Government in Rural India :An Introduction to Contemporary District Administration

Abstract

The title of this book and its slim dimensions are an indication of its purpose: to present a concise description of contemporary district administration in rural India. Emphasis is placed on rural development administration, as befits the importance of its relationship to the subject. The book seeks to fill a gap in the general literature on India, although the subje c t is vast and ideally should be treated separately for each state. I obtained most of the material for the book in India during August 1960-April 1961, in the following manner: 1. Study of government publications, manuals, records and correspondence. 2. Discussion with government personnel in district administration and with village leaders. 3. Observation of government personnel and village leaders doing their work. primarily in portions of Nalgonda District (Andhra Pradesh) and portions of four districts in the State of Rajasthan (Ajmer, Banswara, Barmer, Sawai Madhopur). The spelling attempts to follow that used in official documents in India today. Where Hindi words have been used, they are explained in the first instance; a glossary is appended for the reader’s convenience. Diacritical marks have been omitted. This bool? owes much to many people both in India and England: to the Passfield Trustees for financial assistance, which supported my work as the Research Fellow in Public Law, Government or Public Administration in the Commonwealth at the London School of Economics and Political Science during the period 1960-62, and which enabled me to visit India to collect material; to State officials, Collectors (especially T. N. Chaturvedi, Collector at Ajmer), Vikas Adhikaris, extension officers, and Gram Sevaks in the Government of Rajasthan, and to the village people of Rajasthan, for their patient counsel and gracious hospitality; to other friends in India (especially Professor V. K. N. Menon, Director, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi), for their kind welcome and assistance in granting me access to valuable information; to Professor William A. Robson, for his inspiration and guidance from the very beginning; and above all, to my wife, Jennifer, for her marvellous support and encouragement in every way. The responsibility for the result is mine.