People's Politics and Governance in the Countryside an Ethnographic Profile of Emerging Leaders from the Countryside of South India

The government initiatives to enhance the situation of the rural mass, especially rural women, have paved the way to Integrated Rural Development Programmes (IRDP) in India. As part of the IRDP, the Government initiated the formation of groups in the villages of rural India with the name as DWCRA or Self Help Groups (SHG’s).  With the help of the Government as well as donor agencies, the programme became successful in some parts of rural India and here are the cases where these groups became the symbol of success to neighbouring areas in the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh.

The present cases are situated in three backward areas of the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, India. These three cases are different from each other but the ultimate goal of the three cases is the same as enhancement of lives and livelihoods of rural masses. The present paper tries to explain how the members of these groups have emerged as leaders in their respective areas and enhanced the lives and livelihoods of the people in general and women in particular in Andhra Pradesh. Three cases are Rythu Sangam (Farmers Club, Chittoor), Dalit Horticulture Club (Anantapur), and Village Organization (Anantapur) which have studied and regarded as the backbone of rural masses in the two districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The Three initiatives have shown that people, rural women, have improved their awareness and enhanced their lifestyle. Further, it also explains how they have strengthened their groups by acting as pressure groups in their locality which is benefited them to a large extent. To conclude, the paper has shown the importance of emerging leaders, rural women, in the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh.