Escaping Poverty: The Ralegan Siddhi Case

Abstract

Poverty remains to be the most important development issue facing India with an estimated 301.72 million Indians (27.5 percent) living below the poverty line in 2004-2005. In 1975, Ralegan Siddhi was just another drought prone, poverty stricken village, but it has had much success in poverty reduction since then. Ralegan Siddhi's success is not just a story of change as a result of access to water. This paper provides evidence of the remarkable economic, social and community regeneration in Ralegan Siddhi, due to a strong, selfless, ethical and accountable leadership as well as its replication in Hivre Bazaar. [Working Paper No. 38]