Guest Talk at KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM)

Dr. Rajesh Tandon was invited as a distinguished guest speaker at KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM) on 6th August 2025, for an engaging session on Managing Sustainable Rural Development. Drawing from decades of practice-based research and field engagement, Dr. Tandon emphasised that sustainable rural development must be:

• Adapt to context – Rural development models must be tailored to local needs, not imposed as one-size-fits-all policies.
• Practice over theory – Rural managers should immerse themselves in the field, learning from reality rather than just books.
• True participation – Development works best when communities are active decision-makers, not passive recipients.
• Minimal disruption – External help should strengthen local systems, not dismantle them.
• Sustainability through ownership – Only programs that people truly own will last.

He underlined that sustainable rural development is essentially participatory, context-sensitive, and respectful of community aspirations—anchored in the principle of listening first, acting second.

Established in 2007, KSRM—an initiative of KIIT Deemed to be University—has been at the forefront of capacity building for rural enterprises, development organisations, voluntary sectors, and corporations with rural business interests. The School offers specialised programmes, including MBA (Rural Management), MBA (Agri-Business Management), and a 15-month Post-Graduate Diploma in Community Development (PGD-CD).