S.

Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences

Introduction to Rural Community Development

Why we need Community Development?

(Though the present societal conditions has changed a lot, reasons cited at the beginning of the
emergence of Community Development concept, still it seems to be relevant)
In the past change has occurred without plans or guidance. This created innumerable problems.

Technological Changes; The rise of organized industry reduced the importance of the
traditional institutions without shouldering the responsibilities
E.g. 1. Introduction of one lorry (transport) made more than 100 persons jobless
2. Nursery school – education function is taken away from the family –but emotional security
is not given

Urbanization: Destroyed man’s feeling of belongingness

Industrialization and urbanization made it difficult in maintaining common or shared
values.
Tendency to form subgroups as separate entities in the community produces social tension
e.g. Caste, Religion and Region based organizations, Organized Unions.
Democracy will weaken, if the sense of belongingness and participation is not
strengthened.

The impact of social, economic and technological changes has not brought much benefit to the
communities. The rural communities are subject to overwhelming and disruptive pressures and
attractions from within and without.

Other causes
• population increase – resource depletion
• Migration from village to towns.
• Bureaucratization by Centralization
• Problem are human not technical but we are opting for technical solutions.
• Decisions are made for people not by them – large proportions of decision benefit a prevailed
sector.
Super Ordination –
• Centralization
• Bureaucratization
• Decision made for the people not by them

Personal Alienation - Urbanization destroyed Man feeling of belongingness and difficulties in

maintaining common shared values

Loss of individual dignity – inability to control the events.

To counteract this Community Development has evolved.

Concept of Community Development

People want to be free from poverty and pain
Govt. cannot meet the multiplicity of demands
There exist a great amount of untapped resources. If we put use even a fraction of these
resource, it will bring great benefit. Utilizing these resources demand intimate local
knowledge. If we motivate and train local people they will help us to tap these resources.
Community problems existed time immemorial man also tried to find out solution.
Community Development is an integration of Community Organization, Economic
Development and Social Development.

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Concept of Community Development

People want to be free from poverty and pain
Govt. cannot meet the multiplicity of demands
There exist a great amount of untapped resources. If we put use even a fraction of these
resource, it will bring great benefit. Utilizing these resources demand intimate local
knowledge. If we motivate and train local people they will help us to tap these resources.
Community problems existed time immemorial man also tried to find out solution.
Community Development is an integration of Community Organization, Economic
Development and Social Development.

Community Development Economic Development Social Development

Mobilization of people for To sustain welfare Social change necessitated
local action economy, growth is to assist people in adjusting
Utilization of local necessary social change.
resources carefully Growth requires systematic Educating people to adopt
Prudent use of resources. planning change

These aims of CD in general is to develop resources as well as relationship between

individuals and groups in such a way so that the people may able to lead a better and enriched
social and economic life as individual and as groups.

Community Development Definitions

1. Community development is regarded as an organized effort of people to improve the
conditions of community life and the capacity of the people for participation, self
direction and interaction and integrated effort in community affairs.
2. Community development is a process of change from the traditional way of living to
progressive ways of living.
3. Community development is a process to develop the competence of a community so that
it may confront its own problems
4. Community development is a social process by which human beings can become
competent to live with and gain some control over local aspects of a frustrating and
changing world.
5. Community Development is a continuous process of social action by which the people of
a Community.
a. Define their common and group needs.
b. Organize themselves formally and informally for democratic planning action.
c. Make group and individual plans to meet their needs and solve their problems.
d. Execute their plans with maximum reliance upon their own resources.
e. Supplement their resources from outside the community, when, necessary, with services and
personnel.- International co-operation Administration

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

6. Community development consists of any and all methods by which local

community groups organize themselves to promote and carryout any and all types of
projects which will improve the life
and work of the individuals, families Rural Development
and the communities as a whole. Pre-Independence Experiments in Rural development
Post-Independence Rural Development Programme
7. Community development is a Etawah Project (1948-52) Assessment of Early Efforts
Grow More Food Campaign
method by which people can be
The Community Development Programme (1952)
assisted to develop themselves with Community Development and N.E.S. Era (1953- 60)
their own capacity and resources, National Extension Service
Intensive Agricultural Development Era (1960 onwards)
8. Community development can be The IADP -The Intensive Agricultural Area Programme
tentatively defined as a process (1964)
designed to create conditions of The High Yielding Varieties Programme and Multiple
economic and social progress for the Cropping Programme (1966-67)
Hill and Tribal Area Development
whole community with its active
Small Farmers Development Agencies (1971)
participation and the fullest possible Integrated Rural Development Programme (1976)
reliance upon the community’s TRYSEM / Development of Woman and Children in
initiative. Rural Areas (DWCRA)
It includes Drought Prone Area Programme
a. Physical improvements such as roads, Desert Development Programme
housing, irrigation, drainage and Watershed Development Programmes
better farming practices. Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)
b. Functional activities such as health, (1979)
education and recreation. National Social Assistance Programme and Annapurna
c. Community action involving group (2002-03)
discussion Community action involving Land Reforms Computerization of Land Records
group discussion Community analyses Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Rural Housing
of local needs, the setting up of Rural Drinking Water Supply Programme
committees, seeking of needed Food for Work Programme
technical assistance and the selection Poverty Alleviation Programme
ad training of personal.-United National Rural Employment Programme (NREP)
Nations. Technology Missions
Group Housing Scheme / Indira Awaz Yojana
9. The Polices of securing social Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme
progress through local action, the (RLEGP)
methods used and procedures Jawahar Rozgar Yojana / Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana
Employment Assurance Scheme
applied are usually termed Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
community development. Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)
National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme
10. Community Development is a (NREGP)
means for promoting Self-Employment Programmes
industrialization as well as for Gender and Land Rights
coping with its consequences. Mahila Utahan and Child Development Yojana
Community Development and Panchayati Raj
Community development is being
People's Participation—the Crux of the Programme
asked to bring out a set of conditions Involvement of Voluntary Agencies
roughly modernization and then CAPART
being asked to cope with the
conditions moderation has created warren.

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

11. Community Development is a program for accomplishing certain activities in fields,

concerning rural people.

12. Community development is a process of change by which the efforts of the people
themselves are united with those of Government authorities to improve the economic,
Social and cultural conditions of communities, to integrate these communities into the
life of the nation and to enable them to contribute fully to a national program United
Nations.

13. Community development is a method which the people in the villages are involved in
helping to improve their own economic and social conditions and thereby they become
effective working groups in the programme of their National Government –Carl Taylor.

14. Community development is essentially a method by which villagers are helped to

organize their own efforts to accomplish improvements, and through their organization,
receive adequate and ready assistance from any and all development departments.

15. The practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and
professionals to improve various aspects of local community, communities.
Rural community development
Rural community development encompasses a range of approaches and activities that aim to improve the
welfare and livelihoods of people living in rural areas. As a branch of community development, these
approaches pay attention to social issues particularly community organizing. This is in contrast to other
forms of rural development that focus on public works (e.g. rural roads and electrification) and technology
(e.g. tools and techniques for improving agricultural production).

