Rural Development: Strategies and Planning

Written with the intention to review the present socio-economic ethnic and culture scenario this book explores the existing system of human settlements, with reference to their linkages and agglomeration of facilities. It brings to fore the most important functional centres in space that play a vital role in the life of the people. It further illustrates those centres that have evolved over time. It also, studies the reasons of low growth in those centres with induced services and functions. The book discusses about the Functional Community centre (F.C.), which is also the weekly market (WM), an alternative strategy for location decisions. This can be the only non-political and unemotional decision if people participate in the decision making process directly. This leads to proper location of socio-economic services in order to reach the maximum people with a minimum investment and travel distance. The issue of the commodity flow, particularly of agriculture, determining the socio-cultural activities, linkages and depressions in the overall landscape is the core focus of the book. This book has adopted a multidisciplinary approach and is intended to cater to the needs of Planners, Implementing Agencies (GOs, NGOs and funding agencies), Geographers, Economists, Sociologists, Agriculture and Rural Development Professionals.