In 1975, an experimental school program was introduced into three Indian villages, in order to make school schedules, curriculum, and teaching more relevant to village life; to select local residents as teachers; and to involve parents in planning. This article describes this program's implementation and notes its subsequent extension. (Author/SJL)

Community, in the policy context, is defined on the basis of fixed in place socio-political unit having residential proximity to the resource or according to state recognized political units. With the boundaries drawn at the village level and the custodial rights of the common lands vested with various departments of the state, it is difficult on…