The Causes for Rural Deterioration

• Declining of village communities during Muslim and British period.
• Centralized administrative system discouraged the villagers to participate in the
community betterment.
• 18th century Industrial Revolution in England brought fourfold change.

Agriculture Scientific agriculture gave emergence of capitalistic class,

eliminating ordinary peasants
Transport Connected the world; emergence of mercantile economy
Industry Joint stock companies – heavy machinery large scale
Investments-capital intensive industries destroyed the Village
Guilds.
Economic Thought Laissez Faire Policy – encouraged the rich brought may brought
may social-economic grievances.
These changes subsequently affected India
1. Decline of urban handicraft and further ruralisation
2. No improvement in agriculture
3. Commercialization of crops and introduction of money
economy
4. Rising middle class
5. Growing indebtedness of the cultivators and transfer of land
6. Growing population & subdivision of land

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Before the advent of Britishers and Industrial revolution, pressure on land was not felt –
Indian handicraft had it own fame & popularity – modern industry, centralized administration
destroyed the self sufficient villages. Gokhale & Ranade pointed out the absurdity of
following in India a policy which may be good enough for England.

Series Famines in Nineteenth Century and efforts

made to improve Indian Agriculture
1867 - Famine in North West India
1865 - Famine in Orrisa
1868 - Rajputana
1878 - Haryana Starving Cattle: the Famine in Bengal 1874
1876 - 78 South India
First Famine Commission
Second Famine Commission
1890 - Agriculture Conference
1892 - Agriculture Chemist was appointed
1896 - 97 Bombay, Madras
1899 - 1900 Bombay, Central Province and Berar
1901 - Third Famine Commission
1901 - Inspector General of Agriculture
1903 - Appointment of Entomologist & Mycologist
1903 - Pusa Agriculture Research Institute –
(Henry Phipps of Chicago donation)
1904 - Co-operative Societies Act
1919 (Diarchy Govt) - Agriculture was transferred to
state
1926 -1928 - Royal Commission on Agriculture

First famine commission suggested:

1. Improvement in agriculture & irrigation
2. Improvement and extension of the means of communication – to reduce the severity of the
famines
3. Establishing industries to absorb the surplus population on the land
4. Formation of department of agriculture in the provinces (Directors of Agriculture were
appointed in the year 1884 in the provinces)

Dr. J.A. Woelcker’s remarks on Indian farmers

Dr. J.A. Woelcker – Consulting Chemist to the Royal Agriculture Society was sent to
India He observed “Raiyat or cultivator is quite as good as, and, in some respect, superior
of the average British farmer, whilst at this worst it can only be said that this state (present
state) is brought about largely by an absence of facilities for improvement which is
probably unequalled in any other country”.
He further observed that “I have no hesitation in affirming that the responsibility for
initiating the steps required to effect this improvement rests with the Government and that
the rural problem should be attacked as a whole and at all points simultaneously”

Great Depression – affected agricultural countries more than the industrial countries. –
agricultural production could not adjust itself to the demand and thus the fall in the prices of

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

agricultural commodities was more than those of industrial goods agricultural commodities
was more than those of industrial goods
As a result of the catastrophic fall in the prices of agricultural commodities, the money
income of the farmer declined.

Govt. of India Act – 1935

Popular Ministers were active.
Reserve Bank of India Act 1935 Agricultural Credit Dept was established .
Second World War – 1939
Agriculture prices rose – problems of middle men
Bengal famine 1943
Food crisis 1943
Grow More Food Campaign (GMFC) launched; that was the first organized effort to increase
food production.
Establishment of Food Department - 1942

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

Grow more food campaign (launched in 1943) first organized effort to increase food
production.
1. To bring more land under cultivation
2. Increasing the crop yield per hectare.
GMFC was reviewed by various committees and became a part of 1st FYP.
1952 GOI appointed Sri VT Krishnamachari to review GMFC. He recommended that “an
1953 extension agency should be set up for rural work which would reach every farmer and
1954 assist in the co-ordinate development of rural life.

CDP more intensive work-

National Extension Service – less intensive
For America it took 50 years to cover the entire 7% rural population with extension services
for India we were compelled to cover 400 million people within 10 years.

Activities under Community Development projects

1. Agricultural 2.Communication 3.Education 4.Health
5. Training 6.Social welfare 7. Supplementary employment
8. Hosing

A Community Development Project consisted of 3 blocks each block consisted of 100

villages.
Organisation
1952 Prime Minister
Central committee
Community Projects Administration
Under him several experts.
1956 Separate Ministry was created.
State
District
Block Development Block
Village Mandi Unit

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

1957- Balvantrai Mehta

1958 – NDC adopted B. Metha Suggestion
Panchayat Raj first introduced in Rajasthan & Andhra Pradesh (1959), Assam, TN and
Karnataka (1960) Maharashtra (1962)
Initial funds were provided by the USA Government under a technical co-operation
programme agreement signed on 5th
January 1952. Initially financial burden was shared between Central and state governments.

Rajaji christened the programme as Gram Kalyan CD means Communism + God

Paul Hoffman- President of the Ford Foundation - Ford foundation was willing to provide
some assistance for India’s basic development –Nehru asked SK Dey to meet Paul Hoffman-
Ford Foundation assisted to set 15 Pilot projects. Douglas Ensmigner was the consultant for
the projects. When the Ford foundation programme was going on, another American “Chester
Bowles” who came as the Ambassador of the US Government-Chester Bowls visited both
Nilokeri & Etawah.Community Development programme was emerged out of our own
attempts plus Ford foundation assistance and Chester Bowles initiative.

Philosophy of CD Content of the CD Programme

Triple tenets of faith Agriculture Development:
1. Muscles can do it 1. Land improvement
2. Muscles can be trained do it Soil conservation
3. Conditions can be created to do it Contours bonding
Triple character of Rights Dry farming
1. The right to live Drainage
2. The right to earn Land Reclamation
3. The right to receive to do it 2. Irrigation
Triple rules of Business Full utilization
1. Evaluation Repairs & maintenance of community
2. Intergration irrigation works Constructing field
3. Standadization channels Economy in the use of water.
1. Work based on felt needs 3. Input Supply
2. Work based on assumption that people Improved implements
want to be free from poverty and pain Improved seeds
3. People’s values given due consideration Economy in the use of water
4. Self help 4. Cropping
5. People are the greatest resource. Multiple cropping vegetable cultivation

Co-operation – bring every family in the area under co-op fold.

Encouragement of employment – planned occupational distribution
Encourage cottage, medium & small scale industries.
Provision of Roads – encouragement for mechanical transport service and development of
animal transport.
Education – Free & compulsory education
Health –Sanitation, public health, Nutritious diet Medical Aid.
Refresher Courses – artisans, agriculturists
Housing – Improved techniques and designs for housing, provision of housing (Rural &
Urban)
Community Recreation –

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Objectives of Community Development Programme (CDP):

National Planning Commission:
Community Development is the method and the rural extension the agency through which
Five Year Plan seeks to initiate a process of transformation of the social and economic life of
the villages.

