ASSIGNMENT

ON
MARTHANDAM EXPERIMENT

PAPER : RURAL DEVELOPMENT

DACE (O) 305

Submitted by
Eulad Dkhar
Roll No. : 9/ACE/2016
Date: 31st/October/2017
 CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Objectives

3. Philosophy or Rural reconstruction Principles

4. Marthandam Project (1921)

5. The Programme

6. Method of Working

7. Programme Activities

8. Teaching Programme

9. Extension Programme

10.Conclusion
INTRODUCTION

Marthandam is a major trade centre in Kuzhithura municipality across National

Highway (NH 47) in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India. Also
known to some by the name Thoduvetty (another name for the Mathandam
market region), it was a portion of Kanyakumari district which was added to the
state of Tamil Nadu on November 1, 1956. Marthandam was a densely
populated market place in Kerala state then (South Travencore) of the
surrounding 40 villages within a radius of 5 kms. The people were poor. The
land was worn out. There was a few cottage industries. The quality of produce
was poor. Wages were low. Water problem was chronic. Large number of
families were indebted. Interest rates were as high as 300 percent per annum
i.e., on a loan of Rs. 1000/- interest of Rs. 3000/- to be paid per year. Mr.
Spancer Hatch studied the problems and initiated a five pronged rural
reconstruction program in 1921.

It is the second largest town next to Nagercoil. Marthandam may have gotten its
name from the rule of Traven core Marthandam Varma. Marthandam is famous
for honey, cashew nut processing, rubber and hand-embroidered motifs. It is
also a major trade center due to its location bordering Kerala. It is one of the
most fertile lands and Tamil Nadu and has the climatic condition of Kerala.
The Marthandam experiment was initiated started by Spencer Hatch, American
Agriculturist at Travencore in 1981 under the auspices of Young Men Christian
Association (YMCA). Marthandam village is situated on Trivandrum Cape
Comorin road, 38 km from Trivandrum. The area selected from intensive work
was about 17k sq. kms, comprising 46 villages, roughly within radius of six
eight kms of Marthandam. It had a population of 45,000 persons out of which
72% were Hindu, 24% Christians and the remaining 4% consisted of Muslims
and other. It was a poor area.
OBJECTIVES
He form an organisation and it was based on simple and in expensive
Self- help and cooperation
Opening the demonstration centers
There should be an voluntary association and
Helping people to help in their own work.
PHILOSOPHY OR RURAL RECONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES
1. The programme of rural reconstruction was peoples own programme.
The personnel were only to help them achieve the programmes.
2. Help the people to help themselves upwards on all sides of life
comprising spirit, mind, body, economic, social and cultural.
3. People of all communities were to be included.
4. It is poor who require help more and, therefore, reach the poorest.
5. Implement a comprehensive programme, and as such attention was
devoted to the development of poultry keeping, beekeeping and other
cottage industries like mats and basket making, sugar, hand woven cloths,
etc.
6. Spirituality should be the basis of every programme.
7. Simplicity should be the key-note of the programme. Unless the whole
rural reconstruction movement remains simple it would cost too much
and would stop short of benefits to millions of rural people.
8. Honorary unpaid service helps make an efficient and highly productive
extension services.
9. Close co-operation between the rural people and the government officials
is a must.
10.Emphasis was laid on training of workers.
MARTHANDAM PROJECT (1921)
During 1921 under the auspices of UMCA, Marthandam project was started at
Travancore in Kerala by Dr. Spencer Hatch; an American Agricultural expert
specialized in Social fundamental.
The aim of this program was fives fold development of physical, spiritual,
mental, economic, and social. Dr. Hatch implemented an all-round development
in agriculture, public health and education.
In this center prize bulls and goats model bee-hives, demonstration plots for
improving grains and vegetables seeds, poultry with prize laying hens, a
weaving shed, etc. were maintained. It also work for improving literacy on
weekly market day set up approvable tent with teaching equipment and exhibit
with better poultry and livestock to the villagers.
THE PROGRAMME
The rural Reconstruction program launched in Marthandam aimed at complete
development a wholly new and happier order economic, social, religious,
education and physical. The programme was a comprehensive one and the
formula was self-help with intimate, expert councel. The villagers ere given
nothing free except education, Deserving cases were helped through the
cooperative.
To supplement the villages income and revive some dying cottage industries
were reorganized to make them more remunerative. The main industries thus
reorganized were poultry-keeping, bee-keeping weaving, Jaggery making,
cashew-nuts, baskets, mat and rope making, etc. poultry-keeping and bee
keeping were the most successful organized of the above. Improved breeds of
poultry were introduced. To boost up sale and to find reasonable prices for the
eggs the Marthandam YMCA Poultry Co-operative Society Ltd., was started
which took up the selling of eggs of good prices in far and near markets. The
poultry industry was a success.
Bee keeping and honey-eating were popularized. To make bee-keeping more
remunerative, honey was cured scientifically and marketed co-operatively.
Marthandam honey became famous and established a reputation and had a good
market. Thus bee keeping became a profitable cottage industry in the
Marthandam area.
METHOD OF WORKING
The method of work was self-help and intimate expert counsel, Village
association was formed. Each association assisted in the implementation of the
various innovation. Above these associations, there was the regional
Development Association which concerned itself with the development
activities o the entire region. New centers were opened as the area of operation
extended. These latter center were under the charge of rural secretaries. There
were also honorary leaders from each village who assisted the rural secretaries.
Thus the public had a considerable share in the day-to-day work while the paid
personnel provided expert guidance. The media of propaganda used by the
center were: rural dramas, rural exhibition, inter-village competitions and
demonstration.
PROGRAMMES ACTIVITIES
Educational : Night schools were organized for illiterate young and old.
Libraries were managed by the YMCA school teachers. Regular training on
various subjects connected with various aspects of rural life such as cottage
industries, co-operation, cattle breeding, exhibition, dramas, rural leadership,
demonstration method, adult education, sanitation, women and child welfare,
physical education etc. were organized.

