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Synopsis At the time of independence, Indian rural sector was strong and viable in producing growth and employment, reflecting Gandhiji’s remark that "India lives in villages". Implied in this remark was that villages carried the ethos, traditions and philosophy of the country in addition to contributing to growth and employment. But, rural India has progressively declined over the years after independence. The reasons include lack of investment, institutions and initiative in the rural sector. Although in recent years institutions have been put in place and initiatives have been taken, rural industrialization and promotion of rural development continue to elude us. This book is an attempt by thinkers and practitioners to analyze the reasons for the decline and suggest measures for improvement of rural sectors. Sustaining rural industries is a complex challenge calling for multiple inputs in a holistic framework, which the authors in this book aim at exploring. The chapters in the book cover concepts, strategies and perspectives. The themes include issues in rural industrialisation, rural institutions and participation, role of financial institutions, role of media, questions of empowerment of different rural segments, reflections on current thinking on development policy, status of industries and artisans, the potentials and problems in rural industries.