Jeevika Block Project Manager Exam - Detailed Notes
1. RURAL SOCIETY, ECONOMY & GOVERNANCE
1.1 Indian Rural Society
- Caste System:
Origin: Varna system (Vedic period) -> rigid caste hierarchy (post-Vedic period).
Features: Birth-based, endogamy, occupational specialization, restrictions on mobility.
Modern changes: Urbanization, education, economic reforms, affirmative action.
- Social Stratification:
Division of society into hierarchies based on class, caste, gender, occupation.
Impact: Unequal access to resources, decision-making, and opportunities.
- Demographic Features:
High population density in fertile plains, dependency ratio, low literacy in some areas.
Migration trends: Seasonal migration for labor.
1.2 Rural Poverty
- Concepts:
Absolute poverty (basic needs unmet), relative poverty (below community standards).
- Causes:
Low agricultural productivity, lack of infrastructure, unemployment, social exclusion, indebtedness.
- Measurement:
Tendulkar Committee, Rangarajan Committee, Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
1.3 Rural Economy
- Structure:
Agriculture mainstay for 50%+ workforce.
Allied activities: Dairy, poultry, fisheries.
Informal sector: Non-farm enterprises, handlooms, handicrafts.
- Challenges:
Monsoon dependency, small landholdings, market access, post-harvest losses.
1.4 Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
- 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992):
3-tier structure: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad.
Reservation for SC/ST/Women, regular elections, State Finance Commission.
- Functions:
Local planning, scheme implementation, social justice delivery.
- Role:
Empowerment, accountability, decentralized decision-making.
2. DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission)
- Launch: 2011, restructured SGSY.
- Objective: Reduce poverty through diversified and gainful self/wage employment.
- Principles:
Poor have innate capabilities, social mobilization, participatory approach.
- Architecture:
SHG -> VO -> CLF -> State Missions -> National Mission.
- Components:
Universal mobilization, capacity building, financial inclusion, livelihood promotion.
3. SOCIAL MOBILIZATION & INSTITUTIONS
- SHG Formation:
Identification of poor households, group formation (10-20 members).
Panchasutra: Regular meetings, savings, inter-loaning, repayment, bookkeeping.
- Village Organizations (VOs):
Federation of SHGs at village level; monitoring, fund management, conflict resolution.
- Cluster Level Federations (CLFs):
Federation of VOs; linkages with markets, banks, govt schemes.
4. FINANCIAL INCLUSION
- SHG-Bank Linkage: NABARD model linking SHGs to formal credit.
- Community Investment Fund (CIF): Revolving fund for SHGs to invest in income activities.
- Financial Literacy: Awareness on savings, credit, insurance, digital banking.
5. LIVELIHOOD PROMOTION
- Farm-based: Improved crop practices, organic farming, irrigation.
- Non-farm: Handicrafts, tailoring, food processing, services.
- Value Chain: Linking producers to markets, reducing middlemen, branding.
6. PROJECT MANAGEMENT & CONVERGENCE
- Annual Action Plan: Targets, activities, budgets for the year.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: MIS, progress tracking, social audits.
- Convergence: Integrating with MGNREGA, PMAY-G, NRDWP, and other schemes.
