Introduction

Developmental efforts aim at raising the level of well being of all people in the country, especially weaker sections of the society. Post independence even after the passage of half of the century and the expenditure of funds in huge amounts on (a still increasing) large number of development schemes, not much impact on rural development is visible. Many reasons have been quoted as factors for non-implementation or non-sustenance of schemes. However, before giving reasons for such occurrences we need to look at social, political as well as economic indicators of the village. Hence, the critical analysis of the development schemes, operational particularly in the under-developed states has become essential for assessment of relevance of the schemes in terms of percolating their actual benefits to the poorest of the poor. The whole information would help the policy makers in the planning commission not only in economic planning and forecasting but also for a meaningful audit and revival of national/state achievements of growth, development and equity with special reference to the development/welfare schemes.

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Acknowledgements

The study entitled ‘Developmental Schemes: Their Effectiveness In Madhya Pradesh’ was sponsored by the Planning Commission, Government of India, New Delhi. The study provides a critical account of the Development Schemes run by the District Panchayat in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh.

We are extremely thankful to Dr. N.C. Saxena, Secretary, Planning Commission and Shri Minakshisundaram, Advisor, Monitoring and Evaluation Cell, Planning Commission for their support to do this study. Shri P.N. Nigam, Deputy Advisor (ME) and Mr. P.K. Aggarwal, SRO (SER), Planning Commission have inspired the SEPARD team at different stages of the study.

Special thanks are due to Dr. M. Z. Khan for his valuable suggestions at an hour of need. Dr. M.M. Rehman is also thanked for providing the relevant literature on his work. Dr. Mahavir Jain’s contribution orientation and motivation to the surveying team is duly acknowledged.

This study would have not seen the light of the day without the painstaking cooperation of Mr. Manjul Bhardwj and Mr. Murali, the researchers. The village functionaries, panchayat members and the villagers as participants in interviews, group-discussions and case studies, who spent lot of their precious time with the surveying teams, were the resource people.

Many district, tehsil and block level officials helped in various ways in the information and data collection process. It is not possible to name all of them but those who need special mention are Mr. A. K. Tirki, Collector, Hoshangabad, Mr. Aggarwal, BEO, Kesala, Mr. Panchatantra, SDM, Itarsi, Mr. Chaddar, PO, Tribal Welfare, Kesala, Mr. Tomar of Literacy mission, and team of SEPARD, Mr. Gaurav, Miss Rajani, Mr. Veenu Thomas and Mr. Madan for loading the enormous data on the computer.

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