The basic objectives of CDP are to secure the fullest development of the material and human
resources on an area basis and thereby raise the rural community to higher levels of living
with the active participation and the initiative of the people themselves.

The chief objective of the CD programme is to carryout the physical reconstruction of an area
and the development of economic life and at the same time achieve the social reconstruction
of the community.

V.T. Krishnamachari (After reviewing the objectives he pointed out the following as the objectives
of CD Programme)

1. Leading rural population from chronic under employment to full employment.

2. Leading rural
3. The largest possible extension of the principle of co-operation by making rural population
of co-operation by making rural population credit worthy.
4. Increased community efforts for the benefit of the benefit of the community as a whole
such as village roads, tanks, wells, schools, community centers, children’s parks etc.

Specific objectives of CDP as pointed out in the I Five Year Plan Draft

1. The approach of the various development departments working in the villages must be a
whole. This approach is to be made through a common agent to all the principal
departments engaged in rural work, who is now know as a village level worker.

2. While the official machinery has to guide and assist, the principal responsibility of
improving their own conditions must rest with the people and therefore, those
programmers are to be taken first in which element of self help and mutual co-operation
are present.

3. Chronic unemployment and underemployment is to be removed through the practices of

scientific agricultural and cottage and small scale industries.

4. Advice and precepts are to be backed by practical aids i.e. supply of seeds, fertilizers,
finance, and technical guidance for solving the villager’s practical problems.

5. The best result are to be achieved by pursing the programmes intensively. Practically all
the families in the villages, especially underprivileged, are to be brought within the
programme so that they may take their place in co-operative movement and other
organizations.

6. There is to be created in the rural population a burning desire for a higher standard of
living a will to live better.

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Douglas Ensminger
Broad Objectives:
1. To assist each village in planning and carrying out an integrated, multiphase family and
village plan directed towards agricultural production.
2. Improving existing village crafts and industries and organize new
ones.
3. Providing minimum essential health services and improving
health practices.
4. Providing required educational facilities for child and an adult
education programme.
5. Providing recreational facilities and programmes, improving
housing and family conditions and providing programmes for
village youth & women.

Specific Objectives of Community Development:

1. To change the outlook of all village people
2. To develop responsible and responsive village leadership and village organizations and
institutions.
3. To develop the village people of become self reliant, responsive citizens capable and
willing to participate effectively and with knowledge and understanding in the building of
the new India.
4. To help the village people to increase their income through improved agricultural practices
and by improving the existing village crafts and industries and by organizing new ones.
5. To train village youth to assume citizenship responsibilities through early and continuous
involvement in youth programmes and activities and all round village development.
6. To give organize assistance to village women and village families in effectively converting
their increased income into better living.
7. To help the villagers to know the cause of illness and make available simple facilities
necessary to practices clean habits ad to prevent illness and early deaths.
8. To help the villagers to know the causes of illness clean habits and to prevent illness and
early deaths.

The aim of the CD in general is to develop resources as well as relationship between

individual and groups in such a way so that the people may be able to lead a better and
enriched social and economic life as individuals and as groups. Specific objectives may differ
from country to country according to the situation prevailing at that time.

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Rural Reconstruction Programme Before 1932

Village centered movement on principles of voluntary effort.
Etawah – North – Provincial Govt – 1946
Baroda – West – Princely State – 1885
Srinekatan – East – Charismatic leaders – 1908
Birka (1948) Marthandam (1921) South – Government & Missionaries – 1948, 1921.

Main Features of Rural Reconstruction Programs

Srinekaten 1908 Baroda 1885

Kaligram Pargana 1921- Maharaja Sayajiro Gaekward III
Rural Reconstruction Institute;Organizing 3. Preconditions for R.D.
scouts-Brati Balika Demonstration Centre. 1.Social Political, stability basic amenities
Cultural renaissance Thro economic & others Determined welfaristic attitude by Gaekward’s father
Achievements T.Madhavarao
Indian co-op Act 1904 facilitated to organize 2. Emphasis on R.D.
co-operatives. Tagore trained a class of 3.Supportive legislation
functionaries who could identify with the Hindu Remarriage Act, Anti caste tyranny Act , Debt
villagersHonest & genuine attempt. conciliation Act
Education & re education Rejuvenating the Approach Collaborative working & integrated refined
cultural life U.K. Sociologist Leonard Administration.
Elmhurst
Martandam 1921 Gorgon
Spencer Hatch F.L. Brayne 1920
M.R.Reconstruction Institute Institutional work
Principles School of Rural economy
It is the poor who require more help so Domestic school of economy
reach the poorest. Health Association
Cottage industries – unpaid service; Rural Development
Demonstration Plots. Agri. Development
Organization; egg selling clubs Edu. Scooting-Village school
Honey clubs etc. Social Reform, Systematic Trg. Scientific inputs
The first ever project which gave Education Training.
Importance to the rural poor
Birka 1946 Etawah 1948
Sri Prakasam Albert Mayer Govind Ballbha Pant
34 Firkas Sambooranand
Grama Nala Sangam Social Science Application
14 objectives Sarvodaya inspiration
Giving specific objectives To the rural TVA- Rockdale like
organizations Dirty hand method not arm chair method –
American Method of Planning
Nilokheri Similarities of R.R. efforts
SK Dey Demonstration Plots.
Mazdoor Manzil Tagore & Martandam – Supply of quality consumer
Beliefs Rights products
Growth Centre
Development is a two way process
Integrated area planning
Voluntary non statutory bodies

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Rural Reconstruction
History of Rural Development in Modern India
When the CD programme was first introduced in 1952, Indian experience was not in great
demand. This was because the widespread belief that the new approach to rural
reconstruction which CD has
Why we should study Indian experiments in brought with it was
Rural Development.
1. Since these experiments were indigenous they may provide Books to understand
important lessons to the present day planners. RD History
2. We should not indifferent to the past & indigenous culture.
One cannot be effective when one ignore the lesson of the
past. Those who forget the history are contemned to repeat
it.
3. It was be justifiable for other Asian & African countries to
import the CD techniques. They have no alternative to fall
back. But we have a past. A scientific probe in the past, might
for example, establish that we already have a set of tools &
techniques. Evolved in the context of our own culture and
needs, these could even today provide the base.
4. A scientific examination of the genesis, structure principles
and methods of these centers would, provide a deeper Bret Wallach Professor of
Geography, The University of
understanding of the process of rural development which
Oklahoma,
were once given a trial. The merits & deficiencies of these (http://ags.ou.edu/~bwallach/)
experiments may indicate what methods and approaches may Losing Asia: Modernization
succeed, in which condition and why? and the Culture of
5. Indian experiments spread over the country, attempted by Development. Baltimore and
different personalities & authorities and covered different London: The Johns Hopkins
cultural groups Press, 1996.
Provincial Govt. initiated Madras Firka Development Programme
Princely State initiated Baroda (Native State)
Great Individuals like Tagore, Gandhi initiated Shantiniketan,
Wardha experiment
Missionaries initiated Martandam experiment
Sriniketan and Baroda covered Tribal Population
Firka and Martandam covered South Indian Population
Sriniketan – East India
Etawah – North India
Baroda – West India
Baroda (1885) experiment was the beginning
Etawah (1948) experiment was the end.
One was in the beginning of the modern history and the other
was its closing chapter.
Both Tagore and Maharaja Sayajirao began their early
explorations in the field of rural makes it
clear that the development experiments both in the western as
well as in the eastern part of India
still unknown to India. Its
had closely followed the period of reform and renaissance and
philosophy of self help, of
planned social change and systematic appraisal of rural problems based on growing
knowledge of social sciences were, as if for the first time, making their headway.
Methodology of rural development, knowhow of social engineering, innovation of a