Social and Cultural Development : Indian dance form and drama like Kathakali
and Kala-kshapam were encouraged. Exhibitions as a mean of education and
demonstration were periodically organized. They also used to organized drama,
exhibitions and inter-village competitions.
Economic Development: To supplement village incomes, the then existing
cottage industries was organized to make it more remunerative. The main
industries which were organized were poultry-keeping bee keeping, weaving,
jiggery-making, cashewnuts, baskets, mat and rope making.
There were other significant services were rended such as improving the breed
of the cattle and introducing quick growing fodder grass.
Spiritual Development: Daily morning and evening prayers were organized
regularly at the center.
TEACHING PROGRAMME AT MARTHANDAM
Some of the teaching programmes are as follows:
1. Rural Reconstruction: Rural reconstruction was the main of Marthandam
YMCA. It comprises of four folded programme namely demonstration,
training and marketing.
2. Demonstration : The term which state the method of seeing a doing. The
center have started to demonstrate agricultural produce, livestock, bee
hives, and other accessories, poultry house, tailoring ,sericulture etc. The
demonstration center have undergone a survey of village life. The survey
of village life. The survey was limited within the radius of 3 miles from
the center. The survey of livestock, poultry, cottage industries, bee
keeping etc.
3. Training: The captain of this title is Learning by Doing. Marthandam
practical training school was started in the year 1931. Training was given
under the following topic: Poultry keeping, weaving, bee keeping, cottage
industries. In 1947 rural welfare training institute was opened by Rural
Demonstration Center Marthandam.
4. Extension: During this period the Marthandam YMCA concentrated more
on child, health, youth, and women employment.
EXTENSION PROGRAMMES
The most important aspect of rural development work at Marthandam center
was its extension work. Development of agriculture was carried in the
surrounding villages. For this, demonstration and better farming practice and
agriculture was done. An agricultural school was started here was to give
training to young men with the help of work neighbors organization provided
the service of an agricultural graduate in the school.
The aim of this project was demonstrate to the villages food production
through better agriculture, techniques, better seeds, manure etc. The purpose
was to far work of benefit to the community as a whole. Several community
development and social services activities were implemented. Adult education
center digging of well, construction of approach road, thatching of house
chlorination of wells, making of trend latrines and pit latrines, composite pit
digging, distribution of seeding etc. were some of them. In all these activities
special case was given on securing local people participation on the basis of the
report submitted by the National survey of commission the headquarter in 1970
thereafter the demonstration work was concentrated at Muzhacode. The
buildings in Marthandam were converted into hostel.
CONCLUSION
So that through to the present of this leader all the problem of people at
Mathandam they can reduce it and they can achieves all importance n future
life. Dr. Spencer Hatch he teach them all the important things and giving them a
training, demonstration about education and business, planting in agriculture,
and to enlarge the marketing. He developed them like in honey bees, egg selling
and people also through this programme they gain much and it also help for
them to livelihood. Reconstruction people also can achieve for self-reliance to
enlarge and to work for their daily life. Spencer he conducts and produces all
the programme at Mathandam and YMCA to increase and reduce the problem
of the people in this area.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/WEBLIOGRAPHY
- Shetty, E.D. Effective strategies for Rural Development-New Delhi:
Akansha Publishing House, 2008.
- Bhatia, B.S., and G.S. batra. Rural Development Management, New
Delhi : Deep and Deep Publications, 2003.
- Uttam Kumar Singh. A.K. Nayak. Perspective in Modern Education
Series Extension Education in India 2012.
- https: //www.slideshare.net.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/marthandam
- http://www.scribd.com/doc/49655957/marthandam-project