Community Organisation Notes

Unit 1
1.1 Definition

Meaning:

Before we get to know more about community organisation as the method of social work, let us
first understand the meaning of the term we use. The term community organisation has several
meanings. It is being often used synonymous to community work, community development and
community mobilization. In general, community organisation means helping the community to
solve its problems. In the context of social work profession in India, the term is used to denote a
method of social work to intervene in the life of a community.

In sociology we learn that society and social institutions are more than just a collection of
individuals. They include how those individuals are linked to each other. They are sets of systems
such as economy, political organisation, value, ideas, belief systems, technology, and patterns of
expected behaviours (social interaction). It means that just collections of individuals living at a
common place are not necessarily organized. To call them organized they needs to have a set of
common ideas and expectations. This gives them a social structure and some social processes that
make the organisation something (social). It goes beyond the very individuals that compose the
community.

Further it is important to note that just forming various groups in community having some
structure or form (e.g. having a president, treasurer, secretary, etc.) does not make the community
organized. It is not the multiplicity of institutions, interest groups or set of activities, which make
the organized community, for it, may create more conflicts and disrupt the normal life. Thus the
important determining factors of community organisation are interaction, integration and co-
ordination of the existing institutions, interest groups and activities, and evolving new groups and
institutions if necessary to meet the changing conditions and needs of the community.

Definition:

To study and to be able to engage in community organisation practice it is necessary to have a

clear definition. There are several definitions available in literature, which are put forth at
different times and context. The common element in most of them is matching resources to needs.
We will discuss here two most widely accepted definitions of community organisation.

Murray G. Ross (1967) defines community organisation as a “process by which a community

identifies its needs or objectives, gives priority to them, develops the confidence and will to work
 at them, finds resources (internal and external) to deal with them, and in doing so, extends and
develops co-cooperative and collaborative attitudes and practices in the community”.

In this definition by “process” he meant a movement from identification of a problem or objective

to solution of the problem or attainment of the objective in the community. There are other
processes for dealing with community problems, but here he called the community organisation
process that by which the capacity of the community to function as an integrated unit grows as it
deals with one or more community problems. The task of the professional worker in community
organisation is to help initiate, nourish, and develop this process. His task is also to make this
process conscious, deliberative, and understood.

“Community,” in the sense in which it is used here, refers to two major groupings of people.
Firstly it may be all the people in a specific geographic area, i.e., a village, a town, a city, a
neighborhood, or a district in a city. In the same manner it could refer also to all the people in a
province or a state, a nation, or in the world. Secondly, it is used to include groups of people who
share some common interest or function, such as welfare, agriculture, education, and religion. In
this context community organisation may be involved in bringing these persons together to
develop some awareness of, and feeling for their “community” and to work at common problems
arising out of the interest or function they have in common.

The second definition that we discuss here is by Kramer and Specht (1975), which is in more
technical terms. They defined that “Community organisation refers to various methods of
intervention whereby a professional change agent helps a community action system composed of
individuals, groups or organisations to engage in planned collective action in order to deal with
special problems within the democratic system of values.”

According to their explanations it involves two major interrelated concerns: (a) the interaction
process of working with an action system which includes identifying, recruiting and working with
the members and developing organizational and interpersonal relationships among them which
facilitates their efforts; and (b) the technical tasks involved in identifying problem areas,
analyzing causes, formulating plans, developing strategies and mobilizing the resources necessary
to effect action.

The analysis of both these definitions reveals that they cover the “Need-Resources Adjustment”
approach, “the Social Relationships” approach and a combination of the two ideas of meeting needs
and development of co-operative attitudes.

The distinguishing features of community organisation practice are derived largely from the three
dimensions. (1) The nature of its setting and focus- the community and its problems, 2) from the
nature of its goals – enhanced functional capacity of the community and its ability to influence the
social welfare policy and 3) from the techniques it employs towards effecting the inter-personal and
inter-group relationships of the members of the community. The statements defining community
organisation method stress individually or in combination the above three factors and also refer to
clientele and the total process to which the method is applied.

1.2 History

In a broad sense we can say wherever people have lived together, some form of organisations has
emerged. These informal associations of people always tried to do good to the people in need and
protect the rights of the society. On the contrary the history talks about the formal organizations
which were set up for the welfare of the community. The first efforts at community organization
for social welfare were initiated in England to overcome the acute problem of poverty, which led
to beggary.

The first effort of its kind was the Elizabethan poor law (1601) in England, which was set up to
provide services to the needy. Another important landmark in the history of community
organization is the formation of London Society of organizing charitable relief and repressing
mendicancy and the Origin of the settlement house Movement in England during 1880.

In fact, these movements had a major impact in the United States of America. In 1880 the
Charities organization was set up to put rational order in the area of charity and relief. The major
community organization activities in the United States could be classified in to three periods:

The Charity organization period. 1870-1917:

This era is the beginnings in social welfare in USA. The first citywide (COS) Charity organization
Society was established in the Buffalo in 1877 in USA. This movement was started with the
influence of London Charity organization established in 1869. In USA, Rev.S.H.Gurteen, an
English priest who had an association with London Charity association and had moved to Baffalo
in 1873 gave the leadership to this movement an English priest who had an association with
London Charity association and had moved to Baffalo in 1873. With in a short span of six years
the COS had reached to more than 25 American cities.

Charity organization was concerned about two things:

Providing adequate personal services to families and individuals in need

Take steps to address the issues/problems in social welfare.