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

developmental administration and engineering, and other essential features of CD had

therefore to be imported lock stock, not barrel from outside. There was very little Indian
experience, it was thought, which could have provided a lead in this direction and the search
for the new theme of development had to be elsewhere.

Rural Reconstruction Programmes (RRP) is the forerunners of CD, happened in the last
decade of nineteenth century. RRP represented systematic efforts for the development of life
and society of specific rural communities and made conscious application of technological
knowledge.

Baroda Experiment
The rural reconstruction experiment was first started by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III over
the whole of the state. (Baroda State area 8176.12sq miles; Population 28,55,010)
Baroda experiment indicates that the following pre conditions are necessary for success in
rural development
1. There should a long rule of a determined welfare
administrator
(Shri T. Madhavaro, predecessor of Maharaja has created
certain preconditions. He restored
1. Political & social stability
2. Provided a number of basic amenities & other
development services
Public works of various kinds. Provision of medical services,
irrigation, roads & transport - Baroda at this time has the highest
percentage of area covered by rail & road and the largest number of
schools.
3. Development often fails to make headway because of
certain fundamental social & economic disabilities.
Madhavarao removed and paved the path for the
progress.
4. Emphasis should be given to rural welfare in the
Sayajirao Gaekwad III (Shrimant
total administrative set up (an integrative approach)
Gopalrao Gaekwad); (1863 –1939),
was the Maharaja of Baroda from 5. Number of supportive legislation should be
1875 to 1939, and is notably introduced
remembered for reforming much of Baroda princely state introduced the following measures
his state during his rule Hindu Remarriage Act
Divorce & Inter caste Marriage Act
Anti Caste Tyranny Act
Rent & Land Regulation Act
Debt. Conciliation Act
.
The Baroda Approach
• Collaborative working of different departments
• The intensive & integrated approach to development
• Refined Administrative Approach
• Local bodies, panchayats, talukboards, districts, councils, state assembly, voluntary
agencies, library associations, school association worked together to achieve progress
• Integrative – number of programmes (agri, health, industrial development was introduced
at the same point of time; intensive – short campaigns were carried out

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Shantiniketan Experiment
Year of starting 1908. The experiment was initiated in kali gram paragayna of Tagor’s
Zamindari – a group of 8 villages around it
Dr. Leonard Elmhurst – U.K. Sociologist assisted Tagore
In 1921 Rural Reconstruction Institute established
Tagore tried to create a class of functionary workers who could
learn to identify themselves with the people
Activities
Indian Co-operative Act passed in 1904 amended in 1912. This
led to development of agriculture, co-operatives, industries and
education through village originations.
Objectives
• To create a real Tagore "Come inside India, accept all her
good and her evil; if there be deformity, then
interest in people
try and cure it from within, but see it with
for rural welfare work your own eyes, understand it, think over it,
• To study rural problems and to translate turn your face towards it, become one with
conclusions in to action. it." But becoming ''one with it'' is precisely
• To help villagers develop their resources what foreign experts have been unable or
and to improve village sanitation. unwilling to do.
Methods used to achieve objectives: Our practical achievements, our clear milk,
our fresh eggs, our flourishing co-operatives,
• Creating a spirit of self help were all useful means, but still only means
• Developing village leadership towards the achievement of much greater
• Organizing village scouts called Brati end. These are the means to rejuvenate the
Balika cultural life around village. Tagore
• Establishing training centre for handicrafts
& Establishing a demonstration centre at Shantiniketan

Guragon Experiment
F.L. Brayne – (1920) District Magistrate initiated the experiment
Major areas of development wok
School of Rural Economy (to train village guides)
Domestic school of economics (to train rural women)
Institutional work
Health Association
Women Institute

1. School of Rural Economy: Work done by the school

The school managed a farm of 51 acres for the 1. Setting up model farms
purpose of providing practical training to 2. Improved seeds using
the students. The curriculum of the studies included 3. Adopt quragon plough & other improved
scouting, co-operation. Practical agriculture, implements
first aid, infant welfare, public health, domestic 4. Preventive measures against crop pests,
killing field rats, monkeys
hygiene and sanitation, village hygiene & 5. Consolidation of land holdings.
sanitation, stock breeding and elementary veterinary
training. The students were expected to

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

qualify the examination in first aid and co-operation and special tests in all other subjects.

The village guides who were trained in the school were entrusted with these duties.
1. Development of co-operatives. 2. Public health work, preparing people for vaccinators
visit.
3. Cleaning of villages by digging manure pits, putting in of windows, ventilators etc. in the
house. 4.
Agriculture demonstration and sale of improved ploughs and other implements, improved
seeds
etc.
Frank Lugard Brayne served during the 1920s as the deputy commissioner (the Punjabi equivalent of collector)
of the Gurgaon District, which lies immediately south of Delhi. There, he single-handedly conceived of and
executed what became famous as the “Gurgaon Experiment.” He publicized this work through several books
on what he called “village uplift,” all published by Oxford University Press. The Royal Commission on
Agriculture in India praised his work highly. I suspect that Brayne generated more attention and publicity for
his district than any other district administrator in the history of British India.
Brayne Quotes
“Our object in Gorgon has been to jerk the villager out of his old groove, convince him that improvement is
possible and kill his fatalism by demonstrating that both climate, disease and pests can be successfully fought.
He must be laughed out of his uneconomic and unhealthy customs and taught better ways to deal with the
whole of village life, to take the whole district as the field of operations and to deluge the areas with every
form of propaganda and publicity that we could devise or adopt or afford.
Upliftment is a mass movement, a combined assault, and no area, no part of life and no method of attack can
be neglected –

2. Rural Sanitation work

1. Digging manure pits and preserving sweepings, rubbish and dung in properly dug pits.
2. Giving vaccination against small box, inoculation against plague.
3. Well cleaning and proper arrangements for drawing water to prevent cholera.
4. Using quinine and mosquito nets to prevent malaria.
2. Agricultural Development Programme

3. Educational of Scouting & Development of co-education

The experiment emphasized the importance of the school teacher …….The village school
teacher with his school library, his night school and his scouts must be the centre of uplift and
culture and he must be so trained that he can solve all the simple problems of the villager.
Whether they are agricultural, social or moral or related to public health – Byrne.

