This report chronicles the first few years of the RDES program designed by Dr.S. S. Kalbag. and speaks about his experiences, pitfalls and successes. It is divided into nine chapters.

Dr.S. S. Kalbag runs the Vigyan Ashram, at Pabal, Dist., Pune that has been engaged in training the rural youth of Maharashtra in technical skills since 1983, through a successful program called Rural Technology through Educational System(RTES). This program is supported by the Indian Institute of Education, Maharashtra State Government Board of Education and the Department of Rural Development. Dr. Kalbag received the Jamnalal Bajaj award in 1996, from the President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma for lifelong service to the rural community. Recently, the RTES program has evolved into the Rural Development through Educational System(RDES), to broaden its scope.

The RDES program

The program integrates education and development at school level, providing technical education that provides the rural youth access to modern technology.The community pays for these services, ensuring relevance and a minimum quality.

By combining education and development, the program utilises the capital investment in human and equipment resources to the fullest and thus reduces the cost strikingly.

The chapters of this Report are downloadable.