Kurukshetra : a symposium on community development in India (1952-1955)

India lives very largely in villages; and although during recent times the urban population has been increasing at rapid strides, it is still true that India lives mostly in villages. Any thing done to bring about an all-round improvement of the villages and those who inhabit them should not only be wel comed, but given all possible encouragement by the State and by the people at large. Mahatma Gandhi therefore attached the greatest importance to the welfare of the villages. It is a happy idea to inaugurate the Community Development Pro gramme on his birthday.

The terms 'Community Development' and 'Community Project' are new, but the concept is very old. Basically, the concept is of many-sided development as distinguished from development relating to particular aspects. Experience in the working of the Grow More Food Programmes as well as the programmes undertaken by the various State Governments and private agencies functioning in the sphere of village uplift, has established that "all aspects of rural life are inter-related, and that no lasting results can be achieved if individual aspects of it are dealt with in isolation. This does not mean that particular problems should not be given prominence, but the plans for them should form parts of, and be integrated with those for achieving the wider aims". This can be achieved only if the energies of the administrative machinery of the States and the best unofficial leadership and enthusiasm of the masses, are all enlisted in its favour and concerted action is taken for the all round improvement of agriculture, education, health, sanitation, welfare of cattle, provision of employment, etc., etc. Under the inspiration given by Gandhiji, a large amount of selfless work has been done by his followers in various parts of the country and other organisations and individuals have also done consider able work in that direction. The resources, however, both in money and technical personnel, available to these have been limited and the progress consequently has not been as rapid or extensive as one would have wished. The Indo-United States Technical Co-operation Agreement of January 1952 has, I am happy to say, opened up new possibilities of advance along these lines.