Community development block

Administrative structure of India

In India, a Community development block (CD block) or simply Block is a sub-division of Tehsil, administratively earmarked for planning and development.[1] In tribal areas, similar sub-divisions are called tribal development blocks (TD blocks).[2] The area is administered by a Block Development Officer (BDO), supported by several technical specialists and village-level workers.[3] A community development block covers several gram panchayats, the local administrative units at the village level. A block is a rural subdivision and typically smaller than a tehsil. A tehsil is purely for revenue administration, whereas a block is for rural development purposes. In most states, a block is coterminous with the panchayat samiti area.[4][5][6]

Nomenclature

[edit]

The nomenclature varies from state to state, such as common terms like "block" and others including community development block, panchayat union block, panchayat block, panchayat samiti block, development block, etc. All denote a CD Block, which is a subdivision of a district, exclusively for rural development.[7][6][4]

History

[edit]

The concept of the community development block was first suggested by Grow More Food (GMF) Enquiry Committee in 1952 to address the challenge of multiple rural development agencies working without a sense of common objectives.[8] Based on the committee's recommendations, the community development programme was launched on a pilot basis in 1952 to provide for a substantial increase in the country's agricultural programme, and for improvements in systems of communication, in rural health and hygiene, and in rural education and also to initiate and direct a process of integrated culture change aimed at transforming the social and economic life of villagers.[9] The community development programme was rapidly implemented. In 1956, by the end of the first five-year plan period, there were 248 blocks, covering around a fifth of the population in the country. By the end the second five-year plan period, there were 3,000 blocks covering 70 per cent of the rural population. By 1964, the entire country was covered.[10]

Block Development Officer

[edit]

In India, a Civil service officer of the rank of Block Development Officer (BDO) is the in-charge of a CD Block in India. BDO are usually officers of representative state-governments. BDO reports to the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

Blocks statewise

[edit]

[11]

State CD Block Number of
CD Blocks
Andaman and Nicobar Islands CD Block 9
Andhra Pradesh Mandal 668
Arunachal Pradesh Block 129
Assam Block 239
Bihar Block 534
Chandigarh Block 3
Chhattisgarh CD Block 146
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu CD Block 3
Delhi CD Block 342
Goa CD Block 12
Gujarat CD Block 250
Haryana Block 143
Himachal Pradesh CD Block 88
Jammu and Kashmir CD Block 287
Jharkhand Block 264
Karnataka CD Block 235
Kerala Block 152
Ladakh CD Block 31
Lakshadweep CD Block 10
Madhya Pradesh CD Block 313
Maharashtra CD Block 352
Manipur CD Block 70
Meghalaya CD Block 54
Mizoram CD Block 28
Nagaland CD Block 74
Odisha CD Block 314
Puducherry CD Block 6
Punjab CD Block 153
Rajasthan CD Block 353
Sikkim CD Block 33
Tamil Nadu Taluk 388
Telangana Mandal 594
Tripura CD Block 58
Uttar Pradesh CD Block 826
Uttarakhand CD Block 95
West Bengal CD Block 345

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Maheshwari, Shriram. "Rural Development and Bureaucracy in India". The Indian Journal of Public Administration. XXX (3): 1093–1100.
  2. ^ Vidyarthi, Lalita Prasad (1981). Tribal Development and Its Administration. Concept Publishing Company.
  3. ^ Sharma, Shailendra D. (1999). Development and Democracy in India. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc. ISBN 9781555878108.
  4. ^ a b "Development Blocks | District Barabanki, Government of Uttar Pradesh | India". Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  5. ^ CD Blocks of Assam. "Administrative setup".
  6. ^ a b "GUIDELINES FOR THE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS OF THE NEWLY CREATED ADDITIONAL BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS IN THE PANCHAYAT UNION ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP" (PDF). Rural Development Department, Government of Tami Nadu.
  7. ^ "Block development offices; Kerala, Commissionerate of Rural Development".
  8. ^ Report of The Grow More Food Enquiry Committee. Government of India Ministry of Food and Agriculture. 1952.
  9. ^ "First Five Year Plan". Planning Commission. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  10. ^ "The Failure of the Community Development Programme in India". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  11. ^ https://pdi.gov.in/demo/MDV/Public/State-wise-Summary.aspx