EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Title: Understanding Organisation as part of OTS.

Organisation : District Rural Development Agency, Chittoor.
Reporting Officer: Shri. P. Raghunandana Rao, Project Director
Faculty Guide: Prof. L.K. Vaswani
Students’ names: Rahul Kasinadhuni, Rajani Kumar, Pragna Kolli

Objectives:
1. To understand the vision, mission and the Objectives for existence of the Organisation.
2. To understand the various strategies, systems, processes and stakeholders involved in
achieving the stated objectives.
3. To understand where the Organisation is standing now and where is it heading towards

Scope: This study is confined to the DRDA/DPIP, Chittoor and the findings, suggestions cannot
be replicated in isolation without understanding the enabling conditions.

Methodology: The study is done based on data collected from both primary and secondary
sources from the stakeholders. Semi-structures interviews were conducted with both the line and
staff personnel. Board meetings at district and mandal level federations, special committees, and
informal interactions with SHG women also formed part of data collection.

Data Sources: The primary sources of data were the beneficiaries, SHG leaders, VO, MS and ZS
members, DRDA/DPIP staff, State project managers SERP, professionals from various
Organisations working in the Rural developmental sector. The secondary sources of information
being, the evaluation reports of the organization, Financial and operational Reports from SERP,
MIS forms available in the office, Websites of Velugu, Ministry of Rural Development.

Major findings: The merger of DRDA with DPIP led to a deviation in the objectives of the
traditional DRDA. It is now into implementation of developmental activities that was strictly
prohibited earlier and is hence involved in both implementation and monitoring. The purpose of
separating the implementing agency from the monitoring agency, which was one of the causes of
establishing DRDA is lost. The overall performance of the project is very effective in terms of
easy access to credit, encouraging income generating and asset building activities and
empowering the poorest of the poor through women SHG federations. But, the Organisation is
presently facing problems with the information flow, lack of standardization of procedures, lack
of role clarity among employees, inadequate MIS, lack of performance measurement and work
monitoring systems. Job enrichment, performance based incentive system and performance
appraisal system are completely lacking in certain lower level jobs. All this put together, it is
questioning the very sustainability of the institutions that were built by the project. The lack of
education among the women is also a potential threat to the institutions.

Recommendations: The impact on the important parameters like increase in the income
generated, the disposable income and assets of the beneficiaries have to be measured. A
Computerised MIS can be designed to capture information regarding the working of each
employee at every level. Educating the women is necessary for the sustainability of the
institutions. The Jobs have to be standardized in terms of duties, Responsibilities, Dos’ and
Don’ts’. A clear formal Job description based on the above has to be given to each employee.
.Penal provisions should be in place for non-compliance and non-performance. Performance
appraisal system has to be introduced into the Organisation.