History Of Community Development

CDP or Community development programme started in 1952 by the Indian Government to bring community development. From the history of community development programmes in India, its main focus was on the communities of rural areas. Still, many social workers focused on urban areas instead of rural ones, and these social workers were professionally trained. As per the United Nations, community development is defined as a process in which community members take action collectively and solve common problems. Even though in India, the major focus was rural for community organisations, the social workers put their major thrust in balancing the programme by focusing on urban areas as well. 

History of Community development programme in India, 1952

The community development programme in India has been defined by the planning commission. According to them, it is an attempt made to bring and initiate economic and social transformation in the lives of villagers with the help of their efforts. The programme for community development indicates only those economic and social reconstruction projects in the villages that are implemented with the help of the cooperation of the people. 

A.R. Desia has also defined this programme as the method by which the Five Year Plans can initiate the economic and social life transformation of the rural areas. So, in other words, it is a project for community development that is controlled by the community. In this programme, the community is referred to only the villages. The aims for this programme were explained in 1973 and was laid down by the Indian Government. The community development programme started in 1952 and was launched on October 2nd 1952. The major aim of this programme was to bring an integrated development in the rural society, that covers all the aspects of the life of people. 

The concept of the current schemes that are under CDP is based on the old concept only. So, the history of community development programmes in India has been protected, and it is still being followed. The Panchayat Samities are granted in-aid under the Social Education and General Education head. This is for those activities that lead to development in the educational fields. The completion of residential buildings for staff or Blocks for the construction, along with Gram Sewak Huts, are provided with funds. These funds are also given for completing the ongoing construction of office buildings.

The three phases

The CDP has been divided into three different phases, which are:

• National Extension Phase

• Intensive Community Development Project Phase

• Post-Intensive Development Phase

In the first phase, the National Extension phase, the selected areas are subjected to the method used for providing the services based on the pattern of ordinary rural development and that too with less government expenditure. In the second phase, which is the intensive phase, the selected blocks are subjected to more composite, and the development schemes are more intensive and have a much larger expenditure on the government. The third phase, which is a post-intensive phase, presumes that the basis of the process initiated for self-perpetuation was created during the previous phases along with the reduction in the required expenses of the special government. 

Organisation for the community development programme 1952

To implement the projects for community development, an organisation was created, which is referred to as Community Project Administration. When this organisation was created, the Planning commission was functioning it. But now, the Ministry of Community Development functions it. The composition of this organisation has four types:

• Central administration 

• State administration 

• District organisation 

• Project administration 

The control and the power flow starts from Central Administration, and at the bottom is project administration. It is a bureaucratic organisation.

Conclusion

The history of community development programmes in India is very wide and useful. Even today, the community development programme follows all the aims and goals that were set during the initiation. The CDP has brought many rural areas to develop in the past years.