Ever since Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has become President of India (July 25, 2002), he has spearheaded a socio-economic movement of igniting the young minds with positive thoughts and of propagating the "Developed India by 2020" vision with constructive mission modes. PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) is the major component of President’s Dream for developed India. It differs from the conventional ideas of economic development of rural areas in many ways–a comprehensive and composite rural development, government investment at urban levels in rural programmes, reverse rural-urban migration, the prerequisite quality infrastructure, supportive modern industry and investment in social and commercial service and private enterprise initiative. PURA habitat design depends upon the infrastructural ring road linking a loop of villages and the interfacing of four connectivities–physical, electronic, knowledge and economic–to enhance rural prosperity. The model should enable proper selection of village clusters and deployment of the youth in different areas of rural development to make this programme a reality. This book is very informative and interpretative in its illuminating contents on PURA scheme. A valuable referral to students, teachers and research scholars in social sciences and technocrats, innovative entrepreneurs and non-governmental programmers and social activists in rural transformation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR P Jegadish Gandhi
P. Jegadish Gandhi (1941), formerly Professor of Economics at Voorhees College, Vellore for over three decades, is now Director of the Vellore Institute of Development Studies. Specialising in Development and Socio-economic issues, Gandhi has more than 200 articles published in leading economic journals and in popular periodicals in India and abroad and 23 books of his credit. His latest book on Dr. Kalam’s PURA Model and Societal Transformation was published in January 2005. he has participated in and presented papers at several national and regional seminars and international conferences. Gandhi jhas the distinction of having been a Visiting Scientist, DST (Government of India) Project, Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1987-88). He was Vice-President of the International Society for Intercommunication of New Ideas (USA) and Treasurer, Vice-President and President (2000-2001), the Association of Economists of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Gandhi has been honoured with the Senior Economist Award of the Association of economists of Tamil Nadu in 2002. He was an Expert Member of the Working Groups on Road Transport Services, Employmetn/Unemployment and Rural Development in the formulation of 9th & 10th Plans, State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu. Dr. Gandhi is presently an Academic Council Member of Vellore Institute of Technology, Deemed University and Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore. As a social activist, he has been working for the abolition of bonded labour and child labour system among other issues of social concern.
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