Mobilization in Rural India.

Rural development programmes have been undertaken by the governments of developing

countries not only to uplift the rural poor but also to introduce modern techniques or
innovations for bringing about changes in desirable directions. One of the ingredients for the
success of the programmes is the active association and willing cooperation of the rural
people. How can this be achieved? Two intervention techniques are dis- cussed in depth: the
harmony model and the conflict model. The latter model, the author concludes, has the
potency in mobilizing people at grass roots for effective and active participation.
General socio-economic conditions of the rural poor in most developing countries of Asia and
Africa have resulted in the quest for effective programmes and institutions to assist them. To
the extent the emphasis on and commitment to rural development programmes are genuine,
we can outline some practical guidelines on the kind of administrative and institutional
changes required in rural areas and the possible ways of introducing them.
Some Lessons from Past Rural Development
Programmes several attempts have been made in rural development in various parts of Asia
and Africa, many of which are still continuing. In spite of the built-in bias, some important
gene- realizations about these economies can be made in relation to
(1) The range of administrative and institutional possibilities,
(2) The range of physical environments, and
, (3) The range of social environment.
The following general characteristics can be identified:
1. Widespread poverty in rural areas characterized by low per capita incomes, high degree
of unemployment and under employment and low levels of nutrition.
2. Increasing rate of population growth.
3. Dominance of agriculture in the economy
4. Relatively low level of technology and low productivity.
5. Highly imbalanced land-ownership structure.
6. Dualistic situations characterized by modern enclaves
resulting in unhealthy "pulls" and "pushes."

within

traditional economies

7. Traditional social and economic systems based on personalized relationship and

ascribed status which makes it possible for a small elite group to control major resources
and the socialization process.
Introducing

Innovations

The question, therefore, is how to mobilize rural people to enlist their active support and
cooperation in rural development programmes. This requires integrating the new mode of life
with their earlier patterns as against the manner in which the established patterns of behaviour
are adapted to the requirements of a new economic, social, and technological system. The
process of rural development programmes is essentially an attempt to introduce modern
techniques or innovations to bring about a change in desirable directions.
It must be noted, however, that no innovation can be exclusively compartmentalized into any
one of these classes. In fact, lack of widespread use of productive innovations in developing
Asian countries is precisely be- cause of the weaknesses in socio-economic, administrative,
and organizational structures one finds in these societies. This becomes strikingly clear in the
process of introduction of innovations as a vehicle of rural development strategy, which
inevitably introduces new forms of participation, implying an attack on, or even the
destruction of, traditional structures and their integrative functions. The net result is social
dislocations, institutional tensions, and strains, characterized by confrontations and conflicts.
Development implies change in structural relationships which can be brought about only by
organizations of more than local nature. Admittedly, such a transformation may be
accompanied by chaos and suffering. We very often forget the price paid for the development
of what are now economically advanced countries. It is crucial to anticipate the importance
and scale of social problems associated with the changes to be attained through rural
development programmes for working out a strategy to cushion the impact of dislocations
and tensions and ultimately encourage productive efforts. No process of development can be
peaceful and those who advocate peaceful processes of development live in a "myth." What is
more important is to create, sometimes deliberately, productive tensions and conflicts instead
of dissipating energies in unnecessary non-productive hostilities or harmonies or status quo
and then directing and motivating the tensions generated into more productive and creative
activities. Again, this is possible only by mobilizing and organizing rural people to enlist
continuing participation in the processes of change. Participation in such development
processes takes a somewhat special meaning.
Preconditions for Mobilization
How and under what conditions can the rural people be mobilized for active participation?
One of the objective conditions which will enhance the possibility of mobilizing and
organizing the rural people is the prevalence of dissatisfaction among them about the existing
situations, a reaction to inequalities in, either land tenures or the social structure or the
inequalities in opportunities. But it is one thing to have inequality and a completely different
matter to feel dissatisfied to the level that the individual or the group is ready to act on it.
At this point it is necessary to distinguish dissatisfaction from the familiar concept of felt
needs as the basis for mobilizing the rural people. The concept of felt needs in this context
has several shortcomings and is in fact questionable. Firstly, felt needs are usually more of a
consumptive than of a productive nature and mostly related to personalized problems with
less threatening solutions. Secondly, there may be several reasons why the rural people might
not support an action programme designed to attack their problems;

