Citizen Participation in Rural Development

Integrated rural development holds the key for amelioration of the rural masses living below the poverty line in developing countries. Citizen participation occupies a pride of place in the agenda for action for poverty alleviation endeavours. The subject stimulates interest and arouses questions like, is participations the answer for all ills of planning and implementation in rural development sector. The study seeks to explore the nature and extent of awareness and involvement among citizens in development programmes aimed at alleviation of rural poverty. It was conducted in a development block in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in India. The study found that the participants enjoy better economics, educational and social positions and are endowed with better exposure to media. However, these factors vary in the influence on the nature of opportunity structure which determines the participation of some and exclusion of many in rural development programmes.

Dr. Mukkavilli Seetharam (b. 1956) possesses brilliant academic background. He did post graduation from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and obtained M.Phil. in Rural Development from Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. He was awarded Ph.D. by the University of Delhi. He served on the faculties of several prestigious bodies like Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Public Administration, National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development and National Institute of Rural Development. Currently he is serving as Chief Planning Officer and Expert in Agriculture and Rural Development, Haryana Institute of Public Administration, Chandigarh. He is a member of several professional associations and societies and has authored several reports and contributed a number of learned articles in reputed journals.