By
Mohanakumar S and Surjit Singh
Sponsored by National Dairy Development Board, Anand

The study was perceived in the background of a consecutive fall in milk pouring to Jalgaon Milk Union. Under Jalgaon Milk Union (JMU), there are more than 1000 dairy cooperative societies (DCS). The DCS collects milk from farmers and send it to JMU. It was reported that the pouring of milk to JMU by DCS has been on a decline, therefore, the study attempted to identify reasons for it. The study was based on a primary survey of 750 dairy farmer households in selected 30 DCS of live talukas in Jalgaon district. It revealed that the declining trend in milk pouring has been a recurrent phenomenon. This in turn implicates that the observed trend may turn around any time from now; farmers are shifting from buffalo to desi cow. The shift has been driven by the increased cost of production of milk and labour cost of rearing animal. (desi cow can be reared with family labour-female); shift in cropping pattern in the district from cattle fodder supplying food crops. Cost of production of milk of all types of animals is on the higher side as compared to the return from it. The study concluded that the observed decline in milk pouring is a reflection of the passive tendency of farmers to treat cattle rearing as a primary occupation. The trend can be reversed only by transforming functions of DCS as market facilitator to production facilitator while ensuring marketing of milk and milk products at a remunerative price.

By
Mohanakumar S and Surjit Singh
Sponsored by Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi

The slow growth in agriculture in relation to industry and service sectors has been a matter of serious concern for policy makers especially since the introduction of economic reforms in 1991. Further, the crisis in the farm front by the late 1990s has pushed farmers to the extreme step of ending their lives out of sheer distress. Concerned due to these factors, the National Development Council resolved to launch a special Additional Central Assistance Scheme called Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in May 2007. In the light of falling public and private investment in agriculture, it was envisaged that channeling the small savings of farmers as complementary to public sector investment would help enhance the much needed investment and overcome technology fatigue in the farm sector. It was resolved to implement RKVY by developing a comprehensive State Agriculture Plan (SAP) by integrating Comprehensive-District Agricultural Plan (C-DAPs) prepared by the District Agriculture Department in consultation with allied sectors. The Institute was entrusted with the task of peer reviewing C-DAPs for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. The C-DAP evaluation reports confirmed the following: the states vary significantly in following the C-DAP guidelines with respect to: bottom-up participatory approach; comprehensiveness; convergence of C-DAP and write-up. Institutionalization and operationalisation of C-DAPs is still partial; participatory bottom-up approach is not sufficiently followed. Technical support institutions were mostly used to prepare C-DAPs rather than being facilitators; a majority of states focused C-DAPs on RKVY instead of integrating programmes and schemes of non- governmental organizations. Besides, there is little awareness about bottom-up approach of the planning process among farmers.

By
Surjit Singh and VS Bhaduaria
Sponsored by NABARD, Mumbai

This project aimed to assess the efficacy and impact of the Revival Package on the STCCS and to suggest measures to remove shortcomings observed in implementation as also to fulfill the requirements of the various covenants contained in Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by State Government/s with Government of India and NABARD. The results show that it would take time for DCCBs in Haryana to stabilize their performance. All the provisions in the MoU have been incorporated in the Amendments with the exception of 4 provisions. As regards one amendment (Section 27), it was suggested by NABARD, but the State government is of the view that this provision is not necessary.

In Haryana debt waiver and debt relief package and revival package has affected the performance of PACS that were better performing. The recovery rate fell drastically in 2008, but is slowly recovering. Merger has also not been well received by farmers. It appears that one-time revival would not help PACS in Haryana. The study has thrown up one or two points, which can be made use by other states: Merger of PACS was not a good experience in the state of Haryana .Therefore, any other state considering such a step should study the experience of the state of Haryana. Abolition of section 104 (on the strength of which a cooperative society can attach assets of borrowers) has not been a positive step in the state. Any other state considering such a step should therefore study the experience of Haryana first. Stability in the incumbency on the part of managers and secretaries has been observed to be useful in the state. The same can be replicated by other states.

By
KN Joshi
Sponsored by TISS, Mumbai

The objective of this report was to present the blue print and present status of urban reform in Rajasthan. It had three components: Status Report on Urban Reforms in Rajasthan, State Level Background Paper on Rajasthan and City Level Background Paper on Ajmer and Pushkar. The study highlights that the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA), 1992 was one such initiative, which gave constitutional recognition to the urban local bodies along with the constitutional right to exist. It provides a basis for the State Legislatures to transfer various responsibilities to municipalities and to strengthen municipal -level governance. Furthermore, the process was strengthened by launching Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNN URM) to ensure improvement in urban governance and service delivery so that ULBs become financially sound and sustainable.

By
Surjit Singh, Varinder Jain, Varsha Joshi & others
Sponsored by Government of Rajasthan

The study was based on a primary survey of 81 castes in the other backward castes list of the State government with an aim to determine inter-se backwardness of 81 other backward castes using parameters/ indicators such as educational backwardness, representation in public services etc. The survey was conducted in both rural as well as in urban areas of the State. It consisted of 91,148 households with rural sample of 7,421 1 other backward caste households and the urban sample of 16,937other backward caste households. The survey highlighted that overall, education level amongst other backward caste groups in Rajasthan is low; higher educational attainment is minimal. There are wide inter-caste group variations in educational attainment at all levels. In all the 81 other backward caste groups, only 3.6 percent households have at least one member of the household in government employment. Of these 52 percent are in state government employment and 48 percent are in central government employment. This is a very low representation in government service. There are no households amongst 23 other backward caste categories including Gadia Lohar where not a single member of the household is in government service. Thus, the results show that even if these other backward caste groups have obtained government jobs they are mainly low paying jobs in Grade 4. Hence, there are still miles to go for these caste groups before they reap the benefits of development and affirmative action of the State.