With the attainment of independence, the Indian leaders faced the problem of eradication of backwardness of the society and its rapid development. About three-fourths of its population lives in villages and their main profession is agriculture. The development of rural life was the immediate need of free India. A lot of finance is required for developmental activities for such a vast population. It was felt that the developmental projects for rural life could be fruitful only if the people who are directly concerned are involved in the planning and its execution. The rural folk should, of their own, feel the necessity of development, they should feel concerned about it, they should make efforts to find out resources for the developmental activities, and should actively participate in implementing those plans. The government should provide them with guidance and assistance and this should be made available to the people at one centre. Only such a system would bring about their all round development. For this purpose Community Development Projects and Panchayati Raj institutions were started.
Community development
Community Development Programme was drawn up and implemented in India in 1952. It was a revolutionary step towards rural development. Nearly 70% of people in our country live in villages but it is unfortunate that during the colonial rule, the economic and cultural development of rural India remained totally neglected. After independence Indian realised that the nation would make no headway despite its indsutrialisation on a big scale, unless the living conditions in the village also improved. No plan made for the rural development can yield goods results unless the ruralites understand, agree with its aims, accept it is their own, and extend active cooperation in implementing it. Keeping this fact in view Community Development Programme was launched in 1952.
Meaning of community development
Community development schemes have been started not in India alone, but in other countries also. From international view point. It refers to that process through which collective efforts are made by the people and the governments to tone up the economic, social and cultural conditions of the community. These activities bring the village into the main stream of national development.
Relation with economic development
According to Planning Commission, Community Deve-lopment is a “process of change from the traditional ways of living, is a method by which people can be assisted to develop themselves on their own capacity and resources.”
All the above definitions reveal that Community Development Programme is a movement in which all the members of the community, by using their resources and with their own efforts should work for their social, economic and cultural development. They should identify their needs and problems, their resources and the way to improve collectively the quality of life.
Features of community development programme
The main features of the Community Development Programme are as under:
A Movement for Rural Development : The dominant feature of Community Development Scheme is that it is a very progressive step towards rural development. It will lead to multifaced development of village folk who constitute nearly 70% of the total population of India. Earlier attention was given to the development of only urban areas. It was the first time that a serious effort for uplift of village life was made.
Comprehensive Development Programme : Another notable feature of CDS is that it aims at allround improvement in village life. For this reason it includes all the activities connected with village life e.g. agriculture, irrigation, education, transportation, animal husbandry, communication, small scale and cottage industries, cooperation, sanitation, medical aid and health service.
Cooperative Programme : Community Development Scheme is a cooperative exercise. It inspires the people to cooperate with one another in improving their living conditions. In addition to seeking co-operation of people, it involves the government machinery and aid. The people spare time and labour while the government provides improved seeds, better tools, latest techniques and scientific knowledge and advice.
Based on Local Initiative : Another salient feature of this programme is that it is based on the initiative of the local people. The residents of rural areas themselves are entrusted with the task of implementing the programme. No external or outside agency can tackle the local problems property. Under the community development programme the village people themselves find out their problems and seek ways to solve them. They make an assessment of their resources, sources of additional funds and the order in which the projects can be taken in hand for execution. It is very obvious that an individual, when he resolves to better his own lot, is able to do the job more successfully than any outside agency.
Self-Reliance : One of the salient features of the community development programme is that it is based on self-reliance. The village folk themselves, with the help of Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samities, prepare the development plans, raise necessary funds, offer free labour and execute the schemes. It is but natural that they should become self-reliant and the projects may also be completed rapidly. Every citizen in such an atmosphere comes forward to take in development work.
Flexible programme : Community Development Scheme is flexible. It can be modified as per need of time, place and situation. A flexible process stands better chances of success.
