IndexThe CommunityDevelopmentCommunity Development ProgramEssentials of Community DevelopmentCommunity development during the early stages of developmentObjectives of the Community Development ProgramThe philosophy behind the Community Development ProgramThe CommunityThe term community is a group of people living in a geographical area and have a mutual interest for the purpose of earning a living. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay "A community, while composed of many parts, is also part of a larger social system. It is a dynamic social unit that is subject to changes of internal or external origin."DevelopmentDevelopment connotes growth or maturation. It involves gradual and sequential phases of change. According to MacIver "Development" means an ascending course in a process "i.e. of increasing differentiation. Community development is an ongoing process of social action through which the people of a community: Define their common and group needs; Organize themselves formally and in informal way for democratic planning and action; make group and individual plans to meet their needs and solve their problems; execute their plans with maximum confidence in their own resources; when needed with services and materials. According to Carl Tylor, "community development is a method by which people in villages are involved in helping to improve their economic and social conditions and thus become effective working groups in the program of their national development ". can make their own decisions and are helped to carry out the programme. Community Development Program Community Development Program was started in India, soon after independence (1952). It was a multi-project program with the objective of overall development of rural populations. This program consisted of agriculture, animal husbandry, irrigation, cooperation, public wealth, education, social education, communication, village industries etc. There are officials for each activity at the district level to plan, execute and evaluate the program up to the village level.Essential Elements of Community Development Successful community development program emphasizes the following basic elements: The activities undertaken must match the basic needs of the community. The first projects should be initiated in response to the needs expressed by people. There should be concerted action and the creation of multipurpose programs. Change in people's attitudes is as important as the material outcome through community development during the initial stages of DevelopmentCommunity development aims at greater and better participation of people in community affairs, the revitalization of existing forms of local government and the transition to a effective local administration where it is not yet functioning. Identifying, encouraging and training local leadership should be a key goal in developing any program. Greater reliance on women and youth participation in community projects invigorates development programs, establishes them on a broad basis and successful expansion in the long term. To be fully effective, community self-help projects require both internal and external assistance from the government. The implementation of a CDP on a national scale requires the adoption of coherent policies, specific administrative arrangements, recruitment and training of staff, mobilization of local and national resources and organization of