The importance and significance of various aspects of rural development i.e. Scientific and technological, economic and social to name a few can be evaluated on the basis of their utility and service for the welfare of human beings. All aspects of rural change, in the ultimate analysis, should be aids to human development.
With the importance of need for achievement as an important factor in rural development it is very essential to consider the perceptual, and motivational factors of the people. In addition to these general reactions of the people i.e. People's attitudes towards new reforms, programs and innovations have been investigated.
Perception is the way people interpret the programs to which they are exposed and this by and large, explains its acceptance and adoption. How people interpret the programs
In a study of the perceived source of information in order of credibility for big and small farmers, it was noted that the personal formal source was accepted by big farmers, while small farmers accepted more trustworthiness to personal informal source and utilized the local sources.
In a study and differential perception of form practice it was found that the perception of cost has maximum discriminating power in classifying farmers into progressive and non progressive groups. This was followed by immediacy of returns and inputs available. Thus farmers who perceived the recommended practices to be less expensive, more profitable, and highly feasible with more immediate returns tended to be more progressive in nature.
According to people's perception of progress in rural India, it was found that hard work, security and self reliance were mentioned as important factors by all the benefited groups for their gains. In contrast to the perception of the benefited groups, the non benefited groups perceived political linkages) and occupation as the main reasons for disproportionate-gains to the beneficiaries. The majority of the non-benefited in almost all the groups felt that the gains given to the benefited were undeserved. Perceptual factors also included the perception of the characteristics guiding their choice of leaders. People were more influenced by the relational status like being helpful to others, and achieved status like ones educational level which were also considered to be important.
The National Adult Education Program was restricted to the acquisition of literary skills, and to some extent it did not include the awareness component: Due to which people did not have a clear perception of the benefits of programs.
Muthayya and others conducted the studies on disadvantaged groups and found that a large number of small and marginal farmers aid even those belonged to the scheduled caste and backward class groups perceived agricultural occupation as non-profitable. The most frequently perceived need among the backward class,scheduled caste,and land less laborer was cultivable land. how ever, the the need for food, shelter, and clothing were also.perceived to a large extent by scheduled caste and backward caste groups.
Regarding their perception general village situation the absence of supporting services for economic activities, inadequate employment economic opportunities were also mentioned villagers perceived the village problem in terms of poverty, unemployment,and lack of proper roads. They also perceived lesser facilities lesser degree of satisfaction.
Regarding the role of perception in rural development specific efforts need to be made in identifying the determinants of perception in terms of experience, cultural values, social values, and social pressure in shaping the perception of rural people.
Generally it is believed that in backward economies, money is the most important motivator as it is a general symbol of excellence where it stands for everything that the society can provide as long as one has money. Therefore in most of the programs either in agricultural or welfare, money has been used as an incentive.
Using external stimulation like money for motivating people with the general objective of betterment of the people, has only an immediate impact and does not sustain for a long time. The current emphasis on the basic needs approach seems to provide an answer to this problem,as once the basic needs, which are important among different groups of people, are identified and linked to the economic or welfare programs along with the incentives, their would be a base for generating and sustaining the motivation among the people.
The first task in using the motivation strategy is to identify the basic needs and then link it up meaningfully to the opportunities and incentives. This approach would provide the required level of involvement and participation of the people in economic programs which were developed for their betterment.
Studies were made to identify the factors which contribute to the motivation.
Study on disadvantaged groups found that perceived basic needs were primarily food, clothing, and shelter and to some extent, health, education, land and irrigation. It was also found that they were also dissatisfied with their present level of income. The measures suggested to improve their satisfaction with their present income were hard work, development of agriculture, purchasing land etc.
Many people restricted to improve the agriculture and allied activities, purchase of house or land, improving the economic activities and securing financial gains.
Many villagers did not express their fears concerning future , but the few who expressed them stated the increasing cost cf living, children's education and their future.
The major obstacle preventing them from taking advantage of economic opportunities elsewhere were keeping away from "friends" and "relatives", "disobeying parents", "leaving the village and selling the land".
