An initiative of BGVS to assist common mass as well as activists to examine analytically and critically the processes and products of ‘Development’ during the tears after India’s freedom. The programme had two major streams of activities educational and developmental. The educational activities comprise of exchanges on many subjects such as development of local economy, access to natural resources, public finance, power, telecommunications and transport, employment opportunities, the plight of weaker sections, people’s right to information, Panchayati Raj etc whereas in case of developmental activities field investigations, preparation of local developmental plans were given emphasis.

The programmes focused on encouraging local area planning and resource mapping and carried the message of local capability building for self-reliance.

In each panchayat, a local study group of 10-15 activists and three-four village level discussion groups were formed so that in total 50-60 persons got involved with at least half of them were women. This programme covered about 10,000 gram panchayats of the country. Generally popular discussions and dialogues at the community level were viz. promises and realities of education, school education, women's empowerment, credit co-operative movements, rural micro-enterprises, health, pharmaceuticals, power, telecommunications, peace and disarmament, broader issues of globalisation etc. These discussions were flexible enough to devise innovative forms and messages to address the issues regarding process of development in previous years, local culture and history, aspirations as well as factual data on the local economy, access and use of natural and human resources etc. Field investigations were centred on the status of people’s livelihood and local government, economy and technology, laws, people’s science knowledge, culture and social life.

Action plans were prepared keeping in mind the above mentioned issues with the explicit purpose of relating these issues with peoples’ concerns regarding livelihood and survival. With inputs from the technologists and scientists on possible solutions involving also local level knowledge and skills, the campaign located its communication plan and strategy in the broader context.

The programme culminated with a series of people’s parliaments at the block, district and state levels and a final national convention was held at Nalanda in February, 1998.