4. Social Reforms
• Prohibition of child marriages
• Education of girls in the mixed schools
• Abolition of purdah
• Curtailment of ceremonial expenditure
• Introduction of marriage registers
• Propaganda against injurious litigation
• Combating indebtedness.

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Introduction to Rural Community Development

Marthandam Experiment
Spencer Hatch a Christian missionary initiated the programme in 1921.

Marthandam was a densely populated and a market place for the surrounding 40 villages
within a radius of 3 miles.

Principles Followed in Marthandam Experiment:

1. The programme of rural reconstruction should be people’s own.
2. Help the people to help themselves upwards on all sides of life.
3. People of all communities should be included.
4. It is the poor who require help more and therefore reach the poorest.
5. Maintain a comprehensive programme as such attention should be devoted to the development
of poultry-keeping, bee keeping, and other cottage industries like mats and basket making,
Palmyra sugar, hand woven cloth, etc.
6. Spirituality should be the basis of every programme
7. Keep simplicity the key note
8. Honorary unpaid service help make an efficient and highly productive extension service.
9. Close co-operation between the rural and the government official is a must.
10. Emphasis was laid on training of workers.

The Marthandam Centre maintained exhibits of

• Well bred bulls
• Chicken and goats
• Model bee hives
• Red cross health charts
• Samples of cottage industries
• Demonstration plots of improved crops
The work in the villages was largely carried on through clubs.
• Egg selling clubs
• Honey clubs
• Bull clubs
• Weavers clubs.
The centre organized libraries, health centre, boy scouts, girl scouts & sports clubs.

Dr. D. Spencer Hatch, who was trained in scientific Agriculture and Community Development, U.S.A. was
the District Secretary in-charge of Rural Reconstruction in South Travancore from 1923 to 1940. Dr. &
Mrs. Hatch carefully guided the work at Marthandam as their "light house" project.

Firka Development Programme

The scheme derived its inspiration from the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. Leadership was
provided by Sri Prakasam. Selection of the firkas was based on consideration of general
backwardness of the firka in regard to communications, sanitation, lighting, water supply,
etc., presence of electric installations in or within easy reach of the firka or centre, and the
availability of conditions favorable for intensifying the production of handloom cloth for the
development of other cottage industries.

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Introduction to Rural Community Development

Firka development programme was launched in 1946 in 34 firkas

50 firkas added in 1st April 1950 -- 24 firkas added in 1952
Firka population ranged from 15,000 to 30,000

Firka Development Department established in 1946 to take care of postwar rural

reconstruction programmes in such a manner to ensure government assistance and to
stimulate initiative among the village to organize their social and economic life.

As an experimental measure, a comprehensive scheme covering agriculture, cottage

industries particularly khadi, water supply, sanitation, health and medical facilities, road
construction etc. was inaugurated in thirty four selected blocks in
October 1947.

Administration
Rural Development Board (1946)
1. Ministers
2. 3 Members of all India spinner’s Association
3. 5 Non Officials
4. 6 Dept. heads

Development Commissioner (1947)

Asst. Commissioner Asst. Commissioner
(Southern Part) (Northern part)
2. Collector
Firka Development officer
Village Development Officer
Firka development committee at the district level Consisting of collector RDO
Khadi officer, legislature two prominent local workers
Prototype DCC

Firka Development committee at the District level provided forum (resembling the District
Development Council of to-day) was created where officials and non – officials discussed
development programmes. But in practice effective co-ordination could not be brought about
by collectors who had many duties and responsibilities and by firka development officers
who were mostly drawn from non officials and lacked administrative experience and requisite
status.

To mobilize official support and initiative to back the work of Firka Development Grama
Seva Sangam have been constituted since 1948 in which all adult residents of a village were
members.
They were distinct from panchayats and co-operatives but voluntary bodies.

The object of forming Grama Seva Sangan (14 objectives G.O.858 Firka Development
Department – 1948)
1. To enlist the support of all the resident of the unit in constructive work.
2. To help in the formation of panchayats and co-operative societies.
3. To organize all such work to help the government, the panchayats and co-operative
societies to fulfill their tasks in rural reconstruction.
4. To take all steps necessary to make the unit self sufficient with regard to food and
clothing.

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Introduction to Rural Community Development

5. To strive to raise the economic, social & moral level of the people.
6. To organize bands of voluntary workers for diverse purposes such as medical relief,
sanitation work, removal and storing of manures, organization of meetings and festivals,
protection of life and properly, relief work during epidemics, flood and such emergencies,
removal of social hardships of some castes, organization of sports, village games,
festivals, preparation of statistics about population, enforcement of prohibition etc.
7. To settle disputes
8. To organize cottage industries
9. To organize charitable institutions
10. To promote education of the people generally and establish high schools and reading
rooms.
11. To construct and maintain public utilities such as road, bridges, tanks etc.
12. To find unemployment relief.
13. To reclaim the criminal
14. To collect funds and contributions to carry out all these functions and to do all that was
necessary for organizing the work in the area.

Grama Seva Sangam was managed by a committee, met once in a month. It had a number of
functional sub committees. (Records were maintained regarding the proceedings of the
committee, progress of work done, contributions received and visitors book)
More representative than any other body existed at that time.

Criticism
1. Enormous department expenditure criticized
2. An evaluation committee was established. It remarked that work relating to industries was
wholly satisfactory; agriculture partly satisfactory and that a substantial measure of
success was achieved in all other work and best results in sanitation.

Etawah Experiment
The project at Etawah was introduced in September 1948 in the area of 64 villages around
Mahwa, located at a distance of 8 miles from Etawah. Albert Mayer an American architect
was the chief source of inspiration & its leader. Etawah was financed by U.P. Government.
Although the project drew heavily from the inspiring ideology of development which was
essentially Albert Mayer’s the experiment claims to be largely of Indian origin (Etawah
District is surrounded by Agra Kanpur; in between Kanpur Agra)
Etawah –where the seeds of rejuvenation sowed
“What the Rockdale experiment in England is to the world’s co-operative movement, what the
Tennessee Valley Authority is to the integrated exploitation of the word’s great watersheds,
Etawah Project has become the movement for revitalizing the way of life of the world’s peasantry”
-I FYP

This pilot project at Etowah has become to the world, symbol of successful rural development
initiated by an enlightened popular government and carried through without compulsion among a
peasantry known for its conservatism. Makim Marriott & Richard.

Etawah was the school where, we the Government, the people and the officers on whom lies the
ultimate responsibility for seeing that the decision taken by the Govt. are implemented; we learnt
our first lessons in planning –“Sambooranand”

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Introduction to Rural Community Development

Characteristics
1. The project made extensive use of applied social sciences and modern theories of
extension
2. Etawah claims to have drawn substantially on the inspiration of the Sarvodaya Movement.
Nehru introduced Dr. Mayer to Govid Ballabh Pant, the then CM of Uttar Pradesh.

