Community Action for Social Justice: Grassroots Organizations in India Book

Rural voluntary development groups have flourished rapidly in India in the last decade. This timely volume clarifies the social and material foundation for the growth of such a large number of these groups, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), grassroots groups, cooperatives, action groups, people's movements, citizen action groups, and voluntary agencies. These community action groups (CAGs) have revived the idea of self help and community development and have aimed to increase the political and economic participation of rural society. Pandey distinguishes among three kinds of these groups and offers seventeen representative case studies to illustrate their limitations and strengths and encourage the formation of alternative strategies for rural development. Pandey bridges the gap of concern between the people and the government by discussing the national development of NGOs that highlight the faults of mainstream development plans. Rather than an attempt to control the state, these groups emphasize education of the people and rearrangement of the civil society so that change is inspired by the grassroots up and is sustainable. Students, professors, and activists of development studies, political science, sociology, and anthropology and policymakers will find this book essential in their studies.Read More