“Socio-Economic Impact of Samaj Shilpi Dampati Scheme on Integrated Agricultural and Rural Development in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh: A Critical Analysis”
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Date
2009
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Abstract
Deendayal Research Institute (DRI), established by Nanaji Deshmukh in 1969, has been
working for the upliftment of the poor and the underprivileged in the Bundhelkhand
region in central India. In January 2002, DRI had initiated an integrated approach to
rural development comprising components of agriculture, income generation,
entrepreneurship development, health, education and litigation free villages, in the
name of Village Self Reliance Campaign (VSRC). Under this campaign, DRI took
upon itself the task of making 80 villages in the I phase and 420 villages in the II
phase to be self-reliant in all components mentioned above. I phase was completed
by January 2005 and II phase would be completed by August 2010. The key
component of the VSRC is the Samaj Shilpi Dampatis, a newly wed graduate couples
that have a sense of commitment towards community service, and live and work
with villagers for a period of five years. SSD acts as nodal point for all interventions
by DRI units.
The study was conducted in the Chitrakoot district of the Uttar Pradesh. It was
aimed to study the philosophy, origin, process and functioning of the scheme along
with its socio-economic impact on respondents. The facilitating and inhibiting factors
and strategies for upscaling were also studied. SSDs live in a village and work for a
cluster of five villages. This cluster of five villages is called a SSD unit. Five such SSD
units were selected randomly. Hundred beneficiaries were selected randomly for
primary data collection, 20 respondents from each village. Five SSDs and twenty staff
members of various DRI units were also selected for primary data collection.
The study has shown that SSDs, the grassroots level functionaries possessed a very
high level of achievement motivation, organizational commitment, dedication, faith
in people, empowerment, and development orientation. The scheme had a great
impact on beneficiaries in their raise in income, savings, and increase in employment
days in general and in off-season, in particular. Majority of the respondents
especially marginal and small farmers adopted either 1.5 or 2.5 acre model that
helped ensure food security for their families throughout the year. Adoption of
kitchen gardens in their homesteads helped secure nutritional security for the family
members. The village sanitation, health and hygiene of respondents had improved a
lot. Creating social infrastructure had paramount effect in successful mobilizing of
villagers and the sustainability of the scheme even after SSDs had left the village.
The SSD scheme was cost-effective, efficient and worked for the integrated
development of villagers, especially the poor and the marginalized. This desi concept
of rural development needs to be considered for upscaling in other parts of the
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country and other developing countries. Factors essential for upscaling have to be
considered and suitable strategies needed for the same have to be devised before
upscaling. The model held a great hope for government departments, NGOs, and
voluntary organizations, who wish to work at grassroots level.
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t-8171