The perceived benefits of children education among disadvantaged was in terms of securing a good job. Though in general they did not have occupational aspirations for their daughters.
In another study by Santhanamsastry and Vijay Kumar have reported that the factors which motivated the individuals to become members of organizations were availability of loans, input supply, a sense of higher status and a desire to serve people. The factors facilitating group formation were common occupation, caste group, a desire for social work. friendship, nature of leadership and forces for unity.
These studies on motivation by and large have concentrated on the variety of factors influencing motivation mainly among farmers and other disadvantaged groups.
The attitudes of people, indicate the predisposition of the different groups with regards to a variety of programs meant for them. Attitudes though generally do not represent the predictions of behavior, provide a base for accepting new orientations, programs or innovations.
Men and women may also have different attitudes which influence their respective reactions to whatever programs or innovations implemented for their benefit or betterment. Personal and social factors influence attitude formation.
Certain attitudes have a traditional base depending on the societal belief system, and attitude change take place to a large extent among those who belong to the upper class of the society either in terms of income, status or education.
However it has been observed that a change in the attitudes of the people lag for behind the socio-economic changes that take place in their environment. Many researchers focused their attention on the attitudes of farmers, effecting desired changes in them, and benefits attaining to them in agriculture and others spheres of development programs.
It has been observed that the socio-economic status of the people were analysed on the basis of the social and economic position of the individuals which in turn determines their favorable or unfavorable attitudes.
Few studies on attitudes are given in order to indicate the factors which, by and large govern the rural attitudes.
In a study by S.Pathak reported that the farm size, tenure status, cropping intensity, irrigation potentiality, aspirations and empathy were significantly and positively co-related with the attitudes of farmers.
Alexander observed in study that canal irrigation in some parts of the villages led to a substantial increase in agricultural production, income, employment opportunities, division of labor and improved living conditions and modernization of people's attitudes and values.
It was found in one of the study that majority of the farmers had a favorable attitudes towards specific aspects of technological change in agriculture. Higher caste, educational level of the farmers and larger size of the holdings were positively associated with favorable attitude formation.
Most of the respondents had an unfavorable attitude towards certain program areas like nutrition, health, housing,and electricity. However they had a more favorable attitude towards primary education, adult education, family planning and drinking water.
As for the difference between the attitudes of males & females towards welfare programs, it was observed that males had a less favorable attitude than females, though the trend was not statistically significant.
The different attitude characteristics in the total sample, males expressed more positive l feelings towards accessibility and acceptance.
In this section we have explained ho\v perception and motivation affects rural change the way in which people perceive things especially villagers and what factors motivate them . Attitudes also to a large extent influences the rural development. People differ in their attitudes. People perceive different things differently. The way in which people perceive and interpret the programs which. are exposed to them will determine its acceptance and adoption.
Attempts are made to improve the perception and the factors that lead to perception. Determinants of perception in terms of experience,cultural dictates, social pressure and social values in shaping the perceptions of the rural people are identified.
Studies on motivation by and large, has concentrated on variety of factors influencing motivation mainly among farmers and other disadvantaged groups.
The general objective behind motivating people was to provide betterment for the villagers and disadvantaged groups. The pattern of motivation among different groups of people engaged in productive activity needs to be explored further so that motivation strategies for development can be suggested.
Attitudes of the people provide the base for accepting new orientation programs, innovations. Therefore large number of studies on attitudes have revealed that certain personal social factors influence attitude formation and certain attitudes have a traditional base.
There has been large difference between the attitudes of men and women regarding many welfare programs, economic status, educational level, occupations etc.
A large number of studies on attitudes assess attitude towards occupations, adoption of innovative practices, services and facilities. To some extent these have been studies examining the determinants of attitudes. However there are not many studies which highlight an understanding of attitudes related to various economic programs, social facilities, services etc.
Therefore, it is essential to contribute to the development of strategies for attitude change were ever desired.