Principles:
1. The programme should start with simple to more complex. Closely timed, accelerating and
broadening from year to year.
2. Systematic planning and precise targets in terms of amount or quantities of work, persons,
area and units of time.
3. Emphasis on the attitudes of Govt. servants, “They must work with the people; not tell
them. They must demonstrate by doing with their own hands in the villages and fields. In
short dirtying hand method not armchair method.

Activities:
Agriculture – land, input, marketing
Animal husbandry
Co-operation- credit, production, marketing & supply
Health –Sanitation, Prevention, Control
Infrastructure – Water –Road - Housing - Education - Reading rooms
Cultural & Recreational

Evaluation:
• Agricultural production went up y at least 50%
• Co-op brick kilns, manufacture of agri-implements, sericulture, canning, fruit preservation
industries came into existence.
• Technical workers functioned as a part of over all village team a new element of team
relationship has been introduced in the old departmental pattern of working in water tight
compartments.
• Inner democratization of administration structure. Highest officer habitually invites
suggestions & advise from all those below him; and the lowest worker felt free to give it
frankly and without fear. The breaking of this up-down water tight compartments releases
energies and initiative and effectiveness of planning and performance at all levels.

The essence of this Pilot Project approach was to try out an idea of programme in a small
scale, with rigorous definition of objectives, content of the programme, targets and
methods in advance, thoroughness and concentration, during the testing out period and of
the past in the post trial period. Adequate study, planning, proper training, preparation,
selection of the right method, with maximum emphasis on the speed and efficiency but
without over eagerness to achieve physical results anyhow, were some of the essential
characteristics of this approach.

Project area covered 64 villages – with a population of 70,000

Etowah project was implemented with the direct collaboration of a dynamic extension
worker,
Horace, Holmes who together with Albert Meyers acted as the catalyst.

The program followed somewhat on the American Pattern of Extension Service.

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Introduction to Rural Community Development

Nilokheri Experiment
Nilokheri is a city and a municipal committee in Karnal district in the Indian state of
Haryana.It is famous for its Government Polytechnic Institute, where a lot of boys and
girls from all over the state learn various engineering disciplines. This town is 145 km
from Delhi on NH 1. After the partition of India, Nilokheri was founded and planned as
the new capital of the state of Punjab. Impressed by the planning of the town, Pandit
Jawhar Lal Nehru used to call it the town of his dreams. However, the town faced a
heavy flood when only 7 of its many planned sectors were developed. In view of this, the
capital of Punjab was kept at Chandigarh. Nilokheri produces high quality basmati rice.

The experiment was started to rehabilitate the displaced persons form Pakistan.
“Muscles can do it; Muscles can be trained to do it; Conditions can be created to do
it.”
“Right to live; Right to work for a living; Right to receive what is earned”

A new scheme called “Mazdoor Manzil” was drawn up.

The basic concept of Mazdoor Manzil was to stop the one way
traffic of labor, material, skill and culture from villages to town.
To stop this one way traffic, a decentralized administration
and a decentralized economy was necessary. This would lead to
an agro-industrial economy.
Mazdoor Manzil visualized a nucleus township, which was
intended to include institutions for medical relief, sanitation, middle and high school
education; technical and vocational
training; veterinary aid, extension Books by SK Dey
embracing griculture, horticulture, Community Development 1962
Sahakari Samaj; The Cooperative Commonwealth1967
poultry, piggery, fishery, sheep
Nilokheri. 1962
breeding and other forms of animal Samudayika Vikasa 1962
husbandry. There would be an electric Destination Man 1981
sub-station, art crafts centre, shopping Power to the people? 1969
and marketing centre. The Postulates of Rural Development 1953
Sahakari Samaj 1967
In a way Nilokheri has been pioneer in Panchayat-i-raj 1962
the development of industrial estates
“All over India we have centers of human activity which are like lamps spreading their light
more and more in the surrounding darkness. Among these, centre there is Nilokheri which
has achieved a good deal of fame in India & outside.

“I want ten thousand Nilokheries spread over the country” Nehru

Nilokheri – Prototype Growth centre

(Growth pole theory was developed by French Regional economist Francois Perroux 1955-
but Nilokheri was visualized much before that)
Growth pole is a place from which centrifugal forces emanate and to which centripetal
forces are attracted – centrifugal – centre to p periphery –apex to base – centripetal –

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Introduction to Rural Community Development

periphery to core – bottom up.

“Development viewed as a process of innovation as well as growth; does not appear

everywhere at the same time, but manifests outward. Growth centre policy from which it
tend to propagate coward. Growth centre policy will try to favor both the concentration
process and the outward propagation.”
Nilokheri is a pioneer experiment in the integrated area planning thorough a growth centre.

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Approaches to Rural Development

Rural Development approach can be defined as a set of goals, operation process, terminal
objectives and structural arrangements designed to bring out change and development in the
lives of the rural people.
Rural development strategy / approaches are also viewed as strategic interventions:-
1. In the rural economy through change in production and pricing, fiscal, monetary and credit
policies.
2. In the rural institutions directed towards the creation of favorable changes in the rural
infrastructure.
3. In the social structure by bringing about change in properly relationship distribution of
rights and privileges by different rural classes.
4. In the power and authority structure at various levels
5. In the cultural matters, in ideas beliefs about nature, man and society.
Rural Development approaches differ in their
1. Objectives
2. Performance priorities
3. Ideology used by mobilize support and action
4. Patterns of property rights and I and action
5. Distribution of the benefits of economic system and growth process.
Rural development approaches differ in their
1. Programme approaches can be classified based on
2. Assessment of implementation problems
3. Strategies for optimum programme management
Typologies of R.D. approaches
1. Griffin 2. Roth
Technocratic Radical Functional
Reformative Incremental Structural
Radical Radical structural
3.Inayatullah 4. Gable and Springer
L.I. Productivity Technology based
M.I. Solidarity Resource based
H.I. Equality 6. Ideology
5. Coverage Gandhian approach
Multipurpose Western approach
Limited purpose 8.UN : Rural Modernization
7. World Bank 9.ADB: Rural Investment
Minimum package 11. Dr. S.N. Bhattacharya
Comprehensive Growth centre
Sector or special programme Rural industrialization
10. Dr. K.V. Sundaram Block level planning
Rural Reconstruction Select incentives & assistance.
Community Development Development of infrastructure
Target Sector Local resources
Growth Centre Industrial estates
Backward Area Community Development
Minimum Needs Panchayat Raj
Area planning 20 point programme

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Major Rural Development Approaches in India

Approach Emphasis
1. Rural Village Centered Movement Based on the principles of voluntary effort
Reconstruction
2. Community Rural Development based on The ideas of motivation, Self Help, Self
Development Reliance and People’s Participation
3.Target Sector Intensive Development of a selected sector or sectors of (economy)
activity with emphasis on concentrating in areas of comparative
advantage.
4. Target Group Growth with social justice for the weaker sections of the population
5.Growth Centre Spatial planning concept based on appropriate clustering or dispersal of
activities

Community Development:
(A Model of Multipurpose Development Approach)
Multipurpose Vs Limited purpose Development Approach
In multipurpose approach development workers can ill afford to concentrate on any single
aspect of rural life (agriculture for example); all aspects, or in any case most of them, have to
be simultaneously tackled; only so would their efforts to be crowned with success.