Apart from this services the COS also took initiatives in promoting co-operation among the
various welfare agencies. From this movement of charity organization emerged many other such
service oriented organisations i.e. Social service exchange, Community welfare councils, councils
of social agencies

2. The rise of Federation 1917 to 1935

It is period where we can see the growth and development of chests and councils. It started with
the rise of war chests in 1917 and ended with the enactment of social security act, which set the
stage for development of the public welfare programs in 1935. A large number of chests and
councils came up after world war 1.The American Association for Community Organization was
organized in 1918 as the national agency for chests and councils and it later became known as
community chests and councils of (CCC) America. The Cincinnati Public Health Federation,
established in 1917 was the first independent health council in American City. It is in this period
that the American Association of social workers organized in 1921, the first general professional
organisations, set up its training for the social workers and others who specialized in community
organization.

A community chest is a voluntary welfare agency, co-operative organization of citizens and

welfare agencies, which is the powerful local force for community welfare origination that
handles large funds. It has two functions. It raises funds through a community -wide appeal and
distributes them according to a systematic budget procedure. Secondly it promotes co-operative
planning. co-ordination and administration of the communities social welfare.

3. Period of Expansion and professional Development 1935 to present time.

It is in this period the we see the greater use of the community organization process in the filed of
public welfare. A marked significance of this era is the establishment of Federal Security Agency
where we see the maximized involvement of the Govt. in welfare programs. In 1946 the agency
was strengthened and re-organized following which in 1953 Department of Health, education and
Welfare was established.

Another important factor of the period is about the professional development that took place.
Some of the important professional developments are:

The National Conference of Social work in 1938-39 undertook a study on community

organization, which later publicized the nature of "Generic Community welfare organization".
Based on this another study took place in 1940, but due to America involvement in World War II
an active program could not take off.

In 1946, at the National conference of social work in Buffalo, the Association of the study of
community organization (ASCO) was organized. The main objective was to improve the
professional practice of organization for social welfare. In 1955, ASCO merged with six other
professional organisations to form the National Association of social workers. Community
organization has been recognized as integral and important aspect of social work education in the
American Association of Schools of social work education. At present thee is an active committee
of Council on social work education involved in the production of teaching materials in
community organization.

The first contemporary textbook on community organization titled " Community Organization for
social welfare " published in 1945 has been written by Wayne McMilen's .

Another development in the history of community development is seen in the wake of World War
II. Wartime needs were very special and crucial. During this time many councils and community
war services came to the forefront. Among them (USO) united service organization is of prime
importance as it was the union of many forces that served the needs of the military personnel and
defense communities. The other striking characteristics of the period is the immense increase in
the volunteer service i.e. defense council, American Red Cross and USO which co-ordinated and
recruited the volunteers.

Another development that took place at the wartime is the growth of closer relationship between
labor and social work, which is considered as great significance to community origination.

The other developments that took place after the World War II are as follows that are very
specific to community organization area as follows.
The rehabilitation of the physically and mentally challenged

Mental health planning, problems of the aging

Prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency.

In order to address theses issues separate bodies were set up and we see the entry of international
agencies in the field of community origination. The present situation in community organization
is the emergence of the new community development programs, which aims at providing, services
to the less developed areas in the international social welfare. Therefore the present agenda is on
working with the whole community and a greater emphasis on self -help.

COMUNITYORGANISATION IN U.K:

Baldock (1974) has summed up the historical development in U.K. by diving it in to four phases.

The first Phase: - 1880-1920: During this period the community work was mainly seen as a
method of social work. It was considered as a process of helping the individuals to enhance their
social adjustments. It acted as major player to co-ordinate the work of voluntary agencies.

The second phase: - 1920-1950: This period saw the emergence of new ways of dealing with
social issues and problems. The community organization was closely associated with central and
state Govt.'s program for urban development. The important development in this period was its
association with community association movement.

The third phase 1950 onwards: - it emerged as a reaction to the neighborhood idea, which
provided an ideological phase for the second phase. It was period we see the professional
development of social work. Most of the educators and planners tried to analyze the shortcomings
in the existing system. It was also a period where the social workers sought for a professional
identity.

The forth phase: It is a period that has marked the involvement of the community action. It
questioned the very relationship of the community work and social work. It was thus seen as
period of radical social movement and we could see the conflicts of community with authority.
The association of social workers and the community were de-professionalised during this period.
Thus it was during this period the conflictual strategies that were introduced in the community
work, although even now there is no consensus on this issue (Baldock 1974).

HISTORY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN INDIA

A historical account of the community organization is not available in India, as there has been
only a rare documentation on social work literature in general and community organization in
particular.

Community organization has its roots in the Charity organizations in the United States. They
realized the need of the people and tied to organize the people to coordinate their work. The main
activities were social welfare, raising funds, seeking enactment for the social legislation and co-
ordination of welfare activities. The spirit behind all these activities was charity. In India, the very
concept of charity is deep rooted in the religious philosophy. Even before the commencement of
the social work education in India in 1937, the community work was in place. But in the first
phase from 1937 t0 1952 the community work was in a inactive stage. During this period the
social work was in its infancy and not many were employed in the community settings because.
 There were hardly any jobs that provided an opening for community organization. Professionals
preferred to work in casework settings.o

It was in 1952 the community development project was launched in India and with this we find
the emergence of a new era of community work. The basic objective of community development
in India was to awaken the rural people of their needs, instilling in them a sense of ambition for
better life and making them aware of their right and power to find a solution for their problems.
According to Mukerji (1961) Community development is a movement designed to promote better
living for the whole community with the active participation and if possible with the initiative of
community" According to him community development can be divided in to two process.
1.Extension education 2.Community organization. Extension education was expected to improve
the quality of human beings by improving his/her knowledge and skills. By community
organization Mukerji had in mind the setting up of three institutions in the village.

