Balanced Regional Development Has Been One Of The Major Objectives Of Planning In India. Its Desirability, Rather Indispensability, Has Been Emphasised In Each Successive Plan Document Right From The First Plan. The Emphasis Became More Pronounced Since The Third Plan Which Stressed Continuous Strides In Regional Development. The Differential Strategy For Backward Area Was Put In Operation Since Third Plan For According Special Care And Treatment To The Development Of Backward Regions (Which Led To Techniques Of Area Planning And Sub-Plan For Backward Areas) As Distinct From The Integrated Strategy Adopted Till Then. In Spite Of The Pronounced And Pious Objective Of Reduction In Regional Disparity, The Area Of Planned Development Presents A Picture Of Uneven Growth In India. Eastern India, Comprising Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa And Eastern U.P. Has Lagged Much Behind In The Race Of Economic Development Vis-À-Vis The Rest Of India.Eastern India Has The Highest Incidence Of Poverty As It Constitutes Half Of The Population Of India Living Below The Poverty Line. Thus, Both The Economic Feature And The Economic Future Of The Region Are Intimately Linked To Rural Development. The Question Of Rural Poverty Can Be Effectively Tackled By The Sustained Growth Of Agriculture. Poverty Eradication Programmes, In Terms Of Wage And Self-Employment Schemes Hitherto Launched, Were Ill-Conceived And Clumsily Implemented.In View Of All These Disquieting Features Enveloping The Region, The University Of Bhagalpur Arranged A Two-Day Workshop (22-23Rd Dec. 1993) Organised By University Department Of Rural Economics And Co-Operation. This Book Is The Compilation Of The Lectures Delivered By The Participants Mainly On The Following Agenda.1. Anatomy Of Rural Development.2. Socio-Economic Features Of Eastern India And The Strategic Significance Of Rural Development.3. Pace And Problems Of Rural Industrialization In Eastern India.4. Rural Eco-System In Eastern India.5. Rural Poverty Alleviation Programmes In Eastern India: Pace And Problems.6. Rural Public Administration Institutions In Eastern India Their Efficacy And Problems.7. Jawahar Rojgar Yojna: Problems Of Implementation: State Experiences.