Public Administration || Paper 2 || Rural Development

Background

1.   About 60% of population living in villages.

2.   Prior to the encroachment by the British, these were self-sufficient.

3.   Community Development Program started in 1952 with the block development approach.

4.   This was followed by the National Extension Scheme (NES) which covered all the blocks.

5.   This approach did not do well as it failed to garner public support and participation.

1954, Balwant Rai Committee

1.   Democratic Decentralization

2.   3-tier PRIs.

3.   Post this, in 1959 1^st PRI in Naguar District, Rajasthan.

Phases of PRIs

1.   Phase of ascendency 1959-65;

2.   Phase of stagnation 1965-69;

3.   Phase of decline 1969-83;

4.   Phase of revival 1983-present.

1978, Ashok Mehta Committee

1.   Pointed out reason of decline of PRIs – caste considerations; corruption; financial dependency; political interference; power concentration etc;

2.   2-tier system;

3.   Nyaya Panchayat;

4.   Participation by Political parties;

5.   State govt. to have a Panchayati Raj Ministry;

6.   Local revenue generation.

LM Singhvi Committee

1.   Constitutional Status to PRIs;

2.   Gram Sabha and Nyaya panchayat to be the corner stone.

3.   As a result, we saw the 73^rd A Act inserting the 11^th schedule.

Gram sabha

1.   All adult electorates.

2.   Quorum is 1/10^th

3.   Generally meets once or twice a year.

4.   Selection of schemes and beneficiaries.

5.   Budget and other official documents.

6.   In some states like Rajasthan, all residents are members.

7.   Social Audit.

Panchayat Samiti

1.   This is at the Block level.

2.   Members include MPs, MLAs, SDO, Sarpanch, BDO.

3.   BDO also responsible for work of extension officers and the Village Level Workers (VLWs)

Zila Parishad

1.   This is apex body of the PRI hierarchy.

2.   In some state like TN and AP, DM is the chair.

3.   In some states Dist. Development Commissioner is the chair.

Timeline of Important Schemes/Programs

1.   Intensive Agricultural Area Program prior to the Green Revolution.

2.   Drought Prone Area Program (1973);

3.   Area Development Approach;

4.   Command Area Development program.

5.   Desert Development Program (77-78);

6.   Integrated Rural Development Program;