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REPORT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL BENGAL
March 2003
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SURUL
The picture presented by the Surul Village was entirely different as far as the profession and its associated organisations are concerned.
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| Caste distinction is still prevalent and there is an element of exploitation of the people belonging to the Scheduled Castes. Exploitation takes the shape of domestic help and carriers of Panchayat's garbage disposal vans
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| Distinction based on religion is far less
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The villagers here are more in touch with the latest technological developments due to Government assistance and are more in contact with the metropolitan cities like Kolkata.
... This is reflected in the accurate knowledge of appropriate markets in Kolkata and Chennai for capital goods and product markets.
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| Loans are not easily available as banks are unwilling to lend without adequate mortgageable assets.
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| Contradictions in statement regarding the role of middlemen for sale of products. While on the one hand Mrs. Dutta said that the middlemen had no role in marketing of products, on the other she said that the middlemen purchase products for them at a price of Rs.1800 and sell it at a much higher price of around Rs.2400. the profits, therefore, do not accrue to them and are instead absorbed by the middlemen
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| External diseconomies exist as far as agriculture is concerned. Further, it entails, high labour costs
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| There are complaints of inadequate transport facilities and supply of electricity
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Prevalence of private tuitions among school-going children in spite of their financial conditions.
... The drive for private tuition is triggered off by the competition that exists between the students. This is further fuelled by the intense desire of the parents to see their child outshine all others. Hence private tuitions are encouraged by all. However, Mrs. Dutta, as a representative of higher castes of the social strata, acknowledges the inability of parents belonging to the Scheduled Castes in being able to provide for private tuitions for their wards. She says this is primarily due to lack of adequate financial capability
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| Monsoons are the slack season for the artisans due to the scarce inflow of tourists who are their prime customers
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Surul village was well developed as we had already heard from our professors. The village differed markedly from the neighbouring villages in that it had mostly 'pucca' construction and adequate drainage facilities. The village was 'urban' in thought, which reflected in their family planning and education programmes.
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