Who was E.F. Schumacher?
E.F. Schumacher (1911-1977) developed his thinking on energy, new economics and the problems of poverty while serving as the Chief Economic Advisor for the National Coal Board from 1950 to 1970. In 1955 he was seconded to work in Burma and saw rural poverty first hand both there and in India. Out of this experience he developed the principles of what he called Buddhist economics and went on to write his seminal work ‘Small is Beautiful – economics as if people mattered'.
Among his many innovative ideas and approaches, it is the idea of ‘intermediate’ or ‘appropriate’ technology with which his name has become particularly associated. His conviction that the key to rural development is the sharing of appropriate knowledge, rather than the giving of funds or goods, is as valid today as it was 30 years ago. Moreover, Schumacher recognised that dissemination of appropriate knowledge is a difficult task in which 'administrators, businessmen and communicators' should work in partnership.
His remains an authentic voice respected for its urgency, humanity and good sense both in rural development and beyond. The credibility, relevance and value of Schumacher’s approach to the problem of rural poverty in India remains a powerful asset in the work of Jeevika Trust today.
Schumacher Circle UK
Jeevika Trust is a member of the ‘Schumacher Circle’, a family of independent UK organisations which trace a connection with Schumacher and share a common mindset. This group is co-ordinated by Bristol-based Schumacher UK.
Other current members are:
- Soil Association – Building an organic future
- Practical Action/ITDG – Technology challenging poverty
- Resurgence Magazine – Ecological awareness for human and planetary well-being
- Centre for Alternative Technology – Practical solutions to environmental problems
- Schumacher UK – Promoting human scale sustainable development
- New Economics Foundation – Real economic well-being
- Green Books – Books for information, inspiration – and action!
- Schumacher College – an international centre for ecological studies
