1. Village Development in Southern India
Headed by Dr. Lawrence Root, Ph.D. Director of the Office of Global Activities, Professor of Social Work
Graduate Assistant: Lindsey Miller, MSW Candidate
Undergraduate UROP Assistant: Stephanie Mecham, College of LSA
Abstract
The Srinivasan Services Trust (SST) is a non-
governmental organization in southern India
that works to promote village development in
impoverished areas of India through women’s
empowerment, sustainability, education,
public health, and social justice. The focus of
their work aims to accomplish these goals in
the most feasible and viable manner possible,
for everyone, independent of caste,
socioeconomic status, gender, or religion. A
variety of approaches are used to measure
the viability, cost-efficiency, sustainability, and
cultural relevance of their projects. The logic
models, after assessing their current
strategies, are compared with other projects
in similar areas. Suggestions will be made to
the SST, as needed, for modification of their
services to more effectively deliver services
for sustainable change in rural Indian villages.
Village and System
Conditions
Program Components Village Activities
1.1 Target Population
Rural villages in Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh
who collaborate with SST.
1.2 Gap in Services/Need
Target population lacks access
and/or under-utilizes programs
that foster economic
development, sustainable
environmental and infrastructure
development and quality
education.
1.3 Resources
Board of Directors, animators,
program-specific consultants,
community members,
government and corporate
partners
3.1 Meet with community
leaders
3.2 Conduct baseline survey
and assessment
3.3 Develop specific programs
with partner organizations
(including infrastructure,
public health, environmental,
and agricultural development)
that SST and the community
cannot perform on their own
3.4 Develop a plan for the
labor and finances within the
community
3.5 Provide services like
Women’s self-help groups,
economic development
planning for youth, and
education.
2.1 Bridge-building with
Community
2.2 Community Needs
Assessment
2.3 Individualized Interventions
with Partner Organizations
2.4 Facilitate Community
Participation
2.5 Direct Services
Logic Model
Methods
The following assessment tools will be
used with program participants, SST
staff and stakeholders:
• Baseline Surveys
• Community Needs Assessments
• Observations and Statistical
Analysis
• Focus Groups
• Interviews and Questionnaires
The quantitative and qualitative data
from these sources will be collected
onsite during the summer of 2014.The
data that we collect, along with
observations and interviews, will be
used to analyze the effectiveness of
SST’s actions and draw conclusions for
logical future steps.
SST’s Village Development Process:
Anticipated Outcomes
Provide information to SST which has positive effects on the efforts spur income generation for women, strengthen the village’s infrastructure,
and improve literacy rates and maternal/child health outcomes. We hope to improve sanitation and decrease incidence of disease, improve
farming efficiency, create sustainable water sources, protect existing land, and develop strong sources of communication. Over time, SST’s
actions should help reduce poverty, ease tensions between castes and religions, increase self-efficacy of both individuals and groups, create
sustainable development, and overall improve quality of life for the residents.