Community Development : Definition and features.
Community Development : Definition and features.
What is meant by community development? Discuss the main objectives of community development.
Concept, definition and objectives of community development.
Community Development : Definition and main objectives.
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Concept of community development :-
Rural society is the backbone of any country. The rural people of most of the countries are poor and conservative. They suffer from unemployment and employment problems and are unable to achieve a normal standard of living.
Community development means educating the rural people, making them aware of the development of society and taking up projects and programmes for rural reconstruction and development of rural life. Community development projects are planned for the overall development of rural life and society. The general meaning of community development is to strive for the development of people and communities in all fields - economic, cultural and social.
UNO has given the concept of community development that, community development refers to the process by which the efforts of the people are coordinated with the government authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of the country and to enable them to make their full contribution to national progress.
The Planning Commission of India has said about community development - Community development is a method of rural development extension through which the five-year plan can initiate the process of changing the social and economic life of the village.
The Government of India has explained about community development - Community development is a state-aided self-help program, the government only provides technical guidance and financial assistance. Its objective is the self-reliance of the individual or group and the initiative of the village community. Community thinking and collective action are encouraged through people's institutions like Panchayats.
The most important goal of community development is to bring about change in rural society; especially by involving the community in the development activities of rural areas.
S.K. Dey says - In the true sense, community development is a process and a program for the improvement of rural life. It is an attempt to bring about a social and economic change in the life of the village through the people's own efforts.
Objectives of Community Development:-
1. Assistance in implementation of plans:-
Community development projects are designed to help the villages in planning and development activities. Various plans are taken up through these projects to increase agricultural production.
2. Assistance to the village community in industries and making them dependent:-
An important objective of community development projects is to make the village people self-reliant and encourage them to participate in the activities of national reconstruction. This is done through the following methods:-
(a) Change in the traditional and conservative outlook of the village people.
(b) Organizing youth and women's organizations to participate in development activities and provide for their welfare.
(c) Encouraging the participation of youth and women in villages in community development activities.
3. Expansion of education in rural areas:-
Community development projects are aimed at providing education and other facilities to the people of rural areas. The following methods can be adopted in this regard.
(a) Provision of social education centres and schools and other institutions for imparting education.
(b) Arrangement of various types of educational and recreational programmes.
(c) Training of the villagers in planning and development activities.
(d) Establishment of adequate educational institutions.
4. Improvement of the standard of living of the villagers:-
Community development projects are aimed at improving the standard of living of the villagers, providing them with various employment opportunities, as well as providing them with opportunities to set up industries and develop agricultural production. Rural people are also encouraged to establish cooperative societies and other organizations through which they can undertake various development and planning activities.
5. Political awareness and training:-
Community development projects introduce the villagers to democracy through various planning projects and provide training in other administrative activities. Various initiatives are taken to stop the migration of rural citizens to cities. Such as -
(a) Local administration is established through people's representation.
(b) Coordination and cooperation are established among the people especially in the field of development and planning activities.
(c) Unemployment in villages can be alleviated to a great extent by setting up small and handcraft industries and training the villagers in advanced scientific methods of agriculture.
(d) Through the work of community development projects, the people are trained in the practical workings of democracy. Through these projects, the villagers are trained in the art of civic affairs.
6. Making people aware of social issues:-
A key objective of community development is to make people aware of the various problems of a community. It helps them to provide knowledge and to know about the main factors affecting their social life and to make them aware of the solutions to them.
7. All-round development:-
Community development plans development in all areas where development is needed in a community - in the areas of education, health, recreation and employment. As a result, policies and plans are adopted for the betterment of the life of all the people of the community. Plans are adopted for the purpose of development in all areas of the society.
8. Motivating people:-
Community development programs work for the motivation of the people of the community. One of the objectives of community development is to inspire the people of the village community in all areas - social, political, vocational, economic.
9. Helping to achieve self-reliance:-
Community development programs motivate people so that they are able to help each other and themselves and they can stand on their own feet. The main objective of community development programs is to make proper use of resources, improve the quality of life, etc.
10. Establishing social justice:-
Establishing social justice is another important objective of community development. It provides justice to all types of people in the society. It is possible to establish social justice by establishing equality in all areas such as education, employment, social status, etc.
Finally, it can be said that community development is a collective concept. Through this, the quality of life and all-round development of rural people is helped by participating in development programs through development projects.
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