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Abstract

People's participation and the influence of socio-psychological characteristics of the beneficiaries on their participation were assessed under a watershed development project in the State of Kerala, India. The results indicate a ‘target-oriented’ approach, without much attention to social organization for promoting people's participation. Most of the beneficiaries of the project have medium level of participation in watershed-related activities. Socio-economic status, level of modernization and extension participation of the beneficiaries are the characteristics which can be used to discriminate between people with low, medium and high levels of participation. The five socio-psychological characteristics of beneficiaries in the study, together, explain 96.8 per cent of the variance observed in participation level between beneficiaries having less than one ha and those having more than 1 ha landholding. There exists potential for the implementing agencies of development projects for identifying and promoting such characteristics of the beneficiaries for improving their involvement under the project.

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Assessment of People's Participation under Watershed Development Programme in the State of Kerala,India

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