A DWCRA ODYSSEY IN NORTH-24 PARGANAS - A LEARNING-EXPERIENCE

Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) is a sub-sche me of IRDP and is being implemented by DRDAs. DWCRA is different from other schemes of women in that it is group approach and includes child care, training and social aspects with a view to improve the status o f women and empower them. In due course DWCRA shoud become a movement of rural poor women. Considerable progress has been made both in physi cal and financial target achievement. Lack of orientation in the conce pt, philosophy and process through appropriate training to functionari es and women has led to many field level distortions. The really poor are, many times not covered. Collective action through group approach, which is the pivotal approach of DWCRA, has been eluding. There are, however, some shining examples of success. It is time to learn from su ccesses and redefine the roles of various participants to ensure that envisaged goals are being realised.