Organization-Building for Rural Development: An Experiment in India

Abstract

This paper argues that local organizations able to act on behalf of the rural poor are critical to constructive social change in developing societies. An intervention for building such local organizations is described conceptually and its implementation illustrated in work with small farmers in rural India. Time series data collected over 30 months revealed significant changes in activities by trained groups. Trained groups undertook more initiatives that were planned, informed, collectively organized, successful in influencing the village as a whole, and successful in influencing agencies out-side the village. Qualitative data also indicated important changes in trained-group activities. The relevance of applied behavioral science theory and technology to rural development and social change is discussed in the light of these findings.