Contents: Preface. Introduction. I. Pre-PURA stage: socio-economic "divides": 1. Dynamics of societal transformation/P. Jegadish Gandhi. 2. Rural-urban divide: "Vision" vignettes/S.P. Gupta. II. The Pura revolution: creating "connectivities": 3. PURA : a road map for New Rural India/A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. 4. PURA : challenges and opportunities/P.V. Indiresan. 5. PURA--a neo-Gandhian approach to development/Ruddar Datt. 6. PURA : towards a sustainable society/K. Venkatasubramanian. 7. PURA: an academic angle/P. Jegadish Gandhi. III. Post-PURA scenario: transforming rural "realities": 8. Connecting rural India: village resource centres/M.S. Swaminathan. 9. The virtual village: some case studies/S.S. Jeevan. 10. PURA--a success story/Anand Parthasarathy. Bibliography. Index.
"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." (jacket)