With the importance of need for achievement as an important factor in rural development it is very essential to consider the perceptual, and motivational factors of the people. In addition to these general reactions of the people i.e. People's attitudes towards new reforms, programs and innovations have been investigated.
PERCEPTUAL FACTORS AFFECTING RURAL CHANGE
Perception is the way people interpret the programs to which they are exposed and this by and large, explains its acceptance and adoption. How people interpret the programs
In a study of the perceived source of information in order of credibility for big and small farmers, it was noted that the personal formal source was accepted by big farmers, while small farmers accepted more trustworthiness to personal informal source and utilized the local sources.
In a study and differential perception of form practice it was found that the perception of cost has maximum discriminating power in classifying farmers into progressive and non progressive groups. This was followed by immediacy of returns and inputs available. Thus farmers who perceived the recommended practices to be less expensive, more profitable, and highly feasible with more immediate returns tended to be more progressive in nature.
According to people's perception of progress in rural India, it was found that hard work, security and self reliance were mentioned as important factors by all the benefited groups for their gains. In contrast to the perception of the benefited groups, the non benefited groups perceived political linkages) and occupation as the main reasons for disproportionate-gains to the beneficiaries. The majority of the non-benefited in almost all the groups felt that the gains given to the benefited were undeserved. Perceptual factors also included the perception of the characteristics guiding their choice of leaders. People were more influenced by the relational status like being helpful to others, and achieved status like ones educational level which were also considered to be important.
The National Adult Education Program was restricted to the acquisition of literary skills, and to some extent it did not include the awareness component: Due to which people did not have a clear perception of the benefits of programs.
Muthayya and others conducted the studies on disadvantaged groups and found that a large number of small and marginal farmers aid even those belonged to the scheduled caste and backward class groups perceived agricultural occupation as non-profitable. The most frequently perceived need among the backward class,scheduled caste,and land less laborer was cultivable land. how ever, the the need for food, shelter, and clothing were also.perceived to a large extent by scheduled caste and backward caste groups.
Regarding their perception general village situation the absence of supporting services for economic activities, inadequate employment economic opportunities were also mentioned villagers perceived the village problem in terms of poverty, unemployment,and lack of proper roads. They also perceived lesser facilities lesser degree of satisfaction.
Regarding the role of perception in rural development specific efforts need to be made in identifying the determinants of perception in terms of experience, cultural values, social values, and social pressure in shaping the perception of rural people.
MOTIVATIONAL ASPECTS IN RURAL CHANGE
Generally it is believed that in backward economies, money is the most important motivator as it is a general symbol of excellence where it stands for everything that the society can provide as long as one has money. Therefore in most of the programs either in agricultural or welfare, money has been used as an incentive.
Using external stimulation like money for motivating people with the general objective of betterment of the people, has only an immediate impact and does not sustain for a long time. The current emphasis on the basic needs approach seems to provide an answer to this problem,as once the basic needs, which are important among different groups of people, are identified and linked to the economic or welfare programs along with the incentives, their would be a base for generating and sustaining the motivation among the people.
The first task in using the motivation strategy is to identify the basic needs and then link it up meaningfully to the opportunities and incentives. This approach would provide the required level of involvement and participation of the people in economic programs which were developed for their betterment.
Studies were made to identify the factors which contribute to the motivation.
Study on disadvantaged groups found that perceived basic needs were primarily food, clothing, and shelter and to some extent, health, education, land and irrigation. It was also found that they were also dissatisfied with their present level of income. The measures suggested to improve their satisfaction with their present income were hard work, development of agriculture, purchasing land etc.
Many people restricted to improve the agriculture and allied activities, purchase of house or land, improving the economic activities and securing financial gains.
Many villagers did not express their fears concerning future , but the few who expressed them stated the increasing cost cf living, children's education and their future.
The major obstacle preventing them from taking advantage of economic opportunities elsewhere were keeping away from "friends" and "relatives", "disobeying parents", "leaving the village and selling the land".
