Pilot Project, India

Pilot Project, India: The Story of Rural Development at Etawah, Uttar Pradesh by Albert Mayer offers an in-depth exploration of a groundbreaking rural development initiative that laid the foundation for India's community development programs. Set in the post-Independence era, this book chronicles the transformative efforts in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, where the revitalization of village life became a priority for the newly formed Congress Government. Recognizing the decline in rural vitality caused by colonial disruption, the project aimed to reintroduce self-sufficiency through active community participation. Mayer's role as a visionary planner shines through as he collaborated with Indian officials to craft a program deeply rooted in local conditions and reliant on the empowerment of villagers. The Etawah project introduced innovative administrative techniques, including the concept of the multipurpose worker who acted as a single point of contact for villagers, integrating advice on agriculture, health, education, and sanitation. Mayer recounts how this approach, coupled with the villagers’ own initiative, achieved remarkable success and served as a model for India’s First and Second Five-Year Plans. With its blend of on-the-ground experiences and insights into broader developmental policies, the book is both a historical account and a practical guide, offering inspiration to those seeking to implement community-based rural reforms worldwide. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1958.