Block-level planning

BLOCK-LEVEL PLANNING makes a fer vent case for changing the whole planning process. In the interest of distressed sections of the society, the level at which planning is done must be much lower than the national, state or even district level in this country. Second, the results of contemplated schemes should be widely disseminated in order to create social awareness, increase public knowledge and create commitment to the progress of the block/cluster of villages through a feeling of active participation in the decision-making process. Third, a con certed effort must be made to uplift the wea ker sections of the society. Fourth, the con cept of the autonomous individual should give way and social solutions should be found to the various problems. And, lastly, till every village is able to have its own effec tive Village Council, the role of certain com mitted persons working as members of voluntary bodies should not be under estimated.

The book discusses the new approach to planning, the collection, retrieval and utili sation of pertinent socio-economic and tech nical data, and the need for planning of cer tain social services. For immediate guidance and consultation of those who would like to participate in the preparation of such plans, a set of questionnaire, that are used in col lecting relevant data about the study area and the representative households, is given as appendices.

The book should be useful to students of area planning, socio-economic surveyors, regional planners, organisations engaged in the task of preparing and implementing small project proposals and the government offi cials in development departments at the state, district and block levels.