Rural Transformation in Tribal Domain : A Critical Analysis

The concepts of Rural and Ruralness derive from the subjective interactions between living nature and culture - human activities. The book explores the interaction of two apparently contrasting principles: the subjective dynamics of Ruralness and the objectively defined Rural, the former being shaped by scholarly insights and the latter by administrative and development agencies.Historically, there has been a tendency to equate rural life with urban living while advocating for change. Such conceptual and methodological discrepancies are common in this field of study and practice. The book emphasises that Rural Transformation involves a gradual and beneficial shift from traditional agricultural livelihoods to other sectors by enhancing productivity and skills and reducing labour intensity. This shift would create surplus labour, enabling rural residents to engage in secondary and tertiary sectors. Additionally, Rural Transformation aims to strengthen the connections between urban and rural areas in terms of resource dependency, technology, skills, market networks, and empowerment of rural communities to participate in policies and programs designed for them.The most crucial issue is the protection and sustainability of rural and tribal ethos, which the transformation process could impact. Understanding what makes something rural is essential to preserving the way of life. The book thoroughly explores these issues while discussing and examining the criteria and events of rural transformation.