of rural India. Gandhiji wished to
evolve a philosophy of life, which would achieve the welfare
of all (Sarvodaya).
Gandhiji was greatly disturbed by the decline of rural
industries. He believed that the extinction of Village industry
would complete the ruin of 7,00,000 villages He gave special
attention to revive rural crafts especially spinning and weaving,
traditional oil press, grain processing and leather works.
According to Gandhi, the return to traditional village industry
could ensure full employment and well-being to the
overwhelming population of the country. This philosophy

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inspired and informed the activities of Gandhiji to the

constructive workers who dedicated their lives to village
development programs. Gandhian rural reconstruction
activities were based on the principles of truth and non-
violence. His ideas of rural reconstruction were accepted
officially and resulted in the adoption of Khadi and Village
Industries Programme, the principle of Village Self-
sufficiency, and the faith in the Panchayati Raj and Sahakari
Movement by the Government are some of the examples of the
impact of Gandhian tradition.
2.4.2 Sriniketan Experiment

In 1920, Rabindra Nath Tagore laid the foundation of the
Sriniketan Institute for Rural Reconstruction and formulated a
programme for the all-round improvement in the Village of his
Zamindari with the objective of studying rural problems and of
helping the Villagers to develop agriculture, improving the
livestock, formation of co-operatives. Tagore believed in self-
help and mutual help and wanted the village workers to be
involved in the life of rural people and work for their welfare.
He started this programme in the cluster of 8 Villages but were
not very successful and can only be described as rural welfare
works. The absence of market facilities, professional guidance,
lack of co-ordination between the implementing authority and
improper incentives for workers made the task more difficult

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and desired results could not be achieved. l'he Sriniketan

experiment meant for bringing back life in its completeness
into the Villages, making rural folks self-reliant and en-grading
self-respectful, acquainted with the cultural traditions of their
own country and competent to make an efficient use of modem
resources for the improvement of their physical, intellectual
and economic conditions. Though this experiment was not
success, it attained certain physical and notable results.
2.4.3 The Martandam Experiment

Dr. Spencer Hatch of the Young Men's Christian Association
(YMCA) set up a Project in 1921 at Martandam, 25 miles south
of Thiruvananthapuram. The purpose of this experiment was to
bring about a complete upward development towards a more
complete and meaningful life for rural people, spiritually,
mentally, physically, socially and economically. The main
stress in programme was on the principle that people should
not depend on Government for support because when
concessions and help in any field are not given, the people
develop in them a feeling of self-help and self- reliance.
The objectives of this programme was the YMCA should work
in the Villages to eliminate poverty. For the Rural
Demonstration Centre at
Martandam had a demonstration farm, prized animals,
equipment for the honey industry and other cottage vocations

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in its campus. Some industries like 27 weaving, poultry and

bee keeping were started on a co-operative basis. Dr. Hatch
could demonstrate the lucrative possibilities of these
enterprises -
The major achievements of the programme were the change in
the attitudes of the rural people, formation of a desire to
improve the spirit of cooperation and self-respect. This
experiment was followed by other States and its workers
helped the States of Baroda, Mysore, Cochin and Hyderabad to
set up Centers of Training for Rural Reconstruction.
2.4.4 The Gurgaon Experiment

In 1927, the Gurgaon experiment was started by F.L. Bryne,
who was the Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon District in
Punjab. The programme aimed at improving agriculture,
education, health and sanitation facilities, co-operation, and
social development with greater vigor. Through these
comprehensive efforts, he intended to remove poverty through
a mass movement. He stressed on the dignity of labour, self-
help and conducted propaganda through films, songs, skits and
plays with a view to increase farm yields and improving health
standards Under this programme, for the first time, a 'Village
guide' was posted In each Village who was to work as a link to
pass on new innovations to the main reason for the failure of
this programme was that the reforms were imposed on the

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people, rather than initiated by themselves. This widened the

gap between the 'haves and have-nots'.
2.4.5 Rural Re-Construction Programme In Baroda

