Rural Management
Education in Rural Management helps you gaining knowledge about how to manage and optimize agriculture resources effectively. The study teaches you the best ways or concepts which can be implemented in rural areas to improve the living standard of people residing in these areas. As a Rural Management and Development professional, your work will be to manage rural resources, strategize, plan & execute rural development programmes which can bring positive changes in the up-gradation of the rural landscape.
If you think about the welfare of people and you wish to work towards improving the quality of life of people in rural locations then a career in rural management is a good option for you. The rural management profession helps the rural population by providing basic facilities to them. The job will bring immense satisfaction with decent remuneration.
Does doing the welfare of people interests you? Do you want to bring more facilities and more accessibility to the latest technology and schemes, especially for the people living in rural areas? If yes, then the career in rural management is just for you. The scope is also wide as many multinationals, government organizations, and Indian firms provide ample job opportunities to newcomers in the field.
To know more about how to build a career in rural management, let’s read the article further.
Skill Required for Career in Rural Management
If you want to make a difference in this field and want to be successful then you should possess the following essential skills:
| Excellent communication – written & verbal | Good listener – listen adeptly to the problems of rural people | People’s Person – outgoing, friendly, respectful, well-wisher |
| Eagerness to work in rural areas | Analytical thinking | Leadership skills |
| Problem-solving skills | Local area knowledge | Hard-working |
Courses in Rural Management
Above 65% of the population of India is residing in rural areas. And, these 65% population are deprived of to take full benefits of resources, amenities, policies & services which are available in the country for all the citizens. Hence, to bridge the gap, professionals in the field of rural management and development are quite in demand.
To start a career in rural management, the first step is to enroll in the right course. There are various courses available which you can opt for after passing the 12th class. The colleges/institutes offer the course at four levels of education, i.e., diploma level, graduation level, post-graduation level, and Ph.D. level.
| Diploma Courses | Bachelor Courses | Master Courses | Doctoral Courses |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development | Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Rural Development | Master of Arts in Rural Development | M. Phil in Rural Development |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Finance | Bachelor of Rural Technology and Management | Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Rural Management | Ph. D in Rural Development |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management | |||
| Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Marketing |
Also Read: Top Engineering Colleges in India
Rural Management Courses Eligibility Criteria
- Diploma/PGDRM – Candidates are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with an aggregate of 50% marks and above.
- BA/BSc in Rural Management – Candidates must have completed class 12 with a minimum of 50% aggregate or equivalent from a recognized university or board.
- Postgraduation Courses – Candidates must have completed Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum score of 50% marks in average or equivalent from a university that is state or centrally recognized. Candidates in their final year of graduation are also eligible for the exam.
- Ph.D. Courses – To be eligible for Ph.D. Rural Development course study, the candidates need to complete their Master’s degree or M.Phil in any stream along with a minimum of 50% (relaxation available for reserved category candidates) aggregate marks from a recognized university.
Admission to this course study is done either based on candidates performance in the entrance exam followed by the personal interview round or based on marks obtained by the candidates at their PG level.
Rural Management Colleges/Institutes in India
There are various institutes/colleges where you can take admission and pursue your dream course.
| Colleges/Institutes | Location |
| Indian Institute of Management | Ahmedabad |
| Xavier Institute of Management | Bhubaneswar |
| National Institute of Management Technology | Ghaziabad |
| Institute of Rural Management Anand | Gujarat |
| Xavier Institute of Social Service | Ranchi |
| Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology | Kanpur |
| Symbiosis Institute of International Business | Pune |
| Kerala Agricultural University | Kerala |
| National Institute of Agricultural Marketing | Jaipur |
| IIHMR University | Jaipur |
| Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research | Mumbai |
| Bangalore University | Bangalore |
| Institute of Management Sciences | Lucknow |
| Centre for Studies in Rural Management | Gujarat |
Entrance Examinations
To get admission in various bachelor’s degree and post-graduation degree courses, you may have to appear for the following entrance exams:
- MAT
- CAT
- XAT
- ATMA
- SNAP
- CMAT
Scope in the field of Rural Management
Due to the good demand for professionals, the qualified candidates who have done graduation and postgraduation can find lucrative job opportunities in the field of rural management. You can get jobs in the government or private sectors. Moreover, you can also get an opportunity to work in various NGO’s and organizations working towards the development of rural areas. Also in big corporates, rural management professionals are recruited for managing their corporate social responsibility initiatives focusing on rural development.
As a Rural Management professional, you can be hired in the companies like agri-business, milk producer cooperatives, companies supplying fresh and processed produce, seeds, fertilizers, and veterinary products and equipment, etc. Besides, public or private banks, insurance companies, other financial institutions, research firms, and various consultancies also recruit qualified candidates for various tasks in the organisations.
Salary in Rural Management Profession
The salary in this profession is quite lucrative and rewarding as per the qualification of the candidate. As a fresher in this field, you can expect a starting salary package of INR 2 to 3 lakhs per annum. With experience, you can earn more and reach a better salary package.
Job Profiles in Rural Management
There are various profiles on which you can work in the field of rural management.
- Research Officer
- Business Development Executive
- Consultant
- Project Co-ordinator/Project
- Purchase/Vendor Development Manager
- Researcher
- Rural Development Officer
- Rural Executives
- Rural Manager
- Rural Sales Manager
Conclusion
It is an interesting career where you can work toward improving the lives of people. This profession allows you to connect with a different type of people and listen to their concerns. It provides you with an opportunity to know and understand the culture, values, ground-level issues, and actual condition of people residing in the interior or rural locations. In a country like India, there is no dearth of opportunities in this field. Think about the well-being of the people of your nation? A career in rural management is a promising career field for you. Just go for it!