(1) They may lack confidence in their own ability and integrity to solve the problems:
(2) The project may be opposed by individuals or groups whose power over them is
threatened;
(3) They may suspect the competence or integrity of the organizers of the programme;
(4) Their attention may be diverted by their involvement with other problems;
(5) The proposed project may be dealing with a phase of the problem that seems unrelated to
their interest;
(6) The pro- posed project may be organized in such a way that they may feel that their own
contribution is unimportant;
(7) The objectives of the programme may be defined either too broadly or too specifically to
coincide with their interests.
Other factors which facilitate conscientization of the rural people are:
1. The increasingly important role of education and other forms of contact and
acquaintance with the world that differs considerably from the traditional frame of
reference.
2. Better and modern means of communication with urban areas.
3. The industrialization process which gives the rural people a chance to
participate in urban life and in new forms of organization.
Provoked Participation and Mobilization
Whatever may be the preconditions, little will happen if the rural people do not realize their
position and believe that something can be done about it. Class-consciousness in the Marxian
sense is rarely found among the rural people but this does not mean that there is
The rural people of Asia and Africa lack confidence in outside change agents because of their
experiences of having been deluded, cheated, and exploited in the past. The villagers' distrust
of the outsider is strikingly portrayed in Lev Tolstoy's Resurrection in which the absentee
landlord Prince Nekhlyudov offers his land in an arrangement by which the peasants should
rent the land at a price fixed by them, the rent to form a communal fund for their own use.
Though this is a genuine offer, the peasants remain equally unconvinced. Tolstoy says:
The experience of many generations had proved to them that the landlords consider their
own interest to the detriment of the peasants. Therefore, if a landlord called them to a
meeting and made them some kind of a new offer, it could evidently only be in order to
swindle them more cunningly than before (Tolstoy, 1972, p. 293).
One of the major problems in this process is the mobilization of the people into an active
organization without which sustaining participation and effective results cannot be obtained.

Take the case of cooperatives, a major institutional intervention in the rural development
programme. One of the crucial problems faced by cooperatives is the solidarity of members.
The structural characteristics of the rural poor are not homogenous in terms of their
immediate interests. It is the effective conscientization process which makes them conscious
of their deprivation.
Mobilization in Rural India:
Social mobilization is the cornerstone of participatory approaches in rural development and
poverty alleviation programmes. It is a powerful instrument in decentralization policies and
programmes aimed at strengthening human and institutional resources development at local
level. Social mobilization strengthens participation of rural poor in local decision-making,
improves their access to social and production services and efficiency in the use of locally
available financial resources, and enhances opportunities for asset-building by the poorest of
the poor.
Role of Gram Sabah and public information in social mobilization
The Constitutions 73rd Amendment has made the village council, the Gram Sabah, into a
very powerful tool of social mobilization. Many types of neighbourhood groups, health and
literacy programmes, Mahila Mandals (village womens groups) and the mass media newspapers, radio and TV - also play a vital role in social mobilization at the community
level. Social mobilization of rural poor at community level will be successful if directly
linked with issues affecting their livelihoods. For successful social mobilization of the rural
poor, there is a need for improved access to public information on local development issues
directly linked with their livelihood interests. An effective way of doing this is by facilitating
free access to public information on local development programmes and activities, which has
been a critical factor in the success of Panchayat Raj in the States of Kerala and Andhra
Pradesh.
Examples of successful social mobilization
Total sanitation programme in Avanur Gram Panchayat, Kerala, India
This example of successful mobilization of the entire community by a gram panchayat to meet
a basic need has been widely recognized. It has brought national honour and a cash prize of
Rs 1.2 million to the panchayat. In 1996, a survey held by the Avanur Gram Panchayat in
Kerala State found that over 2 000 of Avanurs 5 000 households were too poor to afford
basic sanitation facilities. The Gram Panchayat President convened a series of awarenessbuilding meetings for all families below the poverty line.
As an outcome of these meetings it was agreed that the Gram Panchayat would provide all
these families building material for a sanitation unit, with the condition that each beneficiary
family would complete 20 percent of the work on its own. The meetings focused on
awareness-building of women as main beneficiaries. Much to the surprise of all, the
campaign was successfully completed within three months. The Gram Panchayat spent only
20 percent of allocated resources because 80 percent of the work was done by the beneficiary

