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WELFARE DEPARTMENTS |
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT, A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT was started on 2nd October, 1952. It covered the whole of
Karvir taluka, and Panhala mahal, 11 villages of Hatkanangale
taluka, 13 of Kagal taluka, ten of Radhanagari taluka and nine of
Bavada mahal, making a total of 251 villages. These villages had an
area of 580.63 sq. miles and a population of 3,04,364. In the
beginning an officer of Deputy Collector's grade was appointed as
Project Officer and he was assisted by two Assistant Project
Officers. After a year and a half, one of the Assistant Project
Officers, who before his appointment was a social worker, was
promoted as Project Officer; and he was assisted by two Assistant
Project Officers of Mamlatdar's grade, drawn from the Revenue
Department. The scheme was a great success. The villagers, though
their economic condition was poor, contributed liberally both in
cash and voluntary labour towards making the scheme a success. The
project was closed on the 30th September, 1956 and converted into
two National Extension, Service Blocks, Karvir and Panhala. The
Karvir Block consists of all the villages (106) of Karvir taluka
(excluding Kolhapur city) and ten villages from Radhanagari taluka
and 13 from Kagal taluka with an aggregate area of 299.43 sq. miles.
The total population of the Karvir Block is 1,74,127. The Karvir
Block has been allotted financial allocations of 2½ blocks on
the basis of this population. The Panhala Block consists of 122
villages (102 of Panhala mahal, nine of Bavada mahal and 11 of
Hatkanangale taluka), with an aggregate area of 281.20 sq. miles
inhabited by 1,30,237 souls. It has been allotted financial
allocations of two blocks on the basis of its population. The
Mamlatdar of Karvir and the Mahalkari of Panhala are the respective
ex-officio, Block Development Officers of the Karvir and Panhala
Blocks. National Extension Service schemes have also been introduced
in Bhudargad taluka from 1st April, 1957, and in Shirol taluka from
1st May, 1956. The area of Bhudargad taluka is 253.1 sq. miles and
its population 65,929. It has been allotted financial allocation of
one block on the basis of its population. Shirol has an area of
283.8 sq. miles and its population is 1,21,192. It is treated as 1¾
blocks for the purpose of financial allocation. The Mamlatdars of
Bhudargad and Shirol are the ex-officio Block Development Officers
for their respective talukas. The Prant Officer, Northern Division,
is the Prant-cum-Project Officer for the blocks in Karvir,
Panhala and Shirol, and the Prant Officer, Southern Division, is the
Prant-cum-Project Officer for the blocks in Bhudargad. The
Prant-cum-Project Officer has overall charge of directing and
supervising development activities included in the programme. The
Collector of the district is expected to take personal interest in
the implementation of the schemes and is ultimately responsible for
their success.
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