Creating demand systems in drought prone regions: random thoughts and personal field notes from a group action - research project - journal II

Abstract

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad had initiated an action-research project in three districts with similar ecological and social stress but dissimilar administrative system. A group of faculty members from Centre for Management in Agriculture and Public Systems Group pursued the idea of creation of demand groups of poor by the local bureaucracy on itself. The hope was that generation of this demand might help in counteracting the demand from vested interests resulting in unfair distribution of resources, information and services. The first journal of this project was written by late Prof. Ravi J. Mathai and the draft (written in 1983) reported here was expected to be the second journal. However, it never could be discussed in the group at length and hence remains author's individual understanding and account of a group action-research endeavour. It is hoped that various hypothesis which were generated might provoke more comprehensive, sustained and meaningful explorations by other colleagues. The ethical issues in initiating an endeavour of this sort without taking it to its logical conclusions will be discussed separately.