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Synopsis The underdeveloped and the developing countries are living through the ages of man’s evolution simultaneously. The tribal communities in the inaccessible region continue to live in struggling against the elements of nature and depending upon its bounty. The vast majority of such people are members of village communities whose economic base is agriculture, who are now being exposed to new socio-econoimic forces with higher valuation for greater consumption, competitive spirit and faster development. Development plans are the instruments at hand for achieving such, goals. But a society does not and cannot make a purposive advance in a situation of unquestioned acceptance of the secular process as inevitable and the unconditional surrender of the planers and the intellectuals alike to the supposed historical process. Gandhian approach to the development planning becomes relevant. Development is a change process towards expanded production, higher consumption and a better quality of life. Although higher consumption cannot be accepted as an unqualified goal of development, yen certain basic physical needs must be satisfied and to that extent it becomes a basic goal of human endeavour. Adequate food and reason- able shelter against elements of nature is essential for survival.