(Community development is similar to all sided (multipurpose) approach and Balanced

Development proposed by economists like Rosenstein Rodan and Anther Lewis.)

• Village life is an integrated whole; we cannot divided it.

• It is free from choices.
• It is a co-ordinate team approach
• Multipurpose village level workers.

Criticism
All sided development approach however can become a reality, only if,
a. there is no resource constrains
b. if all wants are equally urgent and choice of ends are impossible
c. if there is some kind of logic in rural situation which makes attainment of single end
impossible without the simultaneous, attainment of all others.
In an underdeveloped economy, with serious resources constraints, the multipurpose
approach with its multicultural components, directed at a wide spectrum of the rural
population could not make much headway.

Limited Purpose Approach

It emphasis on the more demanding aspects of community development viz increase in
agricultural production.
• Limited purpose approach is similar with “unbalanced growth”
• “Big Push” theories of economic development i.e. deliberate unbalancing of the economy
to create disequilibrium.

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Introduction to Rural Community Development

• Unbalancing the economy with “SOC and DPA (Social Overhead Capital and Direct
Productive Activity)
• Specialist approach
• Departmental workers.

Criticism
Pressures will lead to political instability thereby hampering the process of development.

Target Sector Approach

(A model of limited purpose approach)

Concept
“Instead of spreading the development efforts more or less on uniform basis throughout the
country without getting any striking results, intensive efforts for production should be
undertaken with a combination of all the technological improvements and concentration of
man-power and resources in selected areas which had optimum conditions for stepping
production without at the
Modernization same time affecting the
Dual Economy Model 1950 Transformation normal efforts in other
Backward agriculture Approach
areas”.
Community Development Technology transfer
Lazy peasantry Mechanization
1960 Agriculture extension This was the comment of
Growth role of agri. the Ford Foundation
Redistribution with growth Green revolution (Start)
Basic needs Rural growth linkages
team regarding India’s
Integrated rural development 1970 efforts to develop
State agri. policies agriculture through
State led credit Structural adjustment
Urban bias
community development.
Free markets
Induced innovation 1980 Getting prices right
Ford Foundations
Green revolution (cont) Retreat of the state recommendations were
Rural growth linkages Rise of NGOs given a shape in the form
Rapid Rural Appraisal of “Ten Point Pilot
Farming Systems Research
Microcredit Food security & Famine Analysis
Programme to increase
Participatory Rural Appraisal 1990 RD as a process not a product Food Production”
Actor oriented RD Women in development (WID)
Stakeholder analysis Poverty alleviation
Rural safety nets 1. Adequate and readily
Gender & Development accessible farm
(GAD)
2000
Sustainable livelihoods supplies
Environment & Sustainability Good governance 2. Adequate farm credit.
Poverty reduction Decentralization
Critique of participation
3. Intensive Agricultural
Sector wide approaches Programme
Social Protection 4. Simple Individual
Poverty eradication farm plans.
Rural Development Ideas- Timeline. Frank Ellis & Stephen Biggs 5. Stronger village
Institutions
6. Assured prices for agriculture Products.
7. Reliable marketing facilities
8. Rural Public Works.
9. Evaluation and Analysis.
10. Co-ordinate approach.

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

This 10 point programme was introduced in the name of “Intensive Agriculture District
Programme” in Responsive and selected” areas.

Criteria for selecting the area

• The district should have assured water supply.
• Minimum natural hazards like flood, drainage, acute soil conservation.

Dominant & Sequential Themes in Rural Development

1950 1960 1970 1980 1900 2000
Modernization. Dual Economy
Raising yields on efficient farms
Process, Participation,
Empowerment
SL Approach
Some Sequential Popular RD Emphasis
1950 1960 1970 1980 1900 2000
Community Development
Small Farm Growth
Integrated Rural Development
Market
Liberalization
Participation
PRPs
• Well developed village institutions such as co-ops, PRIs.
• Better administration and supervision.
16 districts were selected all over India. (Tanjore, West Godwari, Alleppy and Mandya in
South India).

Programme Components

On the farm activities Field demonstration, water use management, crop Planning.
Supply of inputs, credit, marketing, transport, soil testing,
Off the farm activities Strengthening village institutions, farmers training & Road forming

Coverage
In the year 1967-68 the programme covered 13 lakh farmers living in 25,639 villages
32 lakh hectares. The project covered more than 25,639 villages.

Results
Wheat production increased by 55% to 95%
In other crops 64% increase (Paddy in Tanjore)

Intensive Agriculture District Programme – became a path finder – it proved that if

adequate inputs are provided, the Indian farmers will come forward to prove his worth. IADP
proved that small farmers are as progressive as big farmers.

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Development
Based on IAAP experience – “IAAP” (Intensive Agriculture Area programme) was
formulated wheat, paddy, millet, cotton, sugarcane, potato in 114 districts.
Subsequently Dr. Norman Bor Laugh’s “new Agricultural strategy or Green Revolution was
introduced.
NAS was based on the extension of high yielding verities responsive to heavy doses of
fertilizers and the package of improved practices in selected areas with assured rainfall or
irrigation facilities.

5 Stage V. Integrated Rural Development Era

Stage IV. Intensive Agricultural Development Era (1960-onwards)

Intensive agricultural District Programme (Package Programme).
4 High-yielding varieties programme
Small & Marginal Farmer's development Agency (SFDA- Fourth Plan)

3 Stage III. Community Development and National Extension Service Era (1953-60)

Stage II –Post Independence Era (1947-1953)

Grow-More-Food Campaign
2 Grow-More-Food Enquiry Committee
The Etawah Pilot Project (1948-52)
The Community Development Project (1952)

1 Stage I - Pre-Independence Era (1866-1947)

Green Revolution usually refers to the transformation of agriculture that began in 1945. One significant
factor in this revolution was the Mexican government's request to establish an agricultural research station
to develop more varieties of wheat that could be used to feed the rapidly growing population of the
country.
In 1943, Mexico imported half its wheat, but by 1956, the Green Revolution had made Mexico self-
sufficient; by 1964, Mexico exported half a million tons of wheat. The associated transformation has
continued as the result of programs of agricultural research, extension, and infrastructural development.
These programs were instigated and largely funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, along with the Ford
Foundation and among other major agencies.
Many agronomists state that the Green Revolution has allowed food production to keep pace with
worldwide population growth while others state that it caused the great population increases seen today.
The Green Revolution has had major social and ecological impacts, making it a popular topic of study
among sociologists.
The term "Green Revolution" was first used in 1968 by former, USAID director William Gaud, who noted
the spread of the new technologies and said, “These and other developments in the field of agriculture
contain the makings of a new revolution. It is not a violent Red Revolution like that of the Soviets, nor is it a
White Revolution like that of the Shah of Iran. I call it the Green Revolution."

