Development and social justice

Despite over forty years of planned socio-economic development, the lot of the poor in India has not improved sub stantially. There is now a growing feeling that the only solution is for the people especially the lower castes, tribals and the marginalised to organise them selves. This has resulted in the phenomenon of voluntary social action which is not only responsive to the needs of the local populace, but promotes self organisation and collective conscious ness among the poor.

This pioneering book provides, perhaps, the first systematic evaluation of the way in which such grass-roots organisations actually work in practice. Prof Anil Bhatt has studied thirty-eight groups set up by tribal youth in the rural areas of Gujarat. He examines the man ner in which these groups promote the socio-economic development of their members while not forsaking the wider struggle for their rights.

After outlining the genesis and struc ture of these groups, the author discus ses their activities in the areas of economic development, social action, social reform and conscientisation. He also looks at the way in which they interact with the political and bureaucra tic environment. In the process, Prof Bhatt addresses certain basic questions concerning the limitations of such micro action groups in the macro context of the effort to establish a more just and egalita rian social order.

Utilising extensive field study, inter views and quantitative data, the author has presented detailed case studies to provide an in-depth examination of vol untary social action by weaker sections in India. This book will be widely wel comed by activists, planners bureauc rats, trainers, social scientists and all those concerned with the development of the poor.