Alternative to jobless growth? All-India context and a case of participatory development scheme from rural Tamil nadu

Abstract

The article outlines some of the problems, challenges, and prospects in relation to contemporary Indian development with a special focus on rural India. The paper seeks to contrast traditional modernization views on development assuming progressive structural transformation through industrialization with Indian reality by stressing the importance of the enhancement of employment, and more generally livelihood, opportunities for the masses of underutilized labor. In addition to a brief discussion of the context at the all-India level, the case of a rural region in central eastern Tamil Nadu is examined to provide a picture of the everyday living conditions of local villagers and to indicate some of the problems and uncertainties they are typically confronted with. The rural development project called Periyar PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas) is then discussed which attempts to present a model of how to tackle some of these problems. © 2010 The Author.