February 5, 1955

Community Organisation and Development in Lebanon K G Sivaswamy

(This is the third and concluding article of the series, the first two of which appeared in the issues of January 8 and January 15.)

TH E vi l l age organisa t ion w h i c h looks after act ivi t ies l ike

water supply, v i l l age p l a n n i n g , elec­t r i c i t y , p u b l i c te lephone, educa t ion , san i ta t ion , etc, is ca l led a m u n i c i ­p a l i t y in Lebanon , A m u n i c i p a l i t y is def ined as a local organisa t ion f o r m e d f r o m local leaders, elected o r n o m i n a t e d , w h o are expected to do service fo r the v i l l age as a who le a n d for a l l its people. In so far as mun ic ipa l i t i e s embrace a l l the people, a n d not merely a section as c o m m u n a l chari t ies do, t h e i r i m p o r t ­ance in deve lop ing c o m m u n i t y res­pons ib i l i ty i s great. I f G o v e r n ­ment a n d p o l i t i c a l parties do no t interfere in the i r elections a n d ad­m i n i s t r a t i o n , these munic ipa l i t i e s can grea t ly he lp i n b u i l d i n g c o m ­m u n i t y responsibi l i ty a n d leadership.

COMMUNITY VS COMMUNAL GROUPS

In a coun t ry , where even the legislature recognises representat ion for rel igious, r ac ia l a n d sub-religious groups, any i n s t i t u t i o n w h i c h ruts across these groups a n d brings a l l of t h e m together on an area basis for economic a n d civic purposes has a special impor t ance in p r o m o t i n g na t i ona l un i t y . T h e A b a d i y a Co­opera t ive Society has b rough t t o ­gether the Druzes a n d Greeks. M u n i c i p a l i t i e s also he lp to b r i n g to­gether c o m m u n a l groups. C o m ­m u n i t y organisa t ion of these type has, therefore, an immense social va lue i n the i n t e g r a t i o n o f rac ia l a n d rel igious groups.

METHODS OF WORK

M u c h experience has been ga ined f r o m the w o r k i n g o f the fore ign agencies for c o m m u n i t y i m p r o v e ­ment . T h e i r surplus funds have been the i r bane. T h e p u t t i n g u p o f c o m m u n i t y halls i n vil lages, w h i c h the vi l lagers were ce r t a in ly n o t in need of, l ed to the i r be ing used for g r a i n storage. T h e s w i m ­m i n g p o o l , about whose need the f a r m e r w o u l d h a r d l y d r e a m o f a n d w h i c h he considered a h a r m f u l l u x u r y , was v i e w e d w i t h hos t i l i t y b y h i m . Free c l in ics , w h e n free service was s topped, n a t u r a l l y closed, b u t Where the c o n t r i b u t o r y system of m e d i c a l service t o w h i c h the f a m i l y c o n t r i b u t e d was established, it cer-tainly continued The free supply

of slabs fo r bore-hole latr ines was no t of m u c h use unless people de­m a n d e d latr ines a n d p a i d fo r the slabs. T h e t r a i n i n g school for n u r ­ses h a d to be closed for w a n t of response. Cost ly games a n d recrea­tions made n o appeal . I f m a n y o f the ins t i tu t ions w h i c h the fore ign agencies established d i d not take root , i t was because they were the expression of ma te r i a l l y advanced societies w h i c h c o u l d a f fo rd t h e m , a n d not of a society s t rugg l ing for a l i v i n g between one c rop a n d another .

F o l l o w i n g the fa i lure of the move to graf t Western standards of l i fe on an Eastern under-developed eco­nomy, a lot of l i t e ra ture is now be­i n g pub l i shed on w h a t i s cal led the preservat ion of c u l t u r a l au tonomy . Social experts, r ec ru i ted f r o m West­e r n countr ies , now emphasise the need of social studies of exis t ing customs. Sometimes the d i r ec t i on of social w o r k is reversed. I t looks as i f some outside specialists w a n t to h u m o u r b a c k w a r d groups i n order to cu l t iva te i n t imacy .

EAST AND WEST

T h e difference between the East a n d West is one of degree, a n d not o f k i n d . Modes of l ife are d i c t a t ed by convenience a n d pover ty . C h a ­racter a n d capacities are c o n d i t i o n ­ed by the w o r k one does. W i t h indus t r i a l i sa t ion a n d m a x i m u m e m ­p l o y m e n t i n the East, i n d i v i d u a l i n ­comes w i l l increase a n d the s tand­a r d o f l i fe too w i l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y rise. P r o m o t i o n of economic deve­l o p m e n t shou ld be the p r i n c i p a l a i m o f c o m m u n i t y deve lopment . T o the extent economic progress is h inde r ­ed for w a n t of social progress such as the p r even t i on of ma la r i a , p r o ­v i s ion of latr ines a n d water -supply or f ly or insect c o n t r o l , to tha t ex­tent alone equal p r i o r i t y should be g iven to a social p r o g r a m m e a long w i t h a n economic p r o g r a m m e . Pro­m o t i o n of o ther social act ivi t ies , fo r w h i c h ne i ther the i n d i v i d u a l no r the State has resources is no t mere ly a wastefu l p r o g r a m m e ; i t i s l ike ly to mis lead a c o u n t r y in regard to p r i o ­ri t ies o f deve lopment . F u r t h e r m o r e , such act ivi t ies , in so far as they have n o i m m e d i a t e va lue , w i l l fo r fe i t p u b ­l i c confidence a n d respect f o r the au thor i t ies t ha t p romote t h e m .

