PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 5 Pass on the pen' approach: identifying the poorest of the poor families

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 5 `Pass on the pen' approach: identifying the poorest of the poor families K Chandramouli Introduction following `PRA-LEARN' technique has been adopted, which has given impressive results1. In some of the villages in Anantapur District, India, conducting grama sabhas (credit camps) Background for identifying the poorest of the poor families for credit assistance under the Integrated Rural Obuladevaracheruvu, a village in erstwhile Development Programme (IRDP) has Kadiri (west) block is a major panchayat and remained a difficult task for the following now a mandal headquarters. It has four reasons: hamlets with a population of 4,622. · Strong village factions cause the rural people to identify themselves with one During a household survey, the majority of the group or another; households in Obuladevaracheruvu, who are well aware of what IRDP means, declared that · Rural people tend to vie with one another they are all below poverty line and their to get selected for the assistance, annual income is less than Rs.4800/-. Even the ultimately resulting in pandemonium and best of the efforts made by the Mandal cancellation of credit camp; Development Officer, who is a senior block development officer, and village development · Neglect ...