Problems in Critique of IRDP

Problems in Critique of IRDP M L Dantwala FIELD investigations provide insights and critical information pertaining to the impact of developmental and welfare programmes. The macro data catch the broad contours but are not able to provide finer insights into the functioning of the programmes at the grassroots. Jean Dreze (EPW, September 29) has conducted an intensive survey of the functioning of the IRDP in Palanpur, a village in Moradabad district of western Uttar Pradesh. The findings of this survey have been supplemented by the findings of brief surveys of IRDP in some villages of Gujarat and West Bengal. As expected, the author's finding regarding the function of IRDP