Components of New Agricultural Strategy consisted of

• H Y U programme
• Multiple cropping programme
• Integrated Development of dry areas

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

• Plant Protection measures

• Increased use of fertilizers
• New irrigation concept
• Water management.

H Y V Programme
Short duration crops (110-140); -Dwarf varieties –Susceptible to pests;- Irrigation is a
precondition. Treated seeds, plant protection, recommended doses of fertilizers are the
features of GR.

Norman Borlaug C. Subramaniam Dr.M.(Monkombu) Multiple Cropping

S.Swaminathan
Cultivating more than
one crop in a calendar
year
Double cropping, triple
cropping.
Full utilization of farm
labor increased returns
Rain fed - Dry Area
Pioneers of Green Revolution
Cultivation
128 districts rainfall medium (375 to 1125 mm)
It require different cropping pattern.

Evaluation
Disparities both at the village and national level increased]
Benefits cornered by the rich
There is no spectacular increase in the production except wheat

Target Group Approach

Economic growth based on “Trickle down” or “Percolation effect”
Its failure.

Concept
Small holders whose holding was less than 2 hectares comprised 52% of the rural house
holds; agricultural laborers 24%Totally 74% of the rural households were simply by passed
by the agricultural development – This created tensions at the micro level- those who were
excluded from the benefits of economic development needed direct assistance.

-NAS was biased towards big farmers

Those who needed assistance grouped into
-small farmers (1 to 3 hectare)
-marginal farmers (below 1 hectare)
-Agriculture Laborer (rural households which derive more than 50% of their income from
agri. Labor)

Programme components
• For small farmers –assisting them in such a way that can engage in profitable farming.
• For M F and A L – Generation of supplementary income employment through agriculture
and allied activities.

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Introduction to Rural Community Development

Programme
• Rural artisan Programme
• Antyodaya Programme
• Rural works programme
• Crash scheme for employment
• Pilot intensive rural employment scheme
• Employment guarantee scheme
• Food for work programme
• National Rural Employment programme
• Rural Landless employment Guarantee Programme
• I R D P; TRYSEM

Growth Centre Approach

Concept
We do not have enough resources to provide all service and all development programme to
all settlements. Furthermore we need quick returns for all over investments to build up our
capital supply for further investment. selective and appropriate location is most relevant in
our context.
• When new activities or services are proposed, the location of such services become
extremely important. An appropriate location of new activity may start a chain reaction of
development with far reaching effects.
• It is not possible to do everything nor to act everything nor to act everywhere at once. In
all regions or areas there tended to appear certain points around which the rural life
revolved. It is a task to identify these points and to facilities the process of rural socio-
economic transaction.
• Growth does not appear everywhere and all at once; it appears in points or development
poles with variable intensities; it spread along diverse channels and with varying terminal
effects to the whole of economy.
• It is important to provide growth impulses in the right places and in right proportions.
• Uneven impact to the past development approach – regional disparities must be removed.
• Integrated development means functional and spatial integration.
• Functional – appreciating the inter relationship between various sectors i.e. social and
economic
• Spatial –appreciating that proper location is having definite influence on development.
• We need more than 12,000 new market towns.

Meaning
Growth centre approach suggests a frame work for decentralizing economic and social
activities by locating specific functions in appropriate locations. The network thus created
provided a meaningful infrastructure which can attract and sustain a diversified but a growth
economy.

Growth centre are defined as those focal points around which the rural life tends to revolve
for such socio economic services such as trade, transport, communications, agricultural
inputs, finance administration, education and health.

In growth centre approach the economic relationship between the town and the surrounding
villages was conceived to be one of mutual dependence.
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Introduction to Rural Community Development

Pilot Research Projects on Rural Growth Centre (1969) 20 Growth Centres were identified –
Namakkal in Tamil Nadu.

Backward Area Development Approach

Area with low per capita income is regarded as backward areas

The reasons for backwardness are many

Drought – low rainfall (400-1200mm) adverse climate and soil conditions –drought is a
temporary phenomenon.
Backward – absence of industries i.e. economic backwardness -Absence of natural resources
Hill Areas – Remoteness

National Development Council (NDC) in 1968 established two groups to suggest measures to
improve backward areas.

1.B.D Pande Committee To suggest criteria to identify backward

(working group to identify backward areas) areas
2.N.N. Wancho Committee (working To suggest incentives to promote backward
Group for recommending fiscal and areas.
financial incentives)

Criteria to identify Backward Status

1. Total per capita income 2.Percapita income from industry and mining 4.Number of
workers in registered factories 5. Per capita annul consumption of electricity 6. Length of
surface roads 7. i.e. A.P., H.P., M.P., J&K; Bihar; Rajasthan.

Criteria identify backward districts

1.District outside the radius of 50 miles from larger cities or large industrial projects
2. Low per capita income. 3.Low percentage of factory employment 4.Percentage of SC
Population 6.The radio of population to the cultivated land. 7. Ratio of urban – rural
population 8.Availability of transport, Communication and other services 9.Level of literacy
10. Availability of water and electricity.

Fiscal and Financial incentives for promoting

1.Exemption from income tax, excise duties for 5 years payment of import duties, sales tax.
2.Grant of higher development rebate.
3.Transport subsidy for taking finished products to market place for 5 years.
4.Supply of developed plots, build up accommodation, low interest, credit and machinery.
5.Preparation of feasibility and entrepreneurial development.

Policies to Promote Backward Areas

1. Inter regional allocation policy in favor of backward areas.

2. An incentive policy to attract investment.
3. Adoption of area specific, problem oriented sectoral programme
4. A sub-plan approach

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 S.Rengasamy –Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction to Rural Community Development

Drought Prone Area Development (DPAD) Programme

irrigation, land development, afforestation, grass land development, rural electrification.

Hill Area Development Programme

-Horticulture, plantation, agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, bee keeping, forests, soil
conservation, village industries.

Coverage
Backward Area Development -230 districts
Drought Prone Area Development 57 districts
Hill Area Development – 15 districts

Minimum Needs Basic Needs Approach

Concept

All the other approach directly attempted to increase the economic growth believing in that
economic growth alone will bring necessary benefit.

Minimum needs approach consider that population is not a burden- population possess certain
resources if necessary inputs are provided to develop human resources, human skills can
substitute other skills to remove the economic and social problems.

Meaning
Need is a state of deprivation which prevents effective utilization of one’s potential.
Minimum of one’s potential.
Minimum needs approach is a set of structured and integrated social programmes to satisfy
the basic needs of the people.

-MNS – is both a means and an end.

-MNS- distributive not redistributes
-MNS – dissolver of conflict
-MNS –not a sectoral activity

Components of Minimum Needs

Myrdal ILO World Bank

Food & nutrition Food Health
Clothing Shelter Nutrition
Housing & sanitation Cloth Education
Health facilities Individual level
Education Drinking water
Information media Sanitation
Energy consumption Public level
Transport Transport, Health, education

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