The Maharaja of Baroda was a progressive and enlightened
man and he started the Baroda experiment in 1932. This
programme aimed at developing "will to live better" and a
capacity for self-help and self-reliance. The programme
included the following items:
1. Improvement of communication,
2. Digging of drinking water wells,
3. Anti-malarial measures,
4. Pasture development,
5. Distribution of improved seeds,
6. Training in Cottage crafts,
7. Establishment of Panchayats and Co-operatives covering
every Village,
8. Development of village schools as Centre for teach
agriculture and for improving the will to live better. The
programme had full legislative and financial support.
2.4.6 The Firka Development Scheme

The Firka Development scheme of Madras was a Government
sponsored Scheme in 1946 this programme aimed at organizing
the villagers for a Happier, more prosperous and fuller life in

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which the individual villagers had the opportunity to develop

both as an individual and as a unit of a well-integrated society.
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 local
self-governments (i.e. 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."
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 Gramasevaks
under him. Besides these, staffs for Agriculture and Public
Works were also provided for every Firka. Later 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.
Pre-independent efforts of rural development programs were
limited and confined to specific areas. All pre-independent
efforts were isolated in nature and lacked a permanent
organizational structure (Govt.). As a result, after showing
some initial results, these projects withered away gradually
without any tangible and permanent impact. Thus, various old
programs suffered on account of the following reasons – lack

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of government backing, lack of financial resources, lack of

research support, lack of specialized facilities and lack of
several other related factors. The failures of all the pre-
independent rural development efforts have been summed up in
a comprehensive way as under:
Gaikwad (1986) concluded that:
Earlier experiments were at least poor examples of rural
reconstruction, considering their tall philosophical ideas,
narrow and shallow base of thinking on material aspects of life,
and poor and transient impact on the economy of rural people
and these kept the society rural. In these experiments, there was
not much that would build a technologically progressive
economy. One would like to consider persons like Andrews,
Empires, Miss Green, Dorothy Straight, Dr. Hatch, Brayne,
Myer etc. as representatives of technologically and industrially
advanced Western societies. Yet, they introduced very little of
industry and technology of the west in their experiments.
2.5 Rural Development Since Independence

Immediately after the attainment of independence and before
the commencement of planned economic development through
Five Year Plans, three important programs of rural
reconstruction were introduced in India. They were
1 The Etawah Pillot Project
2 The Nilokheri Experiment

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3 The Bhoodan Movement
2.5.1 The Etawah Pilot Project

In 1948, Albert Mayor started the Etawah Pilot Project for the
development of the rural areas of Etawah District in Uttar
Pradesh. The main objective of the project was "to see what
degree of productive and social improvement as well as
initiative, self-confidence and co-operation can be developed.
The problem was to ascertain how quickly these results may be
attained and remain permanently a part of the people's mental,
spiritual, technical equipment and outlook after the special
pressure is lifted."
The other important features were: production intensity,
people's cooperation, development of appropriate attitudes,
careful selection of Personnel, self-reliance, local resources and
supply and development of Village leadership.
The effort was made to introduce the Concept of Decentralized
Economy leading to Agro-Industrial Economy which in turn
led to the development of agriculture, horticulture, poultry,
piggery, fishery, and other forms of animal husbandry.
For intensive operation of the programme, 97 Villages of
Mahadeva Block in Etawah District were selected. Various
activities llke agricultural Demonstrations, soil conservation,
improvement in animal husbandry, village sanitation and the
co-operation of various departments and non-official agencies

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were carried out. In order to secure people's participation, a

programme of social education was also started. The Project
was successful in achieving its aim and within 3 years, it was
extended to 300 Villages of the Etawah District in UP."
2.5.2 The Nilokheri Experiment

S. K. Dey, the former Minister for Community Development
and Cooperation was the founder of the Nilokheri Experiment
in 1948, when nearly 7000 displaced persons were rehabilitated
in Nilokheri town after independence. The scheme was also
known as "Mazdoor Manzil" because of its principle 'he who
will not work, neither shall he eat'. Under this programme, the
main activities were a Vocational Training Centre run on co-
operative lines and the Colony had its own dairy, poultry,
piggery, printing press, engineering workshops, tannery, and
bone-meal factory. People were given vocational training of
their choice to run these Co-operative Enterprises. Rights for
education and medical care for the sick were also guaranteed.”
The Nilokheri project, in spite of its limitations, left an imprint
on the Community Development Programme in the country. It
gave the idea of agro-industrial Township as the nerve-Centre
of rural development. The programme found place in the First
Five Year Plan and in the layout of the Financial Plan of the
first 52 Community Projects. Nilokheri was seen as a symbol
of progress, but the Colony developed its own hierarchical

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structure and the industries started facing troubles due to lack

of competitive advantages. Nilokhen is still an important
Centre for the training of Panchayati Raj and Rural
Development Functionaries.
2.5.3 The Bhoodan Movement.