families themselves. In this way, a total of about Rs 12 million in assets could be mobilized
for the poorest families.
Total housing scheme in Avanur Gram Panchyat, Kerala State, India
The Avanur Gram Panchayat used the cash award of Rs 1.2 million to start a Total Housing
Scheme for families below the poverty line. This led to 500 houses being built during 19972000. The Gram Panchayat gave each family an amount of Rs 20 000 in three stages, as a
grant. The beneficiary families contributed their own labour and material worth Rs 30 000
for each unit. The scheme created assets worth more than Rs 25 million.
The Gram Panchayat has also successfully implemented a drinking water scheme and
neighbourhood units in Avanur, and was declared the Best Panchayat in Kerala for its
innovative work.
The Janmabhoomi programme in Andhra Pradesh: a learning model for capacity-building
for participatory local development planning
Janmabhoomi was inspired by South Koreas Saemaul Undong programme and launched in
January 1997 as a mass mobilization effort to involve people in rural development planning
and decision making through PRIs in Andhra Pradesh.
It aims to take the administration closer to the people, make it more responsive to their felt
needs and to promote transparency and accountability in public affairs. It is also directed
against the caste system. It has specific programmes for disadvantaged groups like women,
the Scheduled Castes and Tribes and people with disabilities to integrate them into the
mainstream of development.
Janmabhoomi has activated the Gram Sabha, which is convened every three months and
presided over by the Sarpanch, the Mandal president, the ward member and government
officials.
Janmabhoomi objectives/methodology
Objectives

Bring governance nearer to the people

Participation of people, especially weaker social sections, in development process

Responsive, transparent governance, accountable to people

Through above, achieve goals of poverty alleviation and equity.

Methodology

Large-scale information dissemination

Formation of self-help groups (SHGs) of stakeholders in key sectors of the rural

economy to promote mass mobilization. Development funds routed through SHGs,
which are statutorily recognized.

Institutional arrangements

Gram sabha at the habitation level

Habitation committee at the habitation level

Nodal team at the Mandal level

Janmabhoomi volunteers team

Social animators

District level committee (Collector as its Chairperson)

State level committee (Chief Minister as its Chairperson).

Box 4.1 Rural development activities under Janmabhoomi

1. Verification of data on below poverty line (BPL) families.
2. Formation of SHGs in 36 543 habitations, with 13 269 habitations still to be covered.
3. Finalization of rural artisan survey information for the Artisan Action Plan.
4. Entry point activities in watershed and joint forest management areas, as part of a 10-year
Wasteland Development Action Plan.
5. A total of 13 903 water-harvesting structures worth Rs.430 million completed as against a
target of 20 312 structures.
6. More than 24 000 irrigation works, bringing 512 000 hectares under irrigation.
7. Women mobilized to set up micro-enterprises.
Impact of the Janmabhoomi decentralization experiment in local development planning
The programme has so far completed 13 rounds of participatory decision-making in local
development. The most important impact has been to generate public awareness, galvanize
the administrative machinery and open up access of rural poor to local
governance. Janmabhoomi has also developed a strong community spirit among the people
and improved transparency in administration.
Participation of rural poor in social mobilization programs as part of decentralization in
Nepal

