Role of NGOs in rural developement a study of two blocks in Puri district of Orissa

Abstract

Mahatma Gandhi underlined the importance of rural India by saying that India lives in villages . India is overwhelmingly rural. Out of total population of 1,210,854,977, 68.84% constitutes rural population (Census -2011). Moreover, in a less developed state like Odisha the percentage of rural population stands above 83 percent (Census -2011). The Odishan society, as a part of India, is in a state of flux especially after independence. With the introduction of planning, universal adult franchise and democratic decentralization, the Indian people in general and people of Odisha in particular, though have gradually become conscious of their rights and claims, their socio-economic conditions have not improved even after more than six decades of Independence and they suffer from numerous problems. The problem of rural development in India is multidimensional and complex and its crux is abject poverty. The problem of poverty in India is not merely economic, it is symptomatic of a deeper socio-economic and political crises. Therefore, development of rural society is the major challenge before a developing nation like India. Development of the rural area has been the central concern of development planning in India since Independence. The introduction of panchayati raj institutions, Community Development projects, Integrated Rural Development Programmes and several others have perhaps acted as forces of rural development in India. The major objectives of all the programmes are to increase and provide basic necessities to the rural poor. However, the ground reality is not very much encouraging. In spite of planned development programmes, particularly through the Five Year Plans from 1947 onwards, the benefits did not land on the lap of the poor target groups for whom they were intended. newlineHowever the field of development is so vast that efforts of Government alone are not going to be adequate. To achieve the goal, it calls for multidimensional and multilevel approach. In this context Non-Governmental Organizations can