Village Panchayat

The village co-operative

The village school

During this period the push of the community work remained rural where as social work remained
urban in character.

From 1970 onwards we could see a new trend in the community work practice. The social
workers expanded their scope and operational area from their traditional approach of casework. to
other developments fields. For example people working with school children started working with
the community. The Ngo's and voluntary organization adopted a community approach. This shift
has in-fact led to the use of process of community work. By and large the community work has
remained welfare -oriented.

The current phase of community work in India is experiencing a growing dissatisfaction with its
own practice or rather the out come of its practice. So efforts are on to create alternate ways of
working with communities. In-spite of these, the professionals is involved in a variety of projects
in both rural and urban areas to promote better living for the community.

Another trend in the community work is the involvement of the Business houses in promoting
welfare in their neighborhood. This is commonly known as CSR. (Corporate social
responsibilities) The business houses i.e. Tats, Escorts, and some of the multinational companies
too have joined in this venture. This trend has attracted many professionals in this field

The main objective of community development is to develop village communities by methods,

which will stimulate, encourage and aid villagers themselves to do much of the work necessary to
accomplish the desired goals. The changes conceived and promoted should have the involvement
of the people and should be acceptable to them and put in to practice by them.

1.3 Philosophy
 The fundamental aspect of the community organizations is the principle of "Co-operative
spirit" which promotes the people to unite together to address a common issue.

 Community organization recognizes the spirit of democratic values and principles and
community organization is about is creating democratic involvement.
  Organizing is about empowering. When people unite together, barring all discriminations and
get involved in the community organizations, they develop confidence. This empowerment
comes when people learn skills to help themselves and others. The collective action helps in
community building.

 The community organization recognizes the power of individual. It believes, through the
collective strength of the people, better teamwork and adopting scientific methods can make
comprehensive social problems.

 Another Philosophy is that of coordination. It is concerned with the adjustments and inter-
relations of the forces in the community life for a common welfare.

 Community organization is therefore, is a continuous process in which adjustments are made

and remade to keep pace with the changing conditions of community life.

1.4 Principles
 Principle of specific objectives
 Principle of planning
 Principle of peoples participation
 Principle of inter group approach
 Principle of democratic functioning
 Principle of flexible organisation
 Principle of Optimum utilisation of indigenous resources
 Principle of Cultural orientation
1.5 Scope of CO in India
The scope of CO is quite broad since the profession is meant to help the people, interact more
effectively with the world around them. The work is concerned about interaction and relational
aspects of human problems about what is going on.
The mission of community organisation is to serve all people who want to improve the social
functioning – the poor, the rich, minority, majority groups, men, women, able, disabled, the young
and the old. However community organization has devoted its primary attention to people who
are most vulnerable to problems with social functioning. Community organisation is influenced
by the willingness of the society to sanction it to perform its services. It refers to the authorization
approval or permission needed to perform certain actions. The professional community
organisation reflects the rights or authorities given to the worker to provide human service
The scope of co is as follows:
Remedial:
The function refers to any service that counter acts any evil or disaster events
Eg. Flood relief, fire relief, out break of epidemics accidents
Rehabilitation:
Rehabilitation aims at restoring to former privileges. In rehabilitation the person is given of his
rights and privileges for which he is entitled
Eg. AIDS rehabilitation, Leprosy rehabilitation, homes for mentally ill
Preventive:
The preventive scope of co aims at preventing any harm or danger to society. Its aim is to hinder
any calamity that may occur in the society
Eg. Immunisation camps, health camps, awareness programs, education program
Promotive:
 Its aim to move forward to help on the growth and improvement, to advance knowledge and to
raise the society to higher position
Eg. Training programs, group enhancement
Developmental:
It aims at growth, gradual growth in the standard of living of people. It seeks the participation of
the beneficiary in their own development.
Eg. Participatory rural appraisal, developmental program like integrated rural development
programs
1.6 CO as a Method of social work
Co is considered as a method of social work as they share common principles, values and
philosophy
 Co deals with people who face certain social problem. It follows the similar way of problem
solving as that of social work. Eg. Alcoholism, drug abuse
 Co enters into the community only after its acceptance given by the community
 Co never enters into the community with any present motions and judgemental attitudes. It
shows respect for what the community believes in the worth of the individual and ultimately
believes that the community will change.
 Co is not a one man show but it is the entire participation of the community
 A community organiser includes other methods of social work normally case work, group
work, social action while dealing with the community
 In co the worker helps the community to identify its problem analyse it and also find a
practical solution for it
 Like other methods of social work in co the works is not emotionally attached with the
community
 Importance is given to the attitude of empathy and not sympathy
 Once the goal is attained, the community organiser becomes a mere spectator and guides the
community
 As social worker he is trained professionally in this subject, he can handle a community
organisation more effectively
1.7 CO and CD

There is a common philosophical base between community organization and community

development. Both aims to enable people to live happily and fully developed life. Both have basic
faith in the common man and his right to self-determination in the framework of the society. Both
give emphasis to self-help and help the people to help themselves to solve their own problems.
However, community organization and community development should not be considered as
synonymous.

CD is concerned with the promotion of all aspects of life including social, economical and
cultural; both in rural and urban areas. While CO is concerned with adjustment of social welfare
needs and resources in cities, states, Nations as well as in villages?

CO is practiced in the USA on a voluntary basis. While CD in almost all the developing countries
is a government-sponsored program.

