The socioeconomic transformation of the rural masses can be easily catalyzed through Science & Technology. Te difficulties experienced over the four decades in the accessibility of the government laboratories to the rural masses has led to the invent of a new policy under STAND programme where the selective voluntary agencies having S&T orientation may qualify to be support on long term basis to undertake specific S&T activities in rural areas. The society, in 1991, qualified for long term core support of DST in the area of environmental health to focus greater attention on developing the rural environmental health programmes.
 

Tanda Block, of district Faizabad, U.P. is one of the backward areas of the state, having a high percentage of Schedule Caste population. Most of the villagers are artisans, labourers or small farmers. The social educational & economic backwardness of this block is partly attributed to the haphazardly executed, hence ineffective development scheme and bureaucracy. A project was entrusted by the DST for reviewing & assessing the activities of the agencies involved & the status of scheduled caste population in the mentioned block. The survey was conducted by ERL and it was found that the conditions of existence were the same as they were in pre independence era. It was strongly suggested that development schemes should be implemented through voluntary organizations, as priority areas were identified and need was quantified.

Objectives:
 

1. Identifying resources persons/agencies and community leaders involved in the development of scheduled caste population in Tanda Block (Distrct Faizabad, U.P.).
2. Review of complete studies by institutions engaged in the development of schedule caste population.

Assessing the status of the weakest population, their dispersed and prioritized needs.