Citizen Participation in Rural Development

Integrated rural development holds the key for amelioration of the rural masses living below the poverty line in developing countries. Citizen participation occupies a pride of place in the agenda for action for poverty alleviation endeavours. The subject stimulates interest and arouses questions like, is participation the answer for all ills off planning and implementation in rural development sector. The study seeks to explore the nature and extent of awareness and involvement among citizens in development programmes aimed at alleviation of rural poverty. It was conducted in a development block in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in India. The study found that the participants enjoy better economic, educational and social position and are endowed with better exposure to media. However, these factors vary in the influence on the nature of opportunity structure which determines the participation of some and exclusion of many in rural development programmes.