The perceived benefits of children education among disadvantaged was in terms of securing a good job. Though in general they did not have occupational aspirations for their daughters.
In another study by Santhanamsastry and Vijay Kumar have reported that the factors which motivated the individuals to become members of organizations were availability of loans, input supply, a sense of higher status and a desire to serve people. The factors facilitating group formation were common occupation, caste group, a desire for social work. friendship, nature of leadership and forces for unity.
These studies on motivation by and large have concentrated on the variety of factors influencing motivation mainly among farmers and other disadvantaged groups.
ATTITUDINAL BASE FOR RURAL CHANGE
The attitudes of people, indicate the predisposition of the different groups with regards to a variety of programs meant for them. Attitudes though generally do not represent the predictions of behavior, provide a base for accepting new orientations, programs or innovations.
Men and women may also have different attitudes which influence their respective reactions to whatever programs or innovations implemented for their benefit or betterment. Personal and social factors influence attitude formation.
Certain attitudes have a traditional base depending on the societal belief system, and attitude change take place to a large extent among those who belong to the upper class of the society either in terms of income, status or education.
However it has been observed that a change in the attitudes of the people lag for behind the socio-economic changes that take place in their environment. Many researchers focused their attention on the attitudes of farmers, effecting desired changes in them, and benefits attaining to them in agriculture and others spheres of development programs.
It has been observed that the socio-economic status of the people were analysed on the basis of the social and economic position of the individuals which in turn determines their favorable or unfavorable attitudes.
Few studies on attitudes are given in order to indicate the factors which, by and large govern the rural attitudes.
In a study by S.Pathak reported that the farm size, tenure status, cropping intensity, irrigation potentiality, aspirations and empathy were significantly and positively co-related with the attitudes of farmers.
Alexander observed in study that canal irrigation in some parts of the villages led to a substantial increase in agricultural production, income, employment opportunities, division of labor and improved living conditions and modernization of people's attitudes and values.
It was found in one of the study that majority of the farmers had a favorable attitudes towards specific aspects of technological change in agriculture. Higher caste, educational level of the farmers and larger size of the holdings were positively associated with favorable attitude formation.
Most of the respondents had an unfavorable attitude towards certain program areas like nutrition, health, housing,and electricity. However they had a more favorable attitude towards primary education, adult education, family planning and drinking water.
As for the difference between the attitudes of males & females towards welfare programs, it was observed that males had a less favorable attitude than females, though the trend was not statistically significant.
The different attitude characteristics in the total sample, males expressed more positive l feelings towards accessibility and acceptance.
SUMMARY
In this section we have explained ho\v perception and motivation affects rural change the way in which people perceive things especially villagers and what factors motivate them . Attitudes also to a large extent influences the rural development. People differ in their attitudes. People perceive different things differently. The way in which people perceive and interpret the programs which. are exposed to them will determine its acceptance and adoption.
Attempts are made to improve the perception and the factors that lead to perception. Determinants of perception in terms of experience,cultural dictates, social pressure and social values in shaping the perceptions of the rural people are identified.
Studies on motivation by and large, has concentrated on variety of factors influencing motivation mainly among farmers and other disadvantaged groups.
The general objective behind motivating people was to provide betterment for the villagers and disadvantaged groups. The pattern of motivation among different groups of people engaged in productive activity needs to be explored further so that motivation strategies for development can be suggested.
Attitudes of the people provide the base for accepting new orientation programs, innovations. Therefore large number of studies on attitudes have revealed that certain personal social factors influence attitude formation and certain attitudes have a traditional base.
There has been large difference between the attitudes of men and women regarding many welfare programs, economic status, educational level, occupations etc.
A large number of studies on attitudes assess attitude towards occupations, adoption of innovative practices, services and facilities. To some extent these have been studies examining the determinants of attitudes. However there are not many studies which highlight an understanding of attitudes related to various economic programs, social facilities, services etc.
Therefore, it is essential to contribute to the development of strategies for attitude change were ever desired.