Study on the role of panchayat members in the planning and execution of agricultural production programmes in the Athiyannor N. E. S. block, Kerala

Abstract

A study was conducted with the Presidents and members of the wards of the seven panchayats of the Athiyannoor N. E. S. Block on their role in planning and execusion of Block programmes. The study revealed that a majority of the members always identified and assessed village problems of larger interest, found solutions and gave wide publicity to programmes executed in the Block. But a majority of them only occasionally took responsibilities to execute programmes, considered feasibility and evaluatability of targets and reviewed the progress achieved by the programme of the block. On the contrary opinions and ideas of a sizable percentage of the panchayat members were never shared and they never had timely guidance during the programme planning process. They also never followed a constructive decision making process while planning programmes in their area.