Acharya Vinoba Bhave, one of the earlier social reformers of
India is the profounder of Bhoodan movement. In the words of
Vinoba Bhave, Bhoodan Yojana is an all-comprehensive
movement directed to the reform in all walks of life. Today
every one thinks of himself alone and feels for self only. But
Bhoodan makes the people think and do just the opposite of
what they do now. It makes the people first think of their
neighbors, and if he has no land, it must be their duty to
provide him with it. In Bhoodan, distribution of land is not the
only question. It aims at the moral regeneration of the whole
nation. Through it we hope to solve the economic difficulties,
encourage Village Industries and remove the difference
between the educated and the uneducated by making them both
to join in common work."
The inspiration of Bhoodan came to Vinobaji in 1951 when he
was touring the Telangana District of Hyderabad. The basic
objective of Bhoodan campaign was to prevent the emergence
of bloody revolution by solving the land problems in a peaceful
way. The real intention was to create the right atmosphere so

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that progressive land reforms could follow. At one stage, it was

thought that Vinoba had succeeded in converting the minds of
large numbers of big landholders. Acres upon acres and later
Villages &er Villages were shown as being given away to the
landless or the tenants. However, later, it was found that, in
most such cases, the Bhoodan proved to be a sham; in one
manner or another, the large landholders retained the land.
Except above projects, there are many other projects as :
Sarvodaya Program (1948), Fifteen Pilot Extension Projects –
Ford Foundation, Community Development Program (1952) –
Chester Bowel, National Extension Service (NES) 1953,
Panchayati Raj (1959), Intensive Agricultural District Program
(IADP-1960), Intensive Agriculture Area Program (IAAP-
1964), High Yielding Variety Program (HYVP-1966), Training
and Visit (T&V-1974), Small Farmers’ Development Agency,
1970. Marginal Farmers’ Development Agency (1970),
Drought Prone Area Program (1970), Integrated Tribal
Development Program, Integrated Rural Development Program
(1978-79), Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment
(TRYSEM-1975), Integrated Child Development Services
Scheme (1975) were adopted for Rural Development under
Post Independence.
The different rural development attempts during the pre-
planning period, no doubt, did something really good in spite

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of many hurdles. But some of the schemes gradually

disappeared idiom the scene and some were merged later with
Government sponsored schemes. These earlier attempts could
not last long or attain the desired goals for various reasons such
as lack of encouragement from the Government, lack of
necessary financial support, inadequate and untrained staff,
lop-sided approach to different aspects of development and
absence of necessary infrastructure facilities. As noted in the
First Five Year Plan, the experience of early rural
reconstruction schemes reveals that different schemes were
forced on the villagers and as such there was no enthusiasm
among them and there was lack of initiative for the people,
which is very essential for the success of the schemes.
The following problems were encountered in implementing the
Sriniketan Project of 1921 such as lack of Pilot Survey or
Research, lack of University research on technical, social and
economic aspects was a great handicap, pre-planning survey
was not completed, sound professional guidance was not
available from any corner, there was absence of intimate
contact between project workers, government officials and
between officials and the villagers, there was dearth of men
and means to take up the work at large scale, government
officials had little understanding of village problems and had
no experience in sitting down with village people.

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2.6 Post-Independence Rural Development Efforts

After independence, the government of India launched
Community Development Program (CDP) on 2nd October,
1952 and National Extension Service (NES) in 1953 for the
development and upliftment of rural people in general and of
weaker sections in particular. Since independence, rural
development programs have been an integral part of India’s
Five Year Plans. The CDP aimed at the development of the
rural areas with the participation of local population through
the framework of over 5000 C.D. blocks.
2.7. Politics Behind The Initiation Of Cdp In India

Chester Bowel the then U.S. Ambassador in India convinced
Nehru about the urgency of CDP for Indian Villages and
offered to spend 54 million U.S. dollars as economic assistance
to assist some such village campaigns and other programs.
Chester Bowel’s theory:

