Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Before the nationwide launch of the Community Development Programme (CDP) in 1952, several pioneering rural reconstruction projects were implemented by individuals, social reformers, and state governments in India.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us match each historical project with its correct start year:
- (A). Indian Village Service (IVS): Established in 1945 by Arthur T. Mosher of the USA and B.N. Gupta of India in Uttar Pradesh.
The program aimed to assist village people in developing self-reliance and improving their livelihoods, matching (II).
- (B). Firka Development Scheme: Launched by the Madras Government in 1946 in 34 selected Firkas (regional divisions).
It was the first government-sponsored rural development scheme, designed to promote village-level self-reliance and cottage industries based on Gandhian ideals, matching (III).
- (C). Nilokheri Experiment: Started in 1948 by S.K. Dey to rehabilitate displaced persons from Pakistan.
The project, organized around the slogan "Mazdoor Manzil," developed a self-sufficient township focusing on agro-industries and vocational training, matching (IV).
- (D). Marthandam Project: Launched in 1921 by Dr. Spencer Hatch under the patronage of the YMCA in Marthandam, Tamil Nadu.
The project focused on three-sided development (spirit, mind, and body) through self-help and cooperative marketing, matching (I).
This gives the matching: (A) - (II), (B) - (III), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct match is Option (B).