Page:SELECTED ESSAYS of Dr. S. S. KALBAG.pdf/29

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own language. Such ideas are rated according to the innovation and problem solving abilities involved and the student gets a cash prize for the ideas as per the rating. Many of the students of Vigyan ashram developed indigenous innovations catering to the local needs. An affordable and portable ERM machine, a multipurpose minitractor called mechbull and geodesic dome (Discussed in detail in Chapter 23, “Low cost housing-vigyan ashram approach") are few examples of such innovations. Dr. Kalbag has extensively used terms such as "productivity" and "cost reduction" while discussing the projects for rural development. It is interesting to see the use of these terms, otherwise used exclusively in corporate domain, in the discussions on rural projects. Somehow the rural development is always treated as a holy cow by welfare state where the concepts such as "productivity", "cost reduction", "capital intensive technology" connected to so called unholy ideas such as “profit making" and "luxury" are not given an entry. Dr. Kalbag thought of productivity as an ability to increase the assets with the given resources. He spoke about productivity of simple operations like digging wells, building a bund, making pits and even sweeping and cleaning (Ref: Chapter 17, "Science & technology projects for rural areas") He saw cost reduction as a means to achieve wider availability of existing service or product. Dr. Kalbag was completely convinced that the new developments in science and technology hold the keys for the problems of rural development. As a true technocrat, he does not discuss the sociological or historical impediments in rural development. Occasionally, he mentions few benevolent features of Indian culture in support to his arguments. The thoughts such as viability of the present model of capitalist economy for a country with vast population like India are innocently absent in his writings. Since the < Rural Development Through Education System 24