Allahabad University introduces M. Sc in Rural Technology and Development

Allahabad University (AU) will introduce a post-graduate programme in Rural Technology and Rural Development for the current academic session. The sale of forms for admission to Allahabad University for 15 seats will begin from September 7, 2015. Announcing the launch of the new course, head of AU's Botany Department Anupam Dikshit said that the four-semester M. Sc programme will be a special one.

The students enrolling for the programme will attend classes and lab at the university and also use their skills and knowledge for practice in villages of Allahabad, thereby helping in development as well. "All students will visit selected villages at least twice every month during the two-year course. We also plan to design a mobile lab that will be used for performing soil, water and pathological tests for the benefit of villagers," he added.

Dikshit said that Ramapur of Bahadurpur block of the district had been chosen as the maiden village under the initiative. "Our aim is to use this course to slowly develop the villages of Allahabad using latest technology and techniques. It will be on the pattern of model Punsiyari village of Gujarat which has earned laurels for being the most developed village of the country. It boasts of services that evade people of even the most modern cities of the country till date," he said. "The course will encourage self-employment and rural entrepreneurship among the village youth which will ultimately help in stopping the movement of rural people to urban areas," he added.

Dikshit visited Punsiyari village on January 18, 2015 and met its 'Sarpanch' Himashu Patel who has won a national award for excellent work in village development. 

Admission process for M. Sc in Rural Technology & Development in Allahabad University

• Written entrance examination
• Round of interview
• Group Discussion

"Through this course, our mission is to fulfill the dream of former President late APJ Abdul Kalam for providing urban amenities in rural areas (PURA) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of village development," he said.