A Comparison Regarding the Utilization of Development Input among the Lodhas of Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal
In this article compared the utilization of various types of development inputs among the Lodha community (a scheduled tribe) in three administrative blocks of Paschim (west) Medinipur district of West Bengal. The study identified landlessness and poverty as major constraints in implementing developmental programmes among the Lodhas. Distribution of patta land to landless Lodha families by the Government was not done appropriately. No proper planning for developmental inputs like housing scheme (under IAY) was done. In addition, the gadgets like solar cells distributed to the poor and landless Lodha families were not used. Many of them sold the solar cells to the wealthy neighbours. Under this above scenario we compared the utilization of development inputs in the three blocks. In this study I have found that three major development inputs like patta, house and solar cells are lies very worst scenario both in terms of patta and solar cell distribution and its utilisation by the beneficiary families in Binpur-II block. The development assistance given in the form of high technology solar cells revealed a grim scenario both at Binpur II and Nayagram blocks while the Solar cell has not been given to the Lodha families of Narayangarh block. But the beneficiaries of Narayangarh block showed the overall best performance towards the utilisation of other development keys was found to be fairly well. The study revealed that the utilization of development inputs depended on policy and planning as well as social and political factors. Finally, some recommendations are advanced for better implantation of development inputs among this marginalized community of West Bengal.
