Interaction

In a study conducted in the Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh in India on the impact of Samaj Shilpi Dampati (SSD) scheme on integrated agricultural and rural development, various facilitating factors that helped in successful implementation of the programme and strategies for upscaling the scheme were studied. For studying facilitating factors, 30 respondents including 10 SSD functionaries (5 couple) selected randomly and 20 staff from various units of DRI was interviewed using a pre-tested structured schedule.

The facilitating factors were listed and rank ordered based on the frequency each factor was quoted by resondents. Then facilitating factors were categorised into three sub components i.e. those related to ‘Innovative Approach and Concept of SSD and VSR Campaign'; ‘Situational Factors and Village Group Dynamics'; and ‘Capabilities of Field Functionaries and DRI Infrastructure ’. The study had shown that factors such as-villages where SSD lived, villages with less population and support and cooperation from villagers acted as facilitating factors and were quoted by more than 90 per cent of respondents. More than 83per cent of respondents also opined that villages where tribal/SC/ST/backward communities lived saw better progress of development. More than 66per cent of respondents also quoted villages where no single caste or few castes were in majority as one of the facilitating factor.

Factors such as organizational commitment and dedication of SSDs and staff and their high educational qualification were quoted by more than 93 per cent of respondents. Social security of respondents, their managerial and leadership abilities and the credibility of DRI were quoted by more than 80 per cent of respondents. Infrastructure and resource base of DRI was quoted by more than 60 per cent of respondents. Creation of four organisations in each village-namely, village development council, youth organisation, women organisation and entertainment organisation-was quoted by more than 90 per cent of respondents. More than 80per cent of respondents felt that component of ‘dispute free villages ’and mobilising of resources from within the village for development works have facilitated the successful running of the scheme and progress and development of the villages.