Role of Non-governmental Organisations in the economic and community development of Kerala: a case study of Peermade Development Society

Abstract

The present study Role of Non-governmental Organisations in the Economic and Community Development of Kerala : A Case Study of Peermade Development Society is an important exercise as it directly and indirectly helps the overall development of the state and it focuses on the activities of Peermade Development Society one of themost prominent and major Non-governmental Organizations working in Kerala at regional level, which played an effective role in rural transformation of Peermade Taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala. The research area is restricted to Peermade Taluk taking in to account efficienc in programme implementation and since majority of rural people in Idukki district are located in this remote and backward area. The study focuses on the role of PDS in economic and community development process and rural transformation in the study area. Comparative analyses were carried out to assess the role of PDS in the regional development with the operations of Kudumbasree movement, five co-operative banks, and seven Grama Panchayats in the study area. The objectives of study also include analysis of the role of PDS in organizing the poor and weaker sections of the society for development and to examine the ability of PDS to provide community development services to the needy. The period of study for analysis is eight years from 1997-98 to 2004-05. The secondary data for the analysis are collected with the official records provided by PDS, Grama Panchayats, Kudumbasree and co-operative banks. Methodology for primary data collection depends on a structured questionnaire based on a household survey of 100 families to elicit information regarding organic farming. The study results show that PDS played a crucial role in regional development of Peermade Taluk. The social, economic and community development interventions of PDS in relation to micro finance under self help groups network, micro enterprises development, human resources development, women empowerment, employment generation,watershed development