WELFARE DEPARTMENTS

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT, A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT was started on 2nd October, 1952. It covered the whole of Karvir taluka, and Panhala mahal, 11 villages of Hatkanangale taluka, 13 of Kagal taluka, ten of Radhanagari taluka and nine of Bavada mahal, making a total of 251 villages. These villages had an area of 580.63 sq. miles and a population of 3,04,364. In the beginning an officer of Deputy Collector's grade was appointed as Project Officer and he was assisted by two Assistant Project Officers. After a year and a half, one of the Assistant Project Officers, who before his appointment was a social worker, was promoted as Project Officer; and he was assisted by two Assistant Project Officers of Mamlatdar's grade, drawn from the Revenue Department. The scheme was a great success. The villagers, though their economic condition was poor, contributed liberally both in cash and voluntary labour towards making the scheme a success. The project was closed on the 30th September, 1956 and converted into two National Extension, Service Blocks, Karvir and Panhala. The Karvir Block consists of all the villages (106) of Karvir taluka (excluding Kolhapur city) and ten villages from Radhanagari taluka and 13 from Kagal taluka with an aggregate area of 299.43 sq. miles. The total population of the Karvir Block is 1,74,127. The Karvir Block has been allotted financial allocations of 2½ blocks on the basis of this population. The Panhala Block consists of 122 villages (102 of Panhala mahal, nine of Bavada mahal and 11 of Hatkanangale taluka), with an aggregate area of 281.20 sq. miles inhabited by 1,30,237 souls. It has been allotted financial allocations of two blocks on the basis of its population. The Mamlatdar of Karvir and the Mahalkari of Panhala are the respective ex-officio, Block Development Officers of the Karvir and Panhala Blocks. National Extension Service schemes have also been introduced in Bhudargad taluka from 1st April, 1957, and in Shirol taluka from 1st May, 1956. The area of Bhudargad taluka is 253.1 sq. miles and its population 65,929. It has been allotted financial allocation of one block on the basis of its population. Shirol has an area of 283.8 sq. miles and its population is 1,21,192. It is treated as 1¾ blocks for the purpose of financial allocation. The Mamlatdars of Bhudargad and Shirol are the ex-officio Block Development Officers for their respective talukas. The Prant Officer, Northern Division, is the Prant-cum-Project Officer for the blocks in Karvir, Panhala and Shirol, and the Prant Officer, Southern Division, is the Prant-cum-Project Officer for the blocks in Bhudargad. The Prant-cum-Project Officer has overall charge of directing and supervising development activities included in the programme. The Collector of the district is expected to take personal interest in the implementation of the schemes and is ultimately responsible for their success.

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