Voluntary Agencies and Rural Development

Voluntary Agencies/NGOs are organizations by people which operate independently and also cooperate and collaborate with the government. They play a fundamental role in enhancing development in rural areas and initiate programs aimed at transforming the lives of people in rural areas from miserable to better condition, especially in the developing world. NGOs put a huge emphasis on self-sufficiency through empowering people and thus have space for public participation in their activities, making them effective towards achieving the desired results. This book mentions about few NGOs in Marathwada region viz; MSSM, Manavlok, Grasp, Abhinav Vikas Sanstha, Janarth, Nirman, Dilasa and IHMP which support different activities in the areas of watershed, women, agriculture, health, education, etc. MSSM, the NGO which was studied critically is an agency established by the initiative of Scotland missionaries and local social activists in Jalna and Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, which is also supported by various government agencies. Such an effort can prove noteworthy and exemplary for achieving targets of rural development in our country.