Co-operatives and rural development in India/ by K. A. Suresh and Molly Joseph

Rural Development is a subject of seminal significance in our economy on account of the predominance of rural population and their accentuating poverty. However, experiments in rural development are neither new nor few in India. Co-operatives are the major agencies for such experiments at present.

In this book an attempt is made to analyse the different rural development programmes implemented by Government of India with a theoretical framework of rural development philosophy and strategy. The developmental roles of co-operatives as agents of rural develop ment are enunciated in the light of history of cooperatives in India, especially under the Five Year Plans and the major types of functional cooperatives. The specific role of cooperatives is highlighted with a case study of credit cooperatives of Kerala which is the most lead ing co-operative state in India. Indian experiences of co-operatives with development are also briefly touched. In any way this book will be of immense use to professionals, policy makers and students of cooperation and rural development.