3rd Annual Economic Conference, Ahmedabad University

Our academic advisor, Dr. Tana Trivedi presented a paper on Sir Pattani’s Debt Redemption Scheme and decentralisation of economic measures in Bhavnagar State on 11th March 2022 at the 3rd Annual Economic Conference organised by Ahmedabad University. In a 110 page report on the Agricultural Debt Redemption published in 1934, submitted to Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji by Sir Prabhashankar Pattani, the President of the Bhavnagar State Council; Sir Pattani clearly proposed the eradication of rural indebtedness as fundamental to launching any scheme of rural upliftment, and without which there would be disorder and anarchy in the society. 

Debt redemption, along with the establishment of a strong Panchayati Raj were proposed and implemented, and this novel approach caused significant stir amongst the other princely states in India. While economics of agriculture has become complex over the years, grassroot level policies need considerable work before they make our farmers debt-free.