Development of weaker sections : organisational alternatives

Despite three decades of developmental activity and concerted governmental and non-governmental effort, the benefits of development are not reaching the poor of India. Why is it that even the best planned programmes do not accrue to the weaker sections?

To understand this, one has to first compre hend the nature of the developmental pro cess. Such an attempt is made at the commencement of the present work, which after establishing the theoretical foundation of the developmental process, discusses the role of the bureaucracy responsible for the implementation of these programmes. Approaching the problem from the sociologi cal perspective, the study delineates the sociographic background of officials and their functions as against the needs of the small and marginal farmers. Empirically the study focusses on the functioning of the Small Farmer Development Agencies and other development departments involved in implementing programmes for small and marginal farmers. Date has been collected. by interviewing beneficiary and non-benefici ary farmers, and officials from selected villages in Rajasthan.

Evaluating the data, the discussion has been carried out on two lines. Firstly within the theoretical framework, the role of the bureaucracy in the developmental process in general, and in implementing programmes for the weaker sections in particular is considered. Secondly, concluding from data from this project and other studies, the author has stated policy implications for future programmes of this kind.

A well-thought out and analytical study

which can be perused with benefit by rural

sociologists, planners and extension workers

involved in rural development.