Integrated rural development programme- a case study

Abstract

To have an indepth analysis of the various aspects of Integrated Rural Development Programme in the State, giving more stress to the beneficiaries angle, the present investigation was undertaken under the title “I. R. D. P – A case study”. Awareness of the beneficiaries about the programme and their extent of utilization of the facilities of the programme was measured in this study. Awareness was measured in 3 dimensions viz. awareness about the schemes, about the benefits of the schemes and about the implementing agencies of the programme. The experience of the beneficiaries in the utilization of IRDP facilities and constraints or problems experienced by them were also analysed. The study was conducted in Ollukkara Block of Trichur District. The sample was 120 IRDP beneficiaries consisting of 40 marginal farmers, 40 agrl/non-agrl. Labourers and 40 beneficiaries belonging to Schedule Castes or Scheduled Tribes. Data was collected using an interview schedule and suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of the data. The study revealed that majority of the respondents had medium awareness about the schemes, low awareness about the benefits of the schemes and all beneficiaries had low or medium awareness about the implementing agencies. As far as extent of utilization was concerned, there was absolutely no beneficiary with high extent of utilization. Majority of the respondents had low extent of utilization. Most of the selected independent variables contributed substantially in the case of awareness. But in the case of extent of utilization, only four variables had substantial contribution towards it. The experience of beneficiaries in utilization of IRDP facilities was medium. The analysis of the constraints felt by the beneficiaries revealed that there were a lot of malpractices prevalent in the sanctioning and distribution of assistance, there were undue delays in disbursing the loans and that quality of the products obtained by way of assistance was poor. The results point out vividly to the prime need for a more systematic and effective functioning of the programme with better co-ordination and supervision at all levels in order to have a better image of the programme in the rural sector.