Institute of Rural Management Anand

History

IRMA was set up in 1979 with a mandate to professionalise management of rural producers’ organisations and create a body of knowledge in the field of rural management. Beginning with co-operatives, IRMA has reached out to the rural sector through development organisations engaged with varied issues of rural life such as natural resource management, especially water and forests, rural health, local governance institution, livelihoods and migration, deploying IT for rural areas, and so on. IRMA’s vision to work for the rural people was vindicated in the early years when a variety of rural organisations—from co-operatives, NGOs, government and business sectors—began to make demands on IRMA. Except the business sector IRMA openly welcomes all these organisations.

Description

IRMA is founded with the belief, borne out by Dr.Kurien’s work in the dairy co-operatives which revolutionised the dairy industry in the country, that the key for effective rural development is professional management. Professionalising the management of rural organisations calls for matching the specific but unmet needs of the sector with the formal techniques and skills of management professionals. Linking the two are the ‘rural managers’ prepared by IRMA through its two-years diploma (PRM) in rural management.Born out of a maverick’s dream, IRMA has become a frontrunner in professionalising the development of India’s rural sector. Over the years it has provided management training, support and research facilities to students committed to rural development and in this process it has brought within its ambit several co-operatives, non-government organisations, government development agencies, international development organisations and funding agencies.