Empowering the poor : NGO involvement in rural development in the middle hills of Gorkha district, Nepal | |
| Author | Pradhan, Hari Kumar |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-94-25 |
| Subject(s) | Poor--Nepal--Gorkha Rural development--Nepal--Gorkha |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-94-25 |
| Abstract | This study is a combination of both exploratory and evaluative research aimed to discover socio-economic and technological impacts of development efforts of Save the Children/US. The collected data were analyzed statistically using T-test, chi-square test, z-test and coefficient of correlation. To facilitate the exploration of qualitative data indexes are constructed . The findings related to socio-economic factors reveal that t here is not much change in the sources of employment. People lack alternative sources of employment. Farm income is higher in the NGO-project area while the off- farm income (except from business and service) is higher in the control area. This is related to better food sufficiency in the project area. Despite successful family planning activities in the project area , the household size is found to be higher, but the nature of the data s how that such result ls clue to the already aging population, not because of new births. Average number of family members falling sick is less in the project area which is closely linked to better health services, MCH clinics, immunisation and awareness among the people. The impact of better educational attainment is reflected in the change of various aspects of rural life like early marriage practice, health practice and agricultural activities etc. Very important results were found in terms of awareness about their legal rights, t he f ema le status, perception of equal rights and abi1ity to communicate with the bureaucrats. Al l the results s how that there is significant difference between the people in the project and in the control areas. A lot of efforts are found to be done by the NGO to develop the agricultural sector, covering from sales of various seeds to providing extension services and training of t he target population. As a result , a significant difference in product ion and productivity of t he ma in cereal crops are seen. People have adopted HYVs of cereal crops, vegetable and fruits . However the results regarding cereal crops are not as convincing as the results of vegetable and fruit product ion . However, some impressive evidence regarding banana and orange orchards are observed in the study area. A higher proportion of agricultural innovation , higher l eve l of both production and productivity, use of environment ally sound manure, and initiation in commercial production (of banana and orange) is due to better education and awareness. Better health status, higher proportion of healthy children , extensive use of family planning measures, better immunisation, and use of latrines must be due to forma l and informal education and awareness in the project area. The different socio-economic picture seen in marriage practice , f ewer number of children's be low s ix years of age, small household size , less food deficiency and higher expenses for education are clue lo better education. Therefore , the NGO strategy of making education an entry point and its integrated rural development approach ls appropriate and effective. |
| Year | 1994 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-94-25 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Lund, Ragnild |
| Examination Committee(s) | Weber, Karl E. ;Prasad, Lokendra |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Danish Embassy/DANIDA Kathmandu, Nepal ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1994 |