In Nepal, a citizens charter has been prepared and district development councils (DDCs)
organized under the Local Self Government Act (LSGA) with subject-wise sections (for e.g.
on agriculture & livestock), each equipped with computers and accessories. Job descriptions
of the section have been prepared and staff trained in different areas to become more
professional. Institutional reviews to identify DDC capacity gaps have been initiated and an
internal communication system established.
Local development fund (LDF) bylaws have been approved and the LDF made operational
from July 2002. The LDF has developed pro-poor policies with at least 50 percent credit
capital earmarked for the poorest of the poor. The repayment period and credit activities are
defined according to the local poverty profile and first priority for seed grant utilization is
given to the poorest of the poor.
District development plans are published annually and all village development committees
have prepared and published five-year plans. There are regular meetings, interaction and
coordination and initiation of different development activities with line agencies, I/NGOs and
private sector. Development activities, income and expenditure are published regularly in
district bulletins. Internal revenue increased from NRs3 328 882 in 1997 to NRs12 281 500 in
2001. External resources are mobilized from various international donor agencies.
Decentralization programmes in Nepal emphasize social mobilization as an instrument for
the more efficient allocation of local resources. As an example, community organizations in
the countrys Kavre district identified the poorest of the poor on the basis of consensus, which
facilitated their participation in village development programmes.
For example, the local womens group built a community centre without outside help. They
organized weekly meetings for members of their group, who contributed only five rupees
each, every week. Yet, this enabled the womens group to mobilize NRs 48 000 and invest NRs
85 000. This example was followed by village men, who established 34 mens groups, which
met every Saturday, with each member contributing NRs 15. These local womens and mens
groups were able to save and invest their capital for the construction of a bridge near the
centre of the village at a total cost of NRs 140 000, which is a sizeable contribution from the
local poor.
The core elements in the strategy for social mobilization and capital formation among the
poorest in the Kavre District, are self-governance; institutional development of community
organizations (COs); social capital development; skill and enterprise development; microfinance activities; and infrastructure support. Local capacity has also been developed and
strengthened by human resource development, strategic management, organization structure
and culture financial and information management
Apart from womens groups, self-help groups (SHGs) were also formed or existing SHGs
strengthened. Through these village-level groups, the project was able to institutionalize
community participation in planning and resource management. For instance, women in
Chitrawas panchayat monitor the regeneration of community property (forest areas) owned
by every household in the village. The group also enacted by-laws which include meeting

rules; penalties for trespassing on protected common plots as well as work distribution. The
entire village now lives by these rules, which has helped the forest come back to life and also
improved their natural resource base.
India as developing economy is having maximum coverage of rural areas and spread of
population in rural areas with inequalities in income and depending on agriculture and allied
agricultural business. In recent years there is considerable development in rural areas with
improved agricultural methods and rural population depending on other agriculture allied
business and contribution of government.
Importance of Mobilizing Rural savings
To effectively utilize the rural savings for economic development through rural development
by improving saving habits in banking and related financial instruments among rural people
and improving their standard of living
Financial institutions has to concentrate on several challenges to get the opportunity to utilize
mobilize rural savings.
Agricultural related challenges:

Creating awareness, knowledge, skill and attitude.

Availability of inputs.
Marketing facility.
sufficient extension staff and service
Creating willingness to work and stay in rural areas.

. Infrastructure related :
Infrastructure facilities, communication, storage facility etc.
Administrative Aspect:

Strategic and target oriented approach

Government initiation and support
Motivation and creation of interest.
Sufficient allocation and utilization of budget.

Major saving and investment avenues of rural people

Insurance (LIC)
Post Office Schemes
Gold jewelry
Chit funds
Others

Overall economic development of Indian economy depends not only on urban and industrial
development, but also on rural development, which in turn depends on proper mobilization of

rural savings by educating, empowering, encouraging rural people to use banks and other
related financial instruments for savings. This is an opportunity for banks and financial
institutions
Seva Mandir helps village communities strengthen land-based & alternate income
generating programs; build strong networks of people - especially self-help groups for
women to attain financial freedom
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
Rural tribal women in SM's (Seva Mandir) work area are in disadvantaged position in terms
of social, institutional & human development indicators. SM works with rural tribal women
in expanding their capacity to have control over their own economic circumstances to secure
more just & equitable gender relations in the society. The 493 Self Help Groups (SHGs) with
7,516 women have access to over Rs. 17.3 million. Around 900 women have got into small
business with the help of SHGs.
How will this project solve this problem?
Formation of Women's groups to create a platform of mutual learning, sharing &
empowerment. Training them to keep records of savings, exercise petty loans & helping them
mobilize resources from Banks, Village Funds etc. to take up small businesses.
Potential Long Term Impact
SHGs help women gain confidence socially, institutionally & economically. These efforts can
lead them to new roles as major contributors to family income & ultimately transforming
their position & status within the household & the community at large
Funding Information
Total Funding Received to Date: $15,213
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $84,787
Total Funding Goal: $100,000
Few of the aspects which are to be covered from the point of view of saving could also be
discussed as under :

