Rural Road Connectivity Through PMGSY: A Study in Karnataka

Amartya Sen has been talking about wide socioeconomic injustice particularly in developing countries. Unequal and unjust distribution of infrastructure has been the cause of socioeconomic imbalances in rural and urban areas. In India only 40% of the urban and semi-urban population is provided with good infrastructure. Rural India is largely deprived of adequate infrastructure. Despite continuous efforts at the center and state for providing infrastructure, the achievement has not been rewarding. It is high time to think over the Gandhian model of sustained rural economy and A P J Abdul Kalam's model of Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA), regarding the provision of infrastructure to achieve faster economic development. The Gandhian model stressed on rural development for which infrastructure is a must. Kalam's model talks about physical, electronic, knowledge and economic connectivities, which go a long way in the development of Indian villages and unplanned cities. The present paper is an evaluation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Karnataka. The paper stresses more on physical connectivity and offers a few suggestions depending on the secondary sources. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]