About CRNIEO

Welcome to CRNIEO

A Centre Dedicated to Research leading to Action

The CRNIEO was established in the year 1979, as a study, research, training and action oriented organisation.  Dr. K. Rajaratham an eminent Economist and a visionary was the Founder-Director of CRNIEO. The Centre has been engaged in developing and implementing rural development models beginning at the community level with a view to handle the fundamental factors of rural poverty. CRNIEO believes that the Gandhian model of development could the ideal tool to ensure the quality of life in India for the rural masses.

CRNIEO is recognised by the University Grants Commission as a Research Centre.  The Centre is affiliated to the University of Madras for M.Phil. in Economics and Ph.D. studies  in Economics , History, Sociology and Education. The Centre is also affiliated to Bharathidasan University for Ph.D. studies in Economics. The Centre in 1989 introduced in its M. Phil course the novel subject of Environmental Economics perhaps for the first time in India.  The centre is affiliated to the Tamil Nadum Open University (TNOU) as a Vocational Centre and is accredited to the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) as a community collage. 

The Centre has direct development interventions in the villages around Yercaud and Pulicat in Tamil Nadum and at Nayagragh in Orissa.  The Centre implements programmes sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and State government departments.

The broad objective of CRNIEO for 30 years has been to conduct socially relevant action research, applying research and study to train young leaders in rural development and on environment and from the experiences gained implement development projects for the underprivileged communities in rural India.

CRNIEO celebrated its 30th year on August 6th 2010.

CRNIEO is a registered society under the Tamil Nadum Societies Registration Act 1973, (No.233 of 22.8.1985).  The CRNIEO is registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) with No. : 075 900362.

CRNIEO Training Centre for Development Ecologist, Muttukadu

The Centre established in 1992 a Training Centre for Development Ecologist at Muttukadu on the New Mahabalipuram Road with excellent residential facilities of international standards, for stay and for holding of conferences and seminars.  The Center’s Rural Development and Management Course was conducted at this Centre at Muttukadu which has also excellent class room facilities and residential facilities for students.  A survey was conducted by the students in ten villages in and around Muttukadu on the socio economic situation in the villages. The Centre responded by training girls in computer applications from the weaker sections in and around Muttukadu.
 
The Centre at Muttukadu, trained 40 girls from the weaker sections as Library Assistants and Computer Operators sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology Government Of India. In November 2006 the Centre trained 8 boys and girls from the nearby regions in basic BPO practices and spoken English, which was aimed at increasing their employment potential in the nearby by BPOs and call centers.  See

CRNIEO has an extensive library, located at the Training Centre for Development Ecologist.  The collection of books running to a few thousands relate to studies in Economics, Developmental Economics, Environmental Economics, Ecology, Women Studies, Tribal and dalit Studies, etc. We also have a large number of standard scientific journals related to these areas.  These journals and books cater to teaching and research needs of the faculty, research scholars and RDM students. The reference section is well equipped with a comfortable reading room.  Social Science Research, Ethics, Religion, History and other interests are well taken care of.

The CRNIEO - Pulicat National Matriculation School (PNMS), Pulicat

In the year 1987 CRNIEO conducted a socio economic survey of the people of Pulicat and during the survey it was found that one important desire of the people was that good quality formal education should be made available for their children. The people in Pulicat requested the Founder -Director Dr. K. Rajaratham that CRNIEO should start a formal school.

In response, to that request in July 1988 CRNIEO started a School at Pulicat with English as the medium of instruction with standards LKG to third standard.  Today the school has standards from LKG to X with the total strength of 590 children both boys and girls and nearly 80% of them belong to the fisherfolk and coastal community.

In the Tamil Nadum State matriculation 10th STD examinations held for the year 2009-2010 20 PNMS students appeared for the examination and all of them passed with 16 of them passing with first class!  The school has adequate classrooms and other fixtures for the children.

The parents of the children are actively involved in the welfare of their children.  The children pay fees as per the government norms and for some children scholarship is arranged.   The school follows the Tamil Nadum Government Matriculation syllabus and has been granted recognition by the Directorate of School Education, Tamil Nadum.

Special classes on environment are included in the syllabus and a special curriculum has been framed. The fisherfolk parents and others actively participate and contribute towards the functioning of the school.

Yercaud- Hills - 40 Kms from Salem Station - 12 kms from Yercuad Town.