CO is a product of urbanization and industrialization. Here the main concern is problems of the
population mobility, problems of the family, problems of the aged, problems of the juvenile
delinquency, of unemployment and provision of social security. But CD is concerned with how to
induce people to meet their basic human needs.
 CO tends to be more process oriented while CD as practiced in India tends to be target oriented.

Distinction between Community Organization and Community Development

There are many similarities between community organization and community development. But for
theoretical purpose it is possible to differentiate community organization and community
development.
a. Community organization is a method of social work but community development is a
programme for a planned change.
b. Community organization emphasizes the processes, but community development emphasizes
the end or goals
c. Community organizers are mostly social workers and social change agents, But community
development personnel can be from other professions like economics, Agricultural experts,
veterinary experts, and other technical experts.
d. Community organization is not time bound. It is achieved step by step according to the pace of
the people, But community development is time bound and time is specified for achieving the
development.
e. In community organization people’s participation is important. But in community development
people’s development is important.
f. In community organization government and external agencies assistances are not important and
needed. But in community development external especially assistance from the government is
considered as important.
g. Community organization is a method of social work and this method is used in many fields, but
unlike community organization community development is considered as process, method,
programme, and movement for planned change.
h. Community organization is used in all the fields but community development is used in mostly
economic development and for the development of living standards of the people.
i. In community organization planning is initiated by the people participation. But in community
development planning is carried out by an external agency mostly by the government.
j. In community organization people are organized to solve their problem. But in community
development goals have to be achieved and for that people are organized.
k. Community organization is universal to all communities. But community development
programmes differ from people to people and according to the nature of the country.
Even though there are differences, both are interrelated. The relationship is so close, so that
community organization process and principles are accepted fully. Both are like two sides of same
coin. The ideal community development is where community organization method is used
without any mistake.
1.8 Understanding Human Rights in Community Practice
 The words human rights are in our daily vocabulary. They exist mostly as a litany of civil and
political violations. But they can be also understood as a positive and powerful tool for action that
of a unique strategy for human, economic, cultural and societal development
HUMAN RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY
Community development and human rights are two ideas that each require the other and to
establish some communalities in theorising in both the areas. One of the important aspects of
human rights is that they are linked to human responsibilities. This has been a link that many have
sought to deny or at least to minimise. The connection between rights and responsibilities is
obvious. People should be made aware of all their rights in the community
The rights are:
 Right to freedom of expression
 Right to education
 Civil and political rights
 Economic social and cultural rights
 Business and human rights
 Children’s rights
 Sex and gender rights
The strict individualist notion of rights – ‘my rights’ – makes no sense. A sole individual on a desert
island has no rights because there is no body to recognise them ant to accept the responsibilities that
flow for them
In order to be safe from exploited human beings should be made aware of their rights. Equal
participation in community and careful practice of rights makes the community a successful one.
Human rights field needs the wisdom and expertise of community development workers. So much for
the ways in which human rights need community development
Human rights and community development are closely related and each needs in incorporate the
perspective of the other. Community development sees its goal as the establishment of human
community while human rights emphasis the role of achieving a human community
Community development must respect, protect and realise human rights and so it needs to be
understood from a human rights perspective, just as human rights needs to be understood from a
community development
Community development and human rights converges when it comes to the matter of globalisation.
Community development had not only affected by globalisation, as in the attempt to develop some
form of community practice involving globalisation from below, but it also has become appoint of
resistance to the forces of globalisation, given the reaction of localization and the renewed interest in
developing local community – based structures as people feel increasingly by passes by the global
economy and global culture. Similarly, human rights also stand against the current form of
globalisation. Though it is by its very nature a global discourse, the idea of human rights has been
central to the arguments of the anti-globalisation protesters, who claim with justification that
globalisation violates human rights
Community development include analysis of rights and responsibilities, non-violence, the use of legal
conventions, processes and institutions, these are some principles of human rights that are important
for community development so the community development can be a basis for human rights work and
human rights can be a basis for community development

ROLES COMMUNIYT ORGANIZER

Community organizer having the required characteristics and skills and the knowledge about the
process and steps of community organization will be able to apply the same in different settings by
appropriate roles. The different roles of a community organizer are discussed here. These roles are
neither exhaustive nor mutually exclusive.

1. Communicator – the community organizer transfers or transmits information, thought,

knowledge etc. to the members of the community. Sharing of information enables the
community to be better prepared and empowered with information. The communication
between the organizer and the community and within the community is essential. The
people have to be prepared and known about the various effects of consequences of the
community organization process. The communication takes place by individual contact,
group meetings, group discussions, public meetings etc.

At times the community organizer takes an upper hand and considers that the people are
illiterate and ignorant and hence the dealings with the people become a master slave
relationship. In order to avoid any such undesired relationship the community organizer
has transparency and communicates with the people. The communication enables better
interaction which leads to a healthy relationship and cooperation for further action and
response.

The community organizer in order to disseminate the information to the people can use
different techniques like skit, role plays, street plays and audio and vides shows. The
organizer can train the people in all these communicative techniques. This will be more
effective if he is able to organize the small children and train them in this regard. The
children are an effective communicative channel and a fast reaching channel.

The local groups like women’s group, youth groups are other channels for
communication. By giving the responsibility to such groups to communicate to all other
members in the community will also be helpful in reaching out the whole community.
There should not be any secrecy or suppression of information which would only create
undesired results.

