THE VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY-HEALTH MOVEMENT IN INDIA - A STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS (SWOT) ANALYSIS

There has been a prolific growth of voluntary organizations in India s ince independence in 1947. One of the major areas of this growth has b een in the field of community health. The purpose of this article is t o historically trace the voluntary movement in community health in Ind ia, analyze the current status, and predict future trends of voluntary efforts. A review of the literature in the form of a Strengths, Weakn esses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis was the method of th is study. Some of the key trends which emerged as the priority areas f or progress and for strengthening voluntary organizations in the futur e were enhancing linkages between health and development; building upo n collective force; greater utilization of participatory training; est ablishing egalitarian and effectual linkages for decision making at th e international level; developing self-reliant community-based models; and the need for attaining holistic empowerment at individual, organi zational, and community levels through ''duty consciousness'' as oppos ed to merely asking for rights.