Voluntary Organisations and Rural Development in South Asia : Assumptions and Realities

This book examines the role of voluntary organizations (VOs) in rural development in the south Asian context. While addressing the existing knowledge gap for developmental task sharing with non-government social forces in developing nations; It provides evidence-based knowledge about the structure, functioning, effectiveness, community base, public image, GO-VO equation, strength, challenges, present dynamics, and future trend of the grassroots VOs. The volume also demonstrates the application of an innovative symphony of descriptive and exploratory study design with parametric tools in data collection and analysis. It also specifies the areas for policy intervention, future research and incubation in the sector. The book is indispensable for the students, teachers and researchers in Sociology, Social work, Public Administration, Rural Development, Management studies and related fields. The volume is a hand-guide for funding agencies, planners and executives. Preface and Acknowledgements Contents About the Author List of Figures List of Tables List of Boxes 1 Introduction 1.1 The New Face of Voluntarism 1.1.1 The Unresolved Qualm 1.2 Experiments with Rural Development in South Asia 1.2.1 Sociological Dimensions of Sustainable Development 1.3 Emerging Developmental Landscape 1.3.1 Entry of New Players 1.4 Conceptualising the Voluntary Organisation 1.4.1 Voluntary Organisation, an Evolving Concept 1.5 Chapter Summary References 2 Discourse on Voluntary Organisations in Developing Nations 2.1 Third World Backdrop of the Discourse 2.2 South Asian Context 2.2.1 Commonalities Among South Asian Nations 2.2.2 Civil Society Space in South Asian Nations 2.2.3 Noted Studies on VOs in South Asia 2.2.4 Local Specific Context-Odisha 2.3 Chapter Summary References 3 The Empirical Quest 3.1 Theoretical Backdrop of the Micro Study 3.2 Methodological Formulation 3.2.1 Operational Construes 3.3 The Micro Setting 3.3.1 Socio-cultural Evolution 3.3.2 Historical Light Posts 3.3.3 Developmental Landscape 3.4 Chapter Summary References 4 Voluntarism: A Socio-historic Category 4.1 Substratum of Voluntary Organisations 4.2 Regional Level (South Asia) 4.3 National Level 4.3.1 Voluntarism up to the Turn of Seventeenth Century 4.3.2 Voluntarism during Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century 4.3.3 Voluntarism in First Part of Twentieth Century 4.3.4 Voluntarism in Post Independent Era (Second Part of Twentieth Century) 4.3.5 The Summoning of VOs to Rural Development 4.3.6 Contemporary Situation 4.4 State Level 4.4.1 Voluntarism during Ancient and Medieval Times (up to Fifteenth Century) 4.4.2 Sixteenth Century Jerks to Voluntarism 4.4.3 Voluntarism at the turn of Eighteenth Century 4.4.4 Revival of Voluntarism during Nineteenth Century 4.4.5 Voluntarism during Twentieth Century 4.4.6 Voluntarism in Twenty-First Century Odisha 4.5 Local Level 4.5.1 The Luminaries of Voluntarism 4.5.2 Voluntary Organisations in Post Independent Era 4.5.3 Major Activities in Voluntary Sector 4.6 Chapter Summary References 5 Role of the Voluntary Organisations: VOs’ Perspective 5.1 Jaya Bharati Sathi Samaj (JBS) 5.1.1 Genesis, Growth and Composition 5.1.2 Visions of JBS 5.1.3 Structure and Management 5.1.4 Performances of JBS 5.1.5 Financial Strength of JBS 5.1.6 Expertise and Innovations of JBS 5.1.7 Interaction with State Players 5.1.8 Major Problem Encountered by JBS 5.1.9 Self-Assessment of the Organisation 5.2 Jyotirmayee Mahila Samiti (JMS) 5.2.1 Genesis 5.2.2 Vision and Strategy 5.2.3 Structure and Management 5.2.4 Performances of JMS 5.2.5 Financial Strength 5.2.6 Expertise and Innovativeness 5.2.7 Interaction with State Players 5.2.8 Major Problems Faced by JMS 5.2.9 Self-Assessment of the Organisation 5.3 Chapter Summary References 6 Role of Voluntary Organisations: People’s Perspective 6.1 Image of VOs in People’s Perception 6.2 Performance of the VOs 6.2.1 Rural Housing and Livelihood Asset Creation 6.2.2 Social Security Measures 6.2.3 Eradication of Illiteracy 6.2.4 Promotion of Primary Education and Dropout Reduction 6.2.5 Implementation of Drinking Water Projects 6.2.6 Rural Sanitation (IHHL) Scheme 6.2.7 Promotion of Sports and Culture 6.2.8 Conservation and Upgradation of the Natural Environment 6.3 Rapport of VOs with Government Actors 6.3.1 VOs and PRI Bodies 6.3.2 VOs and Local Bureaucracy 6.4 Credibility of VOs in people’s Perception 6.5 Portrait of VOs in Media Lane 6.6 Resonance of VOs in Elite Corridor 6.7 Summary References 7 Encompassing Conclusions and Way Forward 7.1 Voluntarism: A Socio-historic Category 7.2 The Nature and Growth of Grassroot VOs 7.3 Effectiveness of the VOs 7.4 Community Base of the VOs 7.5 Public Credibility of VOs 7.6 GO–VO Equation at the Ground Level 7.7 Major Challenges of Grassroot VOs 7.8 Present Dynamics and Future Trend 7.9 Way Forward References Appendix Index