ANANTH, G SANITHA, S2016-10-262016-10-2641841Th-10838http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/82055Karnataka is a leading state in the initiation of decentralization policies and reforms. And also in implementing several types of innovative Governmental programmes for alleviation of poverty in rural areas. This study focused on estimating annual benefit received by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) farmers from Governmental programmes. A sample of 35 SC/ST farmers each from gram panchayaths of good governance (GPGG) and gram panchayaths of modest governance (GpMG) of Sakleshpur taluk, Hassan District had chosen for analysis. Farm family in GpGG received benefit of Rs.17356 (ranging Rs 7590 to Rs. 28900) annually from 8 (ranging 4 to 12) developmental programs incurring transaction cost of Rs. 2330 (ranging Rs. 294 to Rs. 4748) forming 13.42% (ranging 2 to 27 %) of total benefit. Farm family in GpMG received benefit of Rs.10764 (ranging Rs 4798 to Rs.18690) annually from 6 (ranging 3 to 9) developmental programs incurring transaction cost of Rs.1718 (ranging Rs. 104 to Rs. 5324) forming 16% (ranging of 1.67 to 49 %) of total benefit. Transaction cost per program varied from Rs. 304 in GpGG area to Rs. 307 in GpMG area. In GpGG , farmer would gain a benefit of Rs. 11,165 per family per year, if farmer does not incur any transaction cost (i.e. GpGG farmer does not make any effort towards obtaining benefit from governmental program), compared to the GpMG farmers gain benefits of Rs. 6334 per family per year. Good governance in gram panchayaths adds to the tune of Rs 4830 per year per family.enThesis