Careers in Rural Management

India is a country of villages and farmers, where more than 60% of the population resides in rural regions. The developmental process without inclusion of rural India is, thus, lop-sided and unsustainable. To take care of the development of such backward and unattended areas, professional rural managers are hired to assist the villagers in the process of improvement, growth, and expansion, so that the entire nation can accomplish progress and prosperity. Rural regions, in the recent times, across the world have been drawing more attention than ever before, which, in turn, has led to the rise of numerous developmental schemes for rural people through national, international, and local agencies, along with several non-governmental bodies. This, itself, suffices the need and importance of rural management to contribute towards the development of villages and small towns. Furthermore, rural management has become one of the most sought-after subjects to study and research at post graduate level to pursue a bright and booming career. Besides, it can be taken up by individuals who are deeply concerned about the nation’s progress and development.

Course Details
Degree and diploma courses in rural management are offered by several management institutes in the country. The most popular among them are MBA in Rural Management, Master of Rural Management (MRM), Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Rural Development Management, and Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Marketing. Admission into these courses is made through All-India entrance tests conducted by the institute concerned, followed by group discussion and personal interview. The minimum qualification to appear in these tests is graduation, or equivalent degree, from any recognized institute in any subject. Fellowship and distance education programs in rural management, like Bachelor of Rural Technology and Management through correspondence/ distance learning are also offered by some institutions.

Career Prospects
Rural management students may get appropriate employment opportunities in government’s developmental agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs). They can also be hired on contractual basis to manage developmental schemes and programs. However, corporate run developmental agencies are the most favored destinations for some rural managers. Highly talented individuals can find lucrative job options in the UN and its specialized agencies or programmes run by it. International NGOs are also preferred options for many rural managers. Besides, they can run their own NGOs and thereby, directly be associated with rural folk.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Some prominent institutes offering rural management courses in India are Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Ahmedabad and Calcutta; Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Anand; National Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad; Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar; Rural Non-Farm Development Agency, Jaipur; Rural Research Foundation, Jaipur; National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad; Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore; Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu; Indian Institute of Rural Management (IIRM), Jaipur; Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai; Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar; Institute of Rural Management, Mansarovar, Jaipur; Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi; Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi.

Remuneration
A fresh pass-out from any rural management institute can expect somewhere around Rs. 8000-15,000 salary per month. With adequate experience, one can expect higher pay packages. Developmental agencies, run by big corporate houses, offer attractive pay packets, including other allowances like house rent and medical expenses. Independent rural managers, running their own NGOs, draw rich dividends in terms of money, popularity, and prestige.