This book should be read not only by policymakers and practitioners in rural development, but by anyone who commissions or produces studies on any aspect of development Malcolm Harper, Professor Emeritus, Cranfield School of Management, UK. This book provides the most comprehensive analysis of the sector available for any developing country, and puts forward a coherent and wide-ranging strategy for promoting the sector to meet national goals of full employment, employment growth and poverty alleviation. The analysis is backed by a wealth of concrete illustrations derived from extensive fieldwork in eight major Indian states.