The importance of community development project in rural development

Community development programme plays a very important role in rural reconstruction. Following are the main importance of community development project.

i) Role in agricultural expansion:

Community development project has put a number of workers in form of Grain Sevaks and Extension Officers in each block. The personnel’s are engaged in the task of bringing about increment in agricultural production. Due to their role, and other financial as well as technical assistance within the provision of the programme there has been a definite increment in this field.

The national statistics about agricultural production shows that the agricultural production has increased by 36 million tons during a period of 13 years. The total amount of production in 1951, before the installing of programme was 50 million tons. The rural farmer is no more that much traditional bound which he was earlier. He is gradually being conversant with the new methods of agriculture and is adopting new equipments. This has been possible due to different demonstration centers, and other via media like film shows, publication of magazines, discussions etc.

A countrywide irrigation facility is being created and many areas have already been benefited by the scheme. The establishment of cold storages and warehouses has helped the rural farmer to a great extent. The development has not been that much distinguishable due to several other factors like rise of population, heavy increase in demand for food grains by every growing industrial workers etc, but looking at the state of agriculture in fifties we can definitely say that there has been considerable increment.

ii) Development of Human Resources:

A countrywide effort for free general education has to certain extent, undone the bad effects of illiteracy. The number of schools, colleges growing up in rural areas is a fair index of it. In field of scientific and technical education the development has not been at all dissatisfactory Gone are the days in which there was a shortage of teachers even for primary education with adequate qualification.

Thus establishment of Agricultural Universities, college of basic science, engineering institutes, university for animal husbandry has gone in a long way to remove the pressure of the death of technically qualified man power to serve the developmental process. In contrary we find a number of unemployed graduate, technically qualified persons who are yet to be used. The awareness among the people for higher education has been stimulated to a great extent.

iii) Organisation of development administration:

The greatest achievement of the community development programme has been the establishment of well structured administrative set up for developmental activities. From the centre to the village a chain of developmental organisation has been created. The establishment of development blocks has really accelerated the process. More than 5,200 blacks have been established ensuring the proper distribution of developmental effort throughout the country. The creation of blocks as units of planning and development has helped to a great extent in reflecting the views and need of the people, in planning and implementation.

More than one lakh personnel’s are engaged in different developmental activities. Though the number of workers has not been sufficient still then it is not so much inadequate at the present context. Now we find one worker for every 4,100 persons as against every 41,000 persons during pre independence period.

iv) Health services:

Another gift of the community development programme is the creation of facilities for public health. The Indian parents are no more that much of UN assured about his survival of their children. The cholera, malaria and other epidemics are no more the mass killers. Thanks to the malaria education scheme and national small pox eradication scheme which has achieved tremendous success.

In place of one hospital in a district or a tahasil we have go to primary Health Centre in every C.D.Block. A medical graduate along with other nurses, mid wives a compounder are serving in each Block. Their role has helped to a great extent in making people conscious about health and sanitation etc.

v) Motivation of people towards nation building:

To make Indian democracy successful, an to evolve a new socio economic order based on economic and social justice, the citizens of the country should be properly motivated towards it and they should actively participate in it.

The community Development Programme has played an important effective role in this direction. Establishment of Panshayati Raj, increase in the number of co operative farms, different voluntary organisation, clubs, service societies etc are the fair index of the increasing motivation of the people in this regard. These institutions and associations have laid the foundation stone for the development of the spirit of community living and public welfare.

The people are gradually learning to share the benefit with prior importance to weaker sections of society. Such a tendency is a great necessary for a developing country where the resources are limited and wants are unlimited. The C.D.P. has stimulated the people and has motivated them to work together for achievement of common need.

vi) Growth of national economy:

Till now agriculture occupies a very important position in country economy. In assessment of national economic growth, it has been found that through other sectors like industry transport, and power have achieved substantial progress still then agricultural products constitute the largest portion of the gross national product. Agricultural sector along contributes 45 to 50 percent of growth in the national output.

It can be said without contradiction that the development of agricultural is directly within the womb of community development programme being a main objective of it. Besides, agriculture the C.D.P. has helped a lot for the increase in animal’s powers by its emphasis on promotion of animal husbandry and veterinary. The expansion of fishery cottage industries, promotion of marketing facilities has been other objectives and achievements. Thus it can sagely be concluded that C.D.P., has contributed a lot towards the growth of national economy. India today is self sufficient in food grains.

vii) Other Welfare Activities: A number of welfare activities have been taken up by C.D.P. for an integrated and all round development. Contraction of village roads, establishment of community centers, different sanitary programmes, organisation of Ramayana and Bhajan Mandals, establishment of ‘Anganbadies’ making arrangement for games, building of better housing facilities and several other can be categorised under this head. There is no part of the country which has not got one or other of these welfare items.

viii) Increase in standard of living:

With respect to the role of C.D.P. in bringing about an increase in standard of living, we find diametrically opposite views. True that, a section of population is yet to get its benefits. Of course, this is due to several other factors. But it can be told without the programme has succeeded in bringing up the standard of living of rural mass. Now-a-days we find a radio set a cycle a watch or either of these in almost all the homes of a village.

The rural women no more stay half necked only with the outer garments. The use of better dress, consumption of better food, taking the helps and services of doctors, nurses etc. Have definitely helped them to have a better standard of living. But such benefits have not been uniformly shared by all the regions and the whole population. But is can be completely denied that the programme has not brought about any change in the standard of living of the people.