Rural Development Policies and Programmes: A Sociological Perspective

Dr Shiv Mehta has provided a macro-level study of rural development programmes and policies in the Indian context using a sociological perspective. The author′s basic contention is that development has to be considered as something more than just growth -- it is both an economic and socio-cultural change process because development programmes affect the conditions in which people live. No programme or policy of development can succeed, argues Dr Mehta, without transformations in the value systems and the social structural and organizational aspects of the communities concerned.

`stands out as a landmark, which brings out the various facets of rural development, analyses the success and failures of its constituents and tells us exactly the mistakes made in the past and what would be done to avoid them in future.′ -- Economic Times, Vol 13 No 1, 1985

`to be welcomed as a succint statement of the sociological implications of development strategy.′ -- Vikalpa, July-September 1985

`offers some important insights and lessons to other countries currently striving for rapid development and thus fills and important need in this crucial area.′ -- Journal of Developing Areas, Vol 20 No 3, April 1986

′(an) informative and useful book on rural development for the benefit of the students, field workers and policymakers.′ -- Administrative Change