Aims of the community development programme
It is clear that Community Development Project is the project of all round development of rural life. It lays stress on rural development in every field and it has also been provided that the people of rural areas should get information, assistance, guidance for every type of developmental activities or solution of their rural problems at one centre. This project ensures social, economic and cultural development of rural life in a balanced ways and also infuses spirit of self-reliance, self-confidence and self-government in the rural folk.
The task of implementing the Community Development Programme has been entrusted to the Panchayati Raj Institutions, for example Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samities and Zila Parishads. Block Development Officer (BDO) and his subordinate staff lend help on behalf of the government. They make available all necessary information and material. They also guide the people in respect of developmental schemes.
Panchayati Raj institution
The Planning Commission set up an official committee in 1956 to examine the ways and means for the proper implementation of Community Development Programme. On the recommendation of this committee the Panchayati Raj system was introduced. The beginning was made in Rajasthan on October 2, 1959. Today the scheme is in force in all the sates. The Panchayati Raj Institutions have played laudable role in community development work.
The ‘Panchayati Raj’ does not mean that under this scheme the panchayats were constituted. It refers to that system under which the village people get the right and opportunity to work for all-round development of their village according to their needs, aspirations and capacity. The villagers themselves or through their representatives organise themselves into Panchayats and identify their needs. They deliberate how to procure funds to implement those schemes. They decide on levying taxes and they themselves implement their self-made plans. The government employees help and guide them in the administrative and development activities. The Panchayati Raj is considered as basic unit of democracy of self-government. It stimulates the spirit of self-reliance and self-respect among the people.
Pancahyati Raj is a three-tier structure from the village to the district. The Gram Panchayats are the first units at the bottom level. These have been setup in almost every village. They work independently, run the administration of the village, hear minor disputes for speedy justice, form village development schemes and implement them. Above the gram panchayats are Panchayat Samities. Panchayat Samiti is the intermediate tier of the Panchayati Raj system. It is located at the Block level. It is a vital link between the village and the district. It can be described as the kingpin of the Panchayati Raj system.
At the district level there is Zila Parishad. Its main function is to tender advice to the government relating to development activities in the district and regarding matters of implementation assigned to it by the government. It looks after the development work of the district.
The members of Panchayati Raj institutions are directly elected by the people. Representation is given to the lower bodies in the higher bodies and MPs and MLAs of the area are associated with them.
Role of panchayati raj in community development
The Panchayati Raj institutions play a vital role in the successful implementation of Community Development Programme. Panchayats have been set up almost in every village. Small villages have a common panchayat. At the village level there are two institutions—the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat. The Gram Sabha is the general body of the local people, comprising all the adult eligible voters in village. The Gram Panchayat is a small executive body elected by the village adults. The Gram Sabha meets twice a year and works as the watch-dog of the Panchayat. It considers and approves taxation proposals.
The Gram Panchayat is the basic administrative unit also. It thinks about the development of the village, makes plans and implements them. It maintains the roads, bridges, drainage, lighting and water supply. In certain states, judicial panchayats try petty civil suits and provide speedy justice. It goes without saying that village people themselves know best about their problems and needs. They alone can take keen interst in satisfying their pressing needs. Hence they are the people who can contribute the most in implementing development plans.
Gram Panchayats with their limited means and resources can work on a small level only. Several development schemes cannot be executed on a small scale, and their benefit accrues to several villages not one or two. No single village can raise funds enough to carry out that scheme. Keeping the limitation in view, the Block level Panchayat Samitis are formed. They can undertake bigger plans involving big investment. The executive head of the Panchayat Samiti is the Block Development Officer (B.D.O.) who represents the state government. He implements the decisions taken by the Samiti and is answerable for their execution. He keeps a watch on the panchayats and guides them. What amount the government allocates for the village development is routed through the B.D.O. In this way, the Panchayat Samiti which comprises the elected representatives of Gram Panchayats and the legislators of the area is best suited for carrying out development work.
From above illustrations it is clear that the Pachayati Raj institution like Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads play a significant role in the activities of Community Development.
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