2. Enabler – the community organizer facilitates the process in the community for a change.
He does not carry out any work by himself but he enables the community to do the work.
The organizer gives importance to the process than the product. Therefore the people
learn the process rather than worried about the results and consequences of the process.
By the role of enabler the organizer would create independency among the people by
which avoid the dependency syndrome.
 The community organizer is present with the people and encourages and gives different
directions so that the people are able to decide what they would like to do and how they
would like to do. The community organizer only initiates the process and people have to
follow and at the time of difficulties they refer back to the community organizer. There
fore the role of the community organizer is to make the people to understand the process
and to stand on their own.

3. Animator – in any process of community organization the organizer encourages, provides

direction and guide lines to proceed in carrying out the different activities. The people
because of their culture always depend on others and do not want to decide anything on
their own. In such situation the organizer as an animator makes the people to come
forward and take active participation. Any further corrections or modifications in the
works of the community are being done by the animator. The animator plays a vital role
in eliciting the active participation of the people from planning till evaluation especially
ensuring life in all the dealings of the issues and problems.

The people in general do not want to take any risk and at tines they do not even want to
do anything for common good. One of the reasons could be that the people have the
attitude of culture of poverty or culture of silence. This could be changed by the
community organizer by pricking or tickling the conscience of the people through raising
questions. This would further enable them increase their level of consciousness.

4. Guide – the community organizer instead of doing anything on his own guides the
members of the community in the process of community organization. The community
organizer is not a person to shoulder the responsibility or solving problems of the people.
Instead he has to make the people to respond for which the organizer provides the various
avenues and shows different roots while dealing with the community problems. As a
guide the organizer provides the needed information. He has to be a person with lots of
information and ideas. For example in a community there are many educated unemployed
youth and their presence in the community is considered to be more of nuisance than as a
human resource. In such a situation the community organizer should be able to provide
information about the various employment opportunities, and different ways to become
self employed, the terms and conditions for availing credit from the credit institutions etc.
have to be told to the youth. Once the community organizer is able to provide information
which is useful to the people the youth from the neighbouring youth may also approach in
getting some guidance from the community organizer. This would surely fetch credit to
the community organizer as well as gains the good will of the people.
5. Counselor – the community organizer understands the community and enables the
community to understand itself. At the time of difficulty the individuals or the groups are
given the required counseling to proceed in the correct direction. One of the very basic
dimensions of counseling is to be a patient listener. Usually every one likes others to
listen to them and hesitate to listen to others. Moreover as a counselor he has to step into
the shoes of others, understand and respond. People when they are in need there should be
some one to listen to them. When people approach there should be some one to attend to.
In all such situations the community organizer can easily step in as a counselor in helping
the people.

6. Collaborator – the community organizer joins hands in performing his task with his
colleagues with other like minded people and organizations. The organizer has to have
interpersonal relationship and public relation skills. Nowadays organizations approach a
problem not with their personal capacity they also depend on the neighbouring
organization. Similarly other organizations may also look for the cooperation and
collaboration of different organization. There are also organization working towards a
similar problem where in a collaborative effort will strengthen both the organization.
Therefore the role of collaborator is very much needed for net working of similar and like
minded organizations and efforts for a common cause.

7. Consultant – the community organizer enjoys the confidence of the people and advises
them in matters of vital interest. The community organizer becomes a person with lots of
knowledge and information which is being shared with the people. As a consultant the
community organizer makes himself available to the people who are in need because the
community organizer has lots of information and expertise which could be availed by
those who are in need of it. The community organizer instead of working in the filed in
one area will be able to contribute his expertise with many individuals and groups by
performing the role of a consultant.

8. Innovator – the community organizer innovates, performs, and improves the techniques,
content in the process of community organization. This gives a lead to the people of the
community and enables them to try out new ways and means to find solutions to the
needs and problems. The community organization should not be merely for solving
problem alone. On the other hand it has to be in the areas of capacity building of the
individuals and community where the organizer can be an innovator by introducing new
things to improve the capacity of the people. Community organizer is not a person to
 maintain the system that exists but he should be a person to introduced new ways and
means to climb up the development ladder.

9. Model – the community organizer commands perfection as a community organizer and

serves as a source of inspiration. The role of the organizer is to become an example while
working with the people. This should further become as a model which could be applied
in other areas with similar problems. By proper planning in approaching a problem and
execution of the plan and documenting the whole process will be of greater help to others.
The problem solving process becomes a model to others.

10. Motivator – the community organizer stimulates and sustains active interest among the
people for reaching a solution to the needs and problems. The community organizer
encourages the community to take up a minor task and complete it successfully which
would enable the people to take up difficult task. In such a process the people at times
may not take up any initiative or content to live with the existing situation. Therefore the
organizer motivates the people by making them to observe, analyse, understand and
respond to the situation. When people are discouraged because they were not able to
achieve what they wanted or there is resistance and opposition in such situations the
organizer plays the role of a motivator.

11. Catalyst – in the process of community organization the community organizer retains his
identity at the same time enables the people to be empowered. The people gain
accessibility and control over resources and acquire skills in decision making. The
community organizer accelerates the actions and reactions so that people are able to
achieve the desired results. As a catalyst the organizer is able to increase the response
level of the people. The catalyst role further enables the people to become independent
and become expert in responding to their own needs.

12. Advocate – the role of the advocate is to be a representative or persuade the members of
the community and prepare them to be a representative as well as represent the issues to
the concerned body to bring a solution to the unmet needs. The advocacy role is an
important role to the present context. The needs and problems of the people have to be
represented and the required support and networking is essential to increase the pressure
on the oppressive forces. In the role of advocate the community organizer champions the
rights of others. The community organizer speaks on behalf of the community when
community is unable to do so, or when community speaks and no one listens. The
advocate represents the interests of the community to gain access or services or improve
 the quality of services which may be hampered by other forces. An advocate argues,
debates, bargains, negotiates, and confronts the environment on behalf of the community.

