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information in a usable form. Such information now comes from estimates and is usually old, obsolete, incomplete and often unusable. The first requisite for our information system is therefore, a population educated in the methodology of science viz. trained to observe, measure, record, classify, compare and interpret simple information. This, in my opinion, is the true scientific temper. If this is absorbed by even a section of the youth in the villages, we could build on that, a reliable information system that will define, quantify and document all “problems" perceived at the village level. A referral system is then envisaged, whereby these defined problems go to an appropriate S and T establishment, where the level of knowledge and the skill match the challenge posed by the problem. Backing up this referral system should be a computerised information storage and retrieval system that collects and updates, on a continuing basis, technical and economic information, performance indices and also makes this available to anyone on demand. I have no doubt that when the awareness of opportunities for the application of good science spreads among the scientific community, the complexion of scientific research in our country will change to bring greater benefits to our own rural societies. Rural Development Through Education System 196
