Rural Development Programmes and Externalities

This book explores the possibilities of restructuring the Rural Development Programmes from an environmental perspective. These Programmes are usually evaluated using a few objective parameters, such as exhaustion of outlay and attainment of certain physical targets. In the course of evaluation, ex-post and concurrent evaluations have gone on a beaten track. However, the perspective of developmental performance has, of late undergone a sea change, bringing in new dimensions, encompassing the environmental implications of the programmes. Development per se has a seamy side in terms of environmental degradation. Development projects may be environmentally destructive. There are cases of destructive development, which degradation at the same time. In view of many instances of the possibility of conflict between development and environment concerns, growing regions cannot ignore negative externalities, which will aggravate poverty in the same region. The evaluators of Government, Research Institutions, Universities, and individuals has adopted some yardsticks to quantify and positive aspects of various rural development and poverty alleviation programmes, to the neglect of the negative aspects. By then the perception of planners was of a limited focus, and issues of environmental concerns did not surface much in evolving the methodologies of evaluation. It has been rightly contended that a large number of studies on Rural Development are mechanical in nature, committed to mere collection of facts and figures and their presentation relate to positive externalities of the various programmes. Such studies fail to analytically outline and unfold the integrated functioning of the village economy from the environmental perspective. Now it is increasingly realized that a holistic study of a village development is a prerequisite to tackle the problems of development and environment. This work makes an earnest endeavor in this direction, hoping to raise positive reactions from fellow researchers and policy makers in terms of both academic pursuits and policy responses.