Specialized credit institutions such as Rural Banks which have been set up as
alternative institutions to commercial banks which have failed to reach the poor. They
engage in both saving mobilization as well as lending operations, and could replenish
their resources by borrowing from other banks, refinance from central bank and grants
from government and donors
Mobilization for credit provision Credit is often viewed as an entry point for initiating
development activities among the poor. Experiences however show that provision of
credit by itself may not prove effective as an instrument of raising production and
incomes of the rural poor, particularly of the bottom poor.

The majority of the rural poor, however, will require an initial capacity build-up or a
preparatory phase of mobilization to give them a measure of confidence in their
abilities to change their life conditions before they could begin to use credit
effectively. Such a preparatory phase would involve many things such as:
o an awareness build-up on the problems of livelihood and the
opportunities available for improving life conditions;
o - building solidarity groups for facilitating initiatives to create the
desired changes;
o - mobilizing resources from among themselves; and
o - acquiring basic technical and managerial skills.
People who have gone through such a preparatory phase, would
have become conscious of the problems and opportunities, and
taken some initiatives for changing their conditions using their own
resources in the first instance. With such mobilization and
preparedness for change, it would now be easier to introduce credit
as a method of accelerating their development initiatives
It is important to recognize that a mobilization as described above
rarely springs from the poor themselves as more or less a
spontaneous process
Grameen Bank (GB) and Production Credit for Rural Women (PCRW)
are two concrete examples, where a preparatory phase of
mobilization precedes the provision of credit.
The need for a mobilization or a preparatory phase has some
important implications for the operating costs of credit projects
Provision of credit to the rural poor is therefore a highly labourintensive process involving mobilization, facilitation and close
monitoring.
In general, successful credit programmes have attempted to link
credit supply with savings mobilization. What is important is the
provision of financial services to the poor, that is facilities for both
savings and credit, and not pure credit
mobilization are essential to generate a demand for credit among
the poor, and these are social investments which lie outside the
market mechanism and this is done in a very strategic manner
self-financing: Is the programme (except for promotional activities or
mobilization component) self-financing in the sense that the direct
costs of operations are being met out of interest income? Is the
interest rate on loans adequate to maintain the real value of capital
funds in the face of inflation
An important conclusion is that savings mobilization should be a
vital component of a credit scheme for rural poor

Conclusion :

One of the major problems in this process is the mobilization of the people
into an active organization without which sustaining participation and
effective results cannot be obtained. Take the case of cooperatives, a
major institutional intervention in the rural development programme. One
of the crucial problems faced by cooperatives is the solidarity of members.
The structural characteristics of the rural poor are not homogenous in
terms of their immediate interests. It is the effective conscientization
process which makes them conscious of their deprivation. But based on
this cognitive value, continued and sustained solidarity in participating in
an institution like cooperatives is difficult.
of cooperatives is inordinately delayed. However, following the conflict
model, solidarity can still be eridicted if the following steps are taken.
1. Educate the individual member that he cannot hope to obtain
better results alone.
2. Propagation and spread of solidarity-creating values, not by
sermonizing but by actually demonstrating the desirability and necessity
of cooperation.
3. Social control in the sense that one has to assess the quality and
quantity of work done by others in the association.
4. If necessary, coercion and material rewards must be used to solicit the
desired behaviour in the association.
Once the rational concepts of cooperatives are understood, it is not
difficult to incorporate the last two, i.e., social control, and coercion and
material incentives, in the model to accen- tuate solidarity. The Chinese
and Vietnam experiences are good examples of such conviction.. But
beside these the dvevolpment of India is also worthwhile , we can say that
the rural of India particularly the Women , Student , Villagers have been
helped by the financial systems and the it is because of this reason , that
is the policy and the institute that the rural India is Mobilizationing and is
crossing the bench mark of development.