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I owe a deep dept of gratitude and profound

thankfulness to nry guide Dr. M. SOUNDARAPAMDIAN, Reader in Rural Industries and Management, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram, for his wise guidance, useful suggestion and constructive criticisms. But for his invaluable help and sustained interest and encouragement, this work would have been a mere impossibility.

I am. very much grateful to Dr. N. THILLAINAYAGAM Professor and Head, Department of Rural Industries and Management, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram.I would like to thank Dr. C. THANGAMUTHU, Department of Economics, Bharathithasan University, Triuchy and Dr. S. V. Harikaraa, Professor, School of Economics, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, for their inspiring advice for completing the research work.I also thank the authorities of the following libraries who permitted me to consult their collection relevant to my study. National Institute of Rural Development Library, Hyderabad, Madras University Library, Chennai, Madras Institute of Development studies, Chennai, Directorate of Statistics, Chennai, Madurai Kamaraj University Library, Madurai. I would like to thank Bt* V. Wallasshrasii, Head and Coordinator. Dr. A. RetMaaapasadliasa, SG Lecturer, Department of Economics, Thiyagarajar College, Madurai for their encouragement for completing the work.

Finally, I experess my sincere thanks to all the TEACHERS, RESEARCH SCHOLARS AMD FIRENDS in the Department of Rural Industries and Management, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram for their help.