13. Facilitator – the community organizer helps the community to articulate their needs,
clarify and identify their problems, explore resolution strategies, select and apply
intervention strategies, and develop their capacities to deal with their own problems more
effectively. A facilitator provides support, encouragement, and suggestions to the
community so that they may proceed more easily and successfully in completing tasks or
problem solving. A facilitator assists the community to find coping strategies, strengths
and resources to produce changes necessary for accomplishing goals and objectives. A
facilitator helps client systems alter their environment.

14. Mediator – the community organizer intervenes in disputes between parties to help them
find compromises, reconcile differences, or reach mutually satisfying agreements. The
mediator takes a neutral stance between the involved parties. A mediator is involved in
resolving disputes between members of the between the community and other persons or
the broader environment.

15. Educator – the community organizer as educator conveys information to the community
and the broader environment. Organizer provides information necessary for coping with
problem situations, assists the community in practicing new behaviors or skills, and
teaches through modeling. The community organizer provides information necessary for
decision making.

Community organization is a macro method in social work. The community organizer with the
required qualities and skills will be able to work with the people. While working with the people of
different background or from different geographical set up the different roles can be applied. All the
roles need not be or cannot be applied in all the settings to all the problems. Moreover there is no one
role which is superior or inferior and while dealing with any problem the organizer has to use more
than one role. Therefore depending upon the situation and the needs and problems of the community
appropriate role has to be applied.

Unit 2
2.1 Definition of Community
A community is a group of individuals in a given area and having a degree of we feeling - Boguardos
J.H Kolb and Brunner has defined a village as ‘a population centre to 250 to 2500 persons and a
hamlet as some what smaller size’
‘ a village is a group of people permanently residing in a definite geographic area having developed a
certain community consciousness and cultural social and economic relations feel that they are separate
from other communities’
Characteristics:
 Social Homogeneity: in thinking, behaving, dressing, action, opinion, morels, customs,
habits, living condition, values and in religious beliefs
 Dominance of primary relationship: there exist face to face relationship and people meet on
regular basis
 Informal Social Control: The life is simple and less problematic its because of the customs
traditions and morals
 Occupation: mainly involved in agriculture and allied activities like animal husbandry and
poultry
 Social Problems: Alcoholism, physical abuse evil habits, smoke, superstitious belief and
suspicious outlook. Caste problem
2.52 Urban
Heterogeneous group, sophisticated, modernisation, pollution, corruption, inter-caste marriage,
literate, densely populated, less of we feeling, less superstitious, Privacy, entertainment, crime rate is
high
A city life has a limited geographical area inhabited by a largely and closely settled population having
many common interests and institutions under a local government, authorized by the state
By urban we mean an area with a high density of population, those place are urban area which have
local authorities like municipality. Minimum population of 5000 will be there in the locality. More
than 75% of the male working population are engaged in non-agricultural work and the density of
population will be at least 900 per km
Characteristics:
 Difference in life style
 Existence of secondary relation: occurrence of face to face interaction is very less and as such
no personal intent of other person is taken account
 Division of labour is present
 Existence of social mobility: irrespective of caste and religion a person in urban has the
flexibility to take upon new status and more forward because of education and other resources
available
 Individualisation: an individual is able to make out his identity regarding education, marriage,
culture and is accepted by other people
 Social tolerance
 Unstable family
 Population density is high
 Problems are slum, crime, lack of intimacy, individualisation, problems of basic facilities.
Criminal and immoral behaviour, gambling, prostitution, drug addiction, alcoholism etc

2.53 Tribal
Schedule tribes are the second largest group of background class. They are still in a primitive stage
and far away from the impact of modern civilisation. They live in the forest area, hilly region,
mountains, and deep valley in India we can find 414 different kinds of tribes. Most of them can be
seen in Nagaland, Meghalaya, arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam and UP. Some of the inhabitants
are toda, kodar, Malayan, soliga, koya, paniyar, gavo, limbu
Tribes in India are scattered over north eastern, central and southern zones
A ST refers to the collection of families or group of families bearing a common name, members of
which occupy the same territory, speak the same language, and observe certain taboos regarding,
marriage, profession or occupation and has developed as well as assessed a system of mutualiry of
obligations
Characteristics:
* problems of physical separation: as majority of the tribes live in hills and mountains it
becomes quite difficult to establish relationship with others, therefore socially they are far away from
the civilised world
* Cultural Problem: this can be seen in terms of spirit worship, superstitious belief, black
magic and other practices
* Social Problem: the tribes are burdened by traditions and customs, they have become
victims of superstitious belief, meaningless practices and harmful habits, child marriage, infanticide,
animal sacrifice, exchange of wives
* Economic Problems
* Unemployment and underemployment
* Non-availability of banking facility
2.6 community power structure
2.61 Concepts of power

Concept of power

Power means an ability to influence, in community organization. That is influencing community

members to act up on as directed by the leaders to achieve the community goals. The community
power aspects can be studied. This is called as power structure of the community. The power structure
of the community varies according to the community.
2.62 Dimensions of community power relevant to co

