The Post Graduate Department of Economics is a premier Department in the Faculty of Arts. Since its inception in 1958, the Department has been focusing on rural development in extending giving rural bias to its proagrammes of post graduate teaching, research, extension and development. It also has the advantage of having close collaboration with two of its associate institutions viz., Agro Eco¬nomic Research Centre for Gujarat and Rajasthan and the Comprehensive Scheme for Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops. Professional engagement of the faculty members in accumulation and transfer of know-how of the processes of economic change with a focus on rural development is well evident from their active participation in a wide range of research projects and advisory services. For academic activities in the thrust areas of Agricultural Economics, Rural Development and Environmental Economics the Department has received recognition and financial support from the government, corporate, and C cooperative sectors and other academic institutions. The UGC has had sanctioned financial grant to the Department for its development under Special Assistance Programme Phase I and II. During the Xth Plan period, the UGC has had inducted the Department to the Departmental Special Assistance Phase III and has had also sanctioned a library grant of Rs. Five lakhs. To strengthen the infrastructural facilities of the Department, the UGC has had also sanctioned an additional grant of about Rs. 40 lakhs under its ASIHSS (Assistance for Strengthening Infrastructure in Humanities and Social Sciences) Programme. The Department has acquired basic infrastructural facilities to help the students to enhance their skills. It is housed in a three storied building having class rooms, independent cabins for the faculty members, administrative and support facilities, a seminar hall, reading room, library, computer laboratory, Internet Connectivity, over head projectors, multi-media projectors etc.
The Department publishes “ARTHA-VIKAS”, a half yearly journal of economics development. Articles and research papers by eminent academicians as well as young members of the teaching fraternity find a place in the journal. The main hub of library facilities including a huge collection of books and periodicals on a wide range of subjects of study is located at Bhaikaka Library, operated by the Sardar Patel University, besides the Department’s own library and Reading room in the building. Our students also have an access to the library of the Agro Economic Research Centre. These libraries have rich collection of text and reference books, research reports and journals in specialized areas of agricultural economics, rural economy and environmental economics. Those interested in advanced research may also take advantage of good library facilities available with the Institute of Rural Management, Anand, National Dairy Development Board, Anand, Agriculture University, Anand, and Water and Land Management Institute, Hadgud (Anand) which are located in the vicinity of the campus. In addition, a computer laboratory along with limited internet connectivity is available with the Department for the use of the students. All the faculty members are having facility of Individual computer with internet connectivity.
Head
Prof. (Dr.) H.P.Trivedi,
Head, P.G. Department of Economics