Collaboration between gram panchayat and women self help groups on rural development in karnataka

Abstract

Mahatma Gandhi said, Indiaand#8223;s development relays on development in rural India. To see a developed India, we must develop villages in India. India is trying to improve the living standard of rural people since Independence. Government, Non-Government Organizations, Voluntary Groups, and many individuals are making continuous efforts for decades to improve rural condition. There is a positive change and growth, but the achieved results are not satisfactory in relation to need, the available resources, opportunities, and the efforts made. What are the root causes of failures? Are there necessary coordination and collaboration among the development efforts to optimize the fruits and minimize the loss of human and material resources? Gram Panchayat Institutions and Self-Help Groups by women are two of major efforts which became very powerful means to empower and develop rural people. The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 became a land-mark by establishing Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI) in Indiaand#8223;s effort for rural development and reaching out the democracy to grass-root level by newlineforming Panchayat Raj Institutions with three tier system. The Reservation policy of 72nd newlineAmendment Act was another turning point in empowering effort. NGOs initiated Self-Help newlineGroups in India in early 1990s and later Government also supported and promoted the newlineinitiative. Will the Collaboration between the Gram Panchayat Institutions and Women SelfHelp Groups enhance development of rural area through higher level of Community newlineParticipation is the research question here. newlineThere are many writings, studies and evaluations on Gram Panchayat Institutions and SelfHelp Groups by women to assess the existing condition, and to make the efforts more efficient and effective towards rural empowerment and development. Still, studies on impact of collaboration between Gram Panchayat and Women Self-Help Groups on rural newlinedevelopment are missing.