The Dimensions of Power

According to social workers, power is the ability to influence the beliefs and behavior of others
according to wish or plan. In other words, power is the ability to make things happen. Floyd hunter
explained the nature of power and power structure. Power appears in numerous forms and in a variety
of combinations. Power flows from many sources. The money, votes, laws, information, expertise,
prestige, group support, contacts, charisma, communication channels, media, social role, access to
rewards, position, titles, ideas, verbal skill, ability to gratify important needs, monopoly of essential
resources, alliances, energy, conviction, courage, interpersonal skills, moral convictions, etc. are some
of the sources of power. The accumulation of power in a specific area is called as a power center.
Power is also distributed. It is not confined within the power center. It is present at every level of the
society. The powerless people do have power. They have to discover their power. Power may be
ascribed by formal delegation or by title. Power may be achieved by many ways. For example,
through competence, ability, or by personality etc. power can be achieved. Generally groups of people
are at the top of the community. They are called as power centers at the top of the power pyramid.
They influence the community through formal and informal connections. They influence through sub-
ordinate leaders who do not participate in community decision-making process. The rich people are
mostly powerful. In some communities multiplicity of power structure is noticed. Power structure is
also flexible in nature. The community Organizer has to study the following ‘ How do some people
influence the action of others? Who wields the power? How? What are the issues? What are the
results? These aspects are to be analyzed by the organizer for effective practice of community
organization. This is called as community power structure analysis. It is called as power because some
people are capable of action in spite of the resistance of others who are participating in the action.
Some people are powerful because they knew each other personally and they interact frequently
making them involve in joint efforts in community affairs. People with power, make major
community decision where as others are active in implementing such decisions. An organizer who is
able to study the power structure well can practice community organization effectively. For example,
the village traditional leader is a powerful person. The leader can influence other people to act. Many
times this leader is motivated to involve in achieving the goals of the community. The leader is
capable of influencing people effectively. When there is opposition from a few men, it can be tackled
by the leader because the leader has power.
In the community power is distributed. Each power center tries to expand its influence over the
distribution of resources and rewards. The various power centers enter into an alliance. They share
power, enter into a contract and discharge obligations. Power does not come to the passive, timid,
defeated, persons. Energetic, courageous, persons wield it. The people with power tend to join
together based on issues. The basis for alliance are ideological, personality similarities, needs, or to
achieve the goals. Power possessed is always used. It can be used for achieving the goals. The power
can be intellectual, political, social, and psychological power. To retain power there is a need for self-
awareness and self control. The decision-making is the source and out come of the power. Some times
there is a possibility of many number of power centers. Each power center may be autonomous. The
organizer needs knowledge, and ability to mobilize the power in the community for achieving the
goals of the community.

There are techniques for mobilization of power.

a. Appealing to the persons with power, who are related with achieving the goal
b. Relating the power centers directly to the goal

c. Developing interdependence among power centers for fulfilling the goals.

d. Formation of new groups by including members of power centers to achieve the goals.

e. Encouraging members of power centers to join with other members of power centers to
achieve the goal
 f. By using group work methods, new larger power centers can be strengthened to achieve the
goals.

Saul Alinsky and Richard Cloward used the changing of power centers. [1960]. The power center
change is achieved by institutional changes. Saul Alinsky gave importance for grass-root
approach. In grass-root approach lower level people should get deciding power. Power and
authority are connected. Authority is the legitimatization of power. These details are used in
community organization to achieve people’s participation and successful achievement of the goal.

The Relevance of power in Community Organization.

Development is influenced by power structures of the community. People who are influential can
mobilize a major segment of the community. For example; in fund raising drive some people can
move behind other people and institutions. There are two models of community power structure. The
stratification model and the pluralist mode are the two models of power structures. Stratification
model suggests that social class principally determines the distribution of community power.
According to this model the power structure in community is composed of stable upper class elite
whose interest and out look on community affairs are relatively homogeneous. According to pluralist
model, it rejects the idea that a small homogeneous group dominates community decision-making.
But there are numerous small special interest groups that cut across class lines, which are represented
in the community decision-making. These are interest groups with overlapping memberships, widely
differing power bases, have influences on decisions. Community decisions are the result of the
interactions of these different interest groups. This theoretical orientation can help the community
organizer in his action. The organizer has to identify the members of the power structure for
community organization. Floyd Hunter an executive director of a community welfare council wrote
classic volumes on community power structure. His method of locating community elites is known as
the reputation approach. The basic procedure is to ask a group of informants who are knowledgeable
about the community to list the people they believe to be most influential in the community affairs.
There may be variations on this procedure with regard to how informants are selected, and how
questions are put in. By tallying those people most frequently named as influential leaders we can
identify the core of the community power structure. Position approach is another method of locating
the members of the power structure based on the assumption of stratification model. This approach
assumes that people holding the highest office in the community are at the top of the power structure.
By scanning the executive lists of the important social political and economic organizations in the
community, one can quickly compile a list of members of the power structure. This approach requires
fewer efforts than the reputation approach. Community power is directly related with Community
Organization. Participation of people is related with power. In Community Organization community
power holders are involved to induce people’s participation in order to achieve the organizations
objectives. Some times if the existing power centers are not for Community Organizational objectives,
then a new center of power is created to get people’s commitment and mass participation. The
organizer needs to study power structure and Community Organization process is carried out
successfully through leaders. For example, people are organized to implement family planning. For
this the leader is motivated for people’s participation. In some villages the leader opposes family
planning. In this situation the community organizer has to identify a new powerful leader to
implement family planning. Other wise it is not possible to implement family planning in the village.