Chester Bowel observed that communism gained strength in
china because Yen’s (Dr. James Y.C. Yen a graduate of Yale
University) approach was not supported by the general Issimo
in China. Bowel thought that a similar situation would develop
in India if development programs were not undertaken urgently
on the line suggested by Yen. To him, the CDP was a defense
mechanism against his perceived threat of communism to
India. It could be said that Bowl’s influence at a crucial and

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psychologically important moments pushed India to opt for the

Etawah model of CDP in India. The four basic elements of
community development program (CDP) were: Focus on
individual cultivator, restructuring of district administration,
provision of facilities through cooperatives and block and
provision of Welfare at Block and at village levels.
The focus of this design, as in case of all early efforts was on
individual cultivator. There was no emphasis on collective,
communal action for community welfare and on building
community assets for common economic development. In later
years, a number of other programs for rural development were
also adopted.
2.8 Critical Evaluation Of Rural Development Policies &

Programs
A critical appraisal of various welfare programs and projects
have revealed various types of limitations and constraints in the
implementation process. Jain, L.S. (1985) after conducting a
comprehensive study of various programs in various blocks
across the country have found out various constraints in
relation to IRDP (1980-81 to 1983) which need improvement
such as proper identification of beneficiaries need to be there,
removal of deficiency in administrative infrastructure,
involvement of peoples’ representatives, initiation of activities

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in support of the IRDP beneficiaries and required detailed

evaluation.
2.9 Impact and Review

A number of authors, researchers and reviewers have come to
the conclusion that various projects and programs designed for
rural development programs have not succeeded to the desired
extent. The review and analysis of various studies revealed that
the lack of interest in problems connected with rural
community followed by lack of community feelings and
welfare, lack of coordination among village schools, village
panchayats and village cooperatives, caste, region and religion
based factionalism, lack of village plans, lack of coordination
from the center to the block level, multiplicity of
responsibilities of development functionaries cornering of poor
people’s money, paying of low wages to the rural poor and
frequent transfers of specialists and other officers adversely
affected the rural development programs.
Muley (1987) pointed out that rural development has remained
one of the constant and increasingly conscious goals of our five
year plans from their inception, but unfortunately this goal has
eluded us all the time. Devashayam (1988) rightly observed
that:
“As we became a free country, we vowed to banish poverty
from the face of this nation. We heaped many plans including

ISBN: 978-93-85822-16-2 40
20 points programs. Now after 63 years and many development

programs, vast population still lives below the poverty line – a
number equal to the combined population of Europe and USA.
Today, rural areas are being sought to be developed and
poverty removed by dishing out doles through loan meals
organized in feudal style. Development programs in reality
have only helped a microscopic minority to reap all benefits in
the name of concessions and reservations for the majority of
the condemned it is an endless life of misery and squalor.” The
noted Indian Jurist Palkivala (1986:5) observed that : “The
dangers of the mass loaning programs meant for needy people
including rural youth should be clear even to the purblind, in a
country where the family comes first, the caste second the
party third, and the nation is hardly relevant at all”. Similarly,
the Public Accounts Committee of the Indian Parliament in its
90th report (1980-81) has drawn attention to the fact that in
implementing the National Rural Employment Program meant
for rural people and rural youth, there were serious
irregularities on the part of almost all state governments –
corruption, misappropriation, false debits in accounts and
diversion of food grains – and it listed shortcomings of the
program in appendix-III to the report.
International Institute of Transparency has identified India as
one of the leading corrupt countries in the world. Former

ISBN: 978-93-85822-16-2 41
Director of Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr. K. Madhavan

has estimated that annually, an amount of rupees 10,000 crores
is siphoned off through corrupt means out of the welfare
programs meant for the poor people (Warghare, Suresh
Chand). The crores of rupees have been spent on celebrating
the completion of half a century of Indian self-rule. For
example, the government will provide the mostly hungry and
want driven people of Delhi with a laser show costing the
taxpayer Rs. 10 crores. People have experienced 63 distressing
years of sterile politics, stagnant economy and a diminishing
cultural identity. That India is rated low among even the
developing countries in terms of skills and manpower quality.
The India’s trade is reported to have decreased by over a third
of even the one per cent of world trade it enjoyed sixty years
ago. Indecision, vacillation, timidity, corruption, and red-
tapism have characterized and continue to characterize India’s
governance (Puri, 1997).
The money-squandering syndrome can be gauzed from the fact
that since 1951, 246 big surface irrigation projects have been
initiated. Only 65 out of these have been completed. Almost no
benefit has come to the people from these projects. Investments
in major irrigation projects rose from around Rupees 7,500
crores in the sixth plan to over Rupees 11,000 crores in the
seventh plan and are expected to touch Rupees. 25,000 crores

