Impact Assessment of the District Poverty Initiative Project Rajasthan

Table 3.15: Household Economic Situation Improved during last 5 years
District Improved Stayed Improved Stayed Deteriorated
the same
the same
APL
BPL
Baran 100.0 83.3 16.7
Churu 100.0 78.8 20.2 1.0
Dausa 66.7 33.3 60.4 38.7 0.9
Dholpur 75.0 25.0 74.8 24.4 0.8
Jhalawar 68.5 30.3 1.1
Rajsamand 56.5 43.5
Tonk 50.0 50.0 71.1 27.8 1.0
Total 71.4 28.6 70.8 28.4 0.8
What are the natures of Benefits The responses of households were solicited on annual
income, access to credit, social status and participation in gram sabha and ward sabha. Data
shows that APL household as expected fare better on these factors. In Baran and Churu
districts, annual income increase and increase in credit access is better for higher proportion
of BPL households, while in case of increase in social status and participation in gram sabhas,
BPL households lag behind APL households (table 3.16).
Gender Relations in the Households
DPIP in its training made efforts to build awareness of poor households and creating greater
gender sensitivity. In this regard certain questions were asked from the households. Who
takes decisions on cropping pattern sending boy to schools, sending girl to school, choice of
employment of the wife, participation in ward sabha, participation in caste panchayat, interact
with outsiders, use money earned by husband, use money earned by wife, have another child,
looking after sick of the house etc. The responses are as expected which are more reflecting
the social behaviour in rural areas (appendices tables 3.1 to 3.13). In all these decisions, men
of the household have a better say. Only marginally across states, women take decisions.
There are occasions when both men and women take decisions. One needs to understand how
the rural society behaves with respect to gender issues. For instance, the issue of cropping
pattern is more determined by household needs and number of animals with the household
and annual requirements. Any rural household would not like to buy food grains for domestic
consumption. Most of times, it is a family decisions and it reflected by responses we have got.
Mother definitely likes to send the girl child to school. The training programme of DPIP
would influence much how a household takes decisions. It is too early to reflect on changes as
there are other factors that determine such decisions.
Table 3.16: Nature of Benefits
District Annual Credit Status Gram Annual Credit Status Gram
72