2.7 Community Dynamics

Community consists of group of individuals with certain pattern of likeness in values, attitudes and
beliefs.
2.71 Integrative and disintegrative forces
Integrative forces:
A community is a dynamic entity. It is a web of social relationships. Hence its integration depends
upon the organisation of these social relations. Integrative forces must be harmonising and unity of
the social relations. This also for it is the proper organisation of those elements. Hence for these to be
a community integrative approach it is important that the various components of the community are
organised. The factors are:
Socialization: it helps the individual to acquire and develop social qualities and the patterns of social
life. This creates harmony in their mutual relationships irrespective of the various differences
Common Aim: It is the general or mutual aim and objectives of the individual in the society. The
bond that ties the members of the society together is non other than that of common aim and
aspirations.
Active Relation between Cultural Elements:
The community integration is based upon the organisation of the elements of culture. Hence the active
relationship between the various cultural elements is an important characteristic of integration
Disintegration
Disintegration forces act as a medium for social stratification and blocks the overall development of a
community. The disintegrative forces bring about certain negative actions, behaviour and pattern in a
community. They distort the day to day living of the people. Though the disintegrative forces
encourages stratification and puts forth imbalance in a community it has to be noted that their
contribution for the functioning of the society is vital. The disintegrative forces can be viewed in form
of caste, class, race, religion, education, money power, crime and other social evils.
2.72 Participative groups and groupism
Participative Groups
Participation necessarily means direct involvement of the people and not indirect involvement through
representation. Participative groups can be viewed in:
← * decision making process
← * implementation of development programs
← * Monitoring and evaluation the program
← * sharing the benefits of development
← The importance of group participation can be accessed if we attempt to answer questions like
1. Why participation? a) Participation is an input to development. b) As a means of
empowering the people to play an effective role in development 2. Who all participate? A)
The people of the masses who are deprived of the basic communities and whose well being is
 to be developed b) the government functionaries who are agents of development 3. How to
ensure participation? a) group participation depends on a number of factors one crucial factor
is the existing socio-political economic system the cultural values and the ways in which
various development activities are carried out
Groupism:
Groupism is the aggregate of persons which is like a unit and whose members have some common
aim, interest, stimulations and emotions together with mutual social relation and social interaction.
The members of a group are related to each other through a sense of unity and we feeling. It is quite
important to note that in groupism, the group has control over the actions of members of the group.
2.73 Functions of subgroups

Subgroups
Sub groups and the relationship between subgroups are probable factors which strongly influence
community integration. If for example one finds in a community a Harijan group whose marked
cohesiveness is an important aspect of the opposition and hostility to the vaniar group in the same
village, there is a sub group configuration which makes community integration very difficult, as also a
sub culture pattern which supports the difference at the expense of similarities. The 3 major factors
which are vital for the subgroup adjustment are:
- internal: within the subgroup
- the attitude and practice of government administration officers who deal with the subgroups
- Adjustment of the part to the whole ie the subgroup to the community
Function of Sub-Group:
A sub-group is a subordinate group whose members usually share some common differential quality
 to adjust its procedure and plans to meet the feeling and desire of the members
 It provides equal opportunities to all
 It inculcates leadership qualities among members
 To think clearly about its own problems, finding causes and working through to some solution
 It inculcates democratic values
2.74 Minority groups
Louis Wirth a sociologist defined a minority group as ‘a group of people who, because of their
physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for
differential and unequal treatment and who therefore regard themselves as object of collective
discrimination’
Characteristics of a minority group:
 Distinguishing physical or cultural traits, eg. Skin colour or language
 Unequal treatment and less power their live
 Involuntary membership in the group
 Awareness of sub-ordination and strong sense of group solidarity
 High in-group marriage
Types of Minority Group:
 Racial or ethnic minority: every large society contains ethnic minorities. They may be
migrant, indigenous or landless nomadic communities. In some places, subordinate ethnic
groups may constitute a numerical majority, such as blacks in South Africa under apartheid.
 Age Minority: the elderly, while traditionally influential or even (in gerontocracy) dominant
in the past, have in the modern age usually been reduced to the minority role of
economically non-active group. Children can also be understood as a minority group in these
terms and the discrimination faced by the young is known as adultism. Discrimination
 against the elderly is known as ageism. Various local and international statutes are in place
to mitigate the exploitation of children, such as the convention on the right to child, as well
as a number of organisations that make up the children’s right movement. The youth rights
movement campaigns for social empowerment for young people and against the legal and
social restrictions placed on legal minors
 Gender and Sexual Minorities: while in most societies, numbers of men and women are
roughly equal, the status of women as a “subordinate” group has led some to equate them
with minorities. In addition, various gender variant people can be seen as constituting a
minority group such as intersexual, transsexual and gender nonconformists, especially when
such phenomena are understood as intrinsic characteristics of an identified group. An
understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as a minority group or groups
has gained prominence in the western world since the 19 th century
 Religion Minorities: persons belonging to religious minorities have a faith which is different
to that held by the majority. Most countries of the world have religious minorities. It is now
widely accepted in the west that people should have freedom to choose their religion,
including not having any religion and including the right to convert from one religion to
another
 Disabled Minorities: The disability rights movement has contributed to an understanding of
disabled people as a minority or a coalition of minorities who are disadvantaged by society,
not just as people who are disadvantaged by their impairment. Advocates of disability rights
emphasise difference in physical or psychological functioning, rather than inferiority
penalizing for inequality. Countries with greater gender disparity in basis capabilities (life expectancy,
educational attainment and income) will have low GDIs compared to their HDI
The GEM is a composite indicator which looks at women’s representation in parliament, women’s
share of position classified as managerial and professional, women’s participation in the active labour
force, and their share of national income. It aims to examine whether women and men are able to
actively participate in economic and political life and take part in decision making