| Author | Amarasinghe, Peter Dias |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-86-03 |
| Subject(s) | Rural development--Sri Lanka--Nuwara Eliya
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| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Integrated rural development is an approach to rural development currently gaining wide acceptance globally. Since Integrated Rural Development is multi-disciplinary in nature and multi-sectoral in operation and is implemented through existing government line agencies numerous problems of implementation could be anticipated. Therefore, the study is focused on problems of implementing Integrated Rural Development programmes. The study is confined mainly to two aspects of implementation namely, the coordination of IRD activities and popular participation as it is thought that, these two are important aspects of implementation, among others. The study reveals that the implementors as well as the beneficiaries are not fully aware of objectives of IRDP and as such the results are not upto expectations. Furthermore, the inadequately trained line agency staff do still possess centre-oriented attitudes and therefore, are not geared enough to implement a decentralized, people oriented development programme like Integrated Rural Development. The formal mechanisms employed to coordinate the activities of IRDP implemented through line agencies are found to be ineffective. Therefore informal mechanisms developed through personal relationships are prevailing. The cumbersome procedures adopted by line agencies have hampered the participatory aspects of Integrated Rural Development and therefore, the delivery mechanisms have not been effective in delivering the services to the needy people. The study also reveals that the organizations employed to elicit popular participation have not been effective and as such the concept of participation embodied in Integrated Rural Development approach has not been achieved successfully. The strategies and approaches adopted by the project authorities within the framework of IRD in prioritizing and identifying areas and allocating funds reflect subject liveness. In order to overcome these, it is recommended to adopt a decentralized comprehensive planning approach at district level and also to decentralize the efforts of training the staff involved . To elicit popular participation and to ensure a positive interaction between service deliverers and beneficiaries a group of social mobilisers may be recruited. |
| Year | 1986 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Dias, Hiran D. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Demaine, Harvey ;Setty, E. Desingu |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1986 |