ISBN: 978-93-85822-16-2 42
in the eighth plan and may touch Rupees 50,000 crores in the
9th plan (Vohra, 1996:13).
2.10. Conclusion
The district of Saharsa played an important part in the freedom
movement. The Home rule movement of Annie Besent in -
1917 and Styagarah Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1921
received widespread support in the district. In Saharsa, the
freedom movement was led, among others, by Sarvashri
Mahtal Lal Yadava, Shivanandan Mandal, Nand Kishore
Chaudhary, Rajendra Mishra, Ram Bahadur Sinha,
Yadunanadan Jha and Rajendra Lal Das. Supaul and
Madhepura Jails were full of Political prisioners. Thana Bihpur
(in Bhagalpur district) was the scene of great activity where Dr.
Rajendra Prasad was bitterely beaten by the police and the
people of Saharsa were much agitated over this. Picketing tool
place all over the district with full Vigour. The Period between
1930 and 1942 was marked by various Kishan agitations all
over the district for Bakast lands.
The August revolution of 1942 formed a land mark in the
history of the freedom movement in Saharsa district too. On
the 29th of August, there was police firing at Saharsa and a
number of persons were killed. After his escape from the
Hazaribag Jail in 1942 Sri Jay Prakash Narayan visited Saharsa
district on his way to Nepal. Sri Siyaram Singh of Bhagalpur

ISBN: 978-93-85822-16-2 43
formed Siyaramdal, which had its branches in different parts of

the district of Saharsa in December 1942. Sri Siyaram Singh
met Sri Jaya Prakash Narayan in Nepal where a conference on
the works of Bihar was held under the Presidentship of Shri
Shivanandan Mandal.The district played a prominent role in
the subsequent events which continued till the country’s
independence.
●●●

ISBN: 978-93-85822-16-2 44

Rural Development Before and After Independence: Chapter - 2

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S.K. Acharya, G.C. Mishra and Karma P.

Rural Development Before and

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

1930 and 1942 was marked by various Kishan agitations all

2.1. The Concept Of Rural Development

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

The objectives of rural development, according to the World

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

3. Decreasing the inequality in rural-urban imbalances in

2.2. Definitions of Rural Development

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

development self-sustaining"? It consists of development of

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

participation of weaker sections of the rural population in the

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

Lassey emphasizes that the focus of rural development should

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

In the words of Robert Chambers, "rural development is a strategy to enable

2.3. Rural Development during the British Rule--------

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

which forced the British Government to think about the people

2.4. Rural Development During The Pre-Independence

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

Some of these programs gradually disappeared or some were

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

6. The Firka Development scheme.

2.4.1 Rural Reconstruction Programme by Mahatma

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

inspired and informed the activities of Gandhiji to the

2.4.2 Sriniketan Experiment

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

and desired results could not be achieved. l'he Sriniketan

2.4.3 The Martandam Experiment

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

in its campus. Some industries like 27 weaving, poultry and

2.4.4 The Gurgaon Experiment

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

people, rather than initiated by themselves. This widened the

2.4.5 Rural Re-Construction Programme In Baroda

2.4.6 The Firka Development Scheme

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

which the individual villagers had the opportunity to develop

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

of government backing, lack of financial resources, lack of

2.5 Rural Development Since Independence

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

3 The Bhoodan Movement

2.5.1 The Etawah Pilot Project

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

were carried out. In order to secure people's participation, a

2.5.2 The Nilokheri Experiment

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

structure and the industries started facing troubles due to lack

2.5.3 The Bhoodan Movement.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

that progressive land reforms could follow. At one stage, it was

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR

of many hurdles. But some of the schemes gradually

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: A STUDY OF SAHARSA DISTRICT OF BIHAR