January - March 2013 - National Institute of Rural Development

100 Book ReviewsChapter six is devoted to evaluate thepoverty alleviation programmes and impact ofthe programmes is assessed based on severalstudies conducted by MoRD, GoI and DRD ofBihar apart from the secondary sources of data.It is observed by all the studies that the impactis very limited due to the lack of follow-upsupport to the beneficiaries of selfemploymentprogrammes. The focus of allthese programme implementation appears tobe target oriented and untimely. The impactof MGNREGS is also limited due to minimumnumber of days of employment and lowparticipation of women. However, the averagewage rate is maintained at `100 on par withmany other states. The impact of all other RuralDevelopment programmes including PublicDistribution Schemes (PDS), nutritionprogrammes (ICDS, Mid-day meal schemes)and social security programmes have a littleeffect on poverty. It is observed that the PAPcould not reduce the poverty in Bihar butwiden the gap between poor and non-poor.Chapter seven sums up the mainfindings, draws the conclusions and suggestsa few policy implications for Bihar as how toreduce poverty in the State. Since majority ofpopulation is dependent on agriculture inBihar, special emphasis should be given onsmall and marginal farmers, employmentgeneration programmes for landless andunskilled labour and the emphasis on skilldevelopment for women and youth. Theproper integration on technological andinstitutional reform, providing the market,credit, input supply to farmers will inducethem to adopt better farm practices toenhance the productivity and provide gainfulemployment opportunities that could helpreducing poverty. Extension of minimumsupport prices, agricultural insurance, smallfarm technologies, agricultural export andagricultural research and development willenhance the growth in agriculture anddevelopment. Participatory irrigationmanagement is worth emulating in Bihar.Substantial increase in public investment,power sector reforms, effective use of landand proper infrastructural facilities couldfacilitate the development in Bihar. Thepromotion of Self-help Groups, the farmersgroups and strengthening of PRIs and NGOswould facilitate decentralised governance andreduce poverty in Bihar. The growth of Bihareconomy has taken a turnaround during therecent past and the State is likely to be thenext home for Indian agriculture. Winds ofchange have started flowing. Saplings ofdevelopment have been planted in the Stateby upholding the rights of downtrodden,neglected castes and groups, the longstanding caste dominance will crumble downto the dust in the years to come. The renewedgovernance reforms will bring a change in thepolitical will.Though the book is primarily based onreview of various studies conducted on theeconomy and the poverty structure of Bihar,the author could analyse in the chronologicalorder so as to make a resume of the social,agricultural, economic and politicaldevelopment of the State. The book could getaccess to lot of data on various aspects of Bihar.This will be useful for all those who areworking in rural development and poverty.– Dr. Y. Gangi ReddyAnthropology and Tourism byAnupama Srivastava and Keya Pandey, SerialsPublications. New Delhi, 2012, Price : ` 695.The book ‘Anthropology and Tourism”focuses on new subject i.e., presenting tourismin anthropological point of view. The bookcontains ‘three’ parts. The first part deals withAnthropology and culture. Second part dealswith Anthropology and Tourism. Third part dealswith impact of tourism on tribals living in forestJournal of Rural Development, Vol. 32, No. 1, January - March : 2013JRD 2 (1)