C o m m u n i t y projects under Po in t 4 have a similar pattern in a l l countries. I n Lebanon, t he U n i t e d States agency under Point 4 has taken up canal improvement in the L i t any area. At the t ime of our visit , a survey was in progress of the popula t ion , system of land tenure and publ ic health of 84 villages in this area. An educational centre was pro­posed to be set up in each village wh ich w o u l d be the nucleus for de-velopment . Better agriculture, cre­d i t , water supply, schools and health were the activities to be undertaken in these villages. T h e Direc tor of Social Affairs of the Government of Lebanon was work ing in close co-operation w i t h the Point 4 agency, A Centra l C o u n c i l has been f o r m a l compris ing four representatives of education, agriculture, publ ic health and water works departments of the Lebanon Government and four A m e rican technicians. T h e Direc tor of Social Affairs is the Cha i rman of this C o u n c i l . Government is expected to supply the needed staff and sup plement the expenditure incurred by the U S A under Point 4 , T h e whole scheme is to be a demonstrat ion project of the L i t any River Basin Development coupled w i t h c o m m a nity organisation. Dr Tannous w h o m I had the privilege to meet referred, .to the scarcity of water and how a tube wel l 220 feet deep is now able to supply 100 gallons of water per minu te . He hoped for the co-operation of village labour to construct the pipes.

A SOCIO-ECONOMIC POUCY FOR RIVER PROJECTS

Being a river project, it raises a number of problems of economic policy which needed an immediate solution, before the project was com­menced. Success in the work ing of schemes of c o m m u n i t y improvement through big landlords being doubt­f u l , a radical change of the existing structure of land ownership was a pr ime necessity.

People from Beirut had bought land in the project area for raising bananas wh ich grew qu ick ly and yielded a good profi t . In an irriga­t i on project of this type, i t was very necessary to cont ro l the sale and purchase of l and . Speculators may be eager to buy land and t h e f a r m e r of small means may be tempted to

THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

February 5, 1955

domestic supplies and in the market-ing of produce, All these organisa­t i o n s p a r t i c u l a t l y p r imary societies and vi l lage counci ls, w i l l need whole-t ime workers. V i l lage counci ls w i l l need town clerks. These w i l l be the second grade workers, the f irst being the c o m m u n i t y o rgan i ses

Moreover, an overhaul of state ser­vices w i l l also be necessary to pro­mo te c o m m u n i t y research and ex-tens ion. F o r instance, t he heal th depar tment mus t have the m i n i m u m preventive staff, and t h e educat ion depar tment adequate staff to set up and run pr imary schools w i t h a rural bias. At a h igher level of adminis­t ra t ion , senior officials and the exe­cut ive subordinates of these depart­ments should have the necessary t ra in ing and the proper out look to be able to help the organisation of co-operative societies and vil lage counci ls and promote the develop­ment of voluntary welfare centres in rural areas. W h i l e the upper layer of officials may need t ra in ing abroad, the t ra in ing of the lower strata, namely, the subordinate staff, unoff icial trade organisers and v i l ­lage leaders w i l l have to be organis­ed w i t h i n the country . T h e associa­t ion of the Amer ican Univers i ty at Beirut w i t h this impor tan t work t inder Po in t 4 is h ighly commend­able.

ADVISORY BODIES

Co-ord inat ion w i l l be necessary at each stage and in various direc­t ions, Officials of the administra t ive departments w i l l have to work together at the vil lage level, th rough co-operative societies and vil lage counci ls. Simi lar ly, the work of t he senior officers of the departments concerned w i l l have to be co-ordi­nated at provinc ia l and state levels. As the par t ic ipat ion of the c o m m u ­n i t y is the a im al l a long, advisory bodies of non-officials have to be set up bo th at the provincial and state levels. T h e Government of Leba­non has already provided for par t i ­c ipat ion at t he state level, i t on ly remains to extend such part ic ipat ion at other levels by sett ing up simi lar ordinary bodies.

F r o m the commencement of the scheme there should be clear demar­cat ion of the funct ions of the differ­en t k inds of staff. Techn ica l experts who he lp to set up the project may w i thdraw when the i r work is over b u t organisers of co-operative socie­ties and vil lage counci ls may have to be absorbed as regular staff of these bodies o f t he State. S imi lar ly , v i l lage l eve l workers should be ab-

sorbed as seometaries of co-operative

staff of the rural departments of t he Admin is t ra t ion , wh i ch are concern­ed w i t h c o m m u n i t y improvement w i l l , of course, have to remain.

T r a i n i n g centres should restrict themselves to t ra in the required Staff, t ra in ing being restricted to the development of co-operatives and village counci ls. Ins t ruc t ion may also be g iven in related subjects wh ich cou ld be feasibly undertaken at present by such centres. Experts who conduc t t ra in ing courses should be chosen f r om countries wh ich are at a comparable stage of develop­men t as Lebanon. Special care should be taken to sec that social welfare t ra in ing has some relat ion to what underdeveloped countr ies can at tempt w i t h thei r own resour­ces in the near fu ture ,

AUTONOMOUS BOARDS

W h e r e the popu la t ion consists of di f ferent communa l groups, it is d i f f icul t to get an incorrupt ib le ad-min is t ra t ion , the loyalty of officials to communa l groups being stronger than their loyalty to the state. A responsible c o m m u n i t y leader ex­pressed h imsel f in these words about the present state of things in Leba­non : " There is a persistent feel ing that government should be for the benefit of the governing group or that even a programme of social service should b r ing some tangible personal gain to the managing group or their f r iends." There cannot be any immediate cure to this, neither

is i t possible to prevent the govern­men t con t ro l l i ng the inst i tut ions wh ich it helps in several ways. Po-i t ical interference may, however,

be reduced to some extent by a proper set-up of administrat ive services, and secretariat rules. The

dev i ce at present adopted by Point 4 of having j o in t councils of heads of departments and outside experts is certainly a step in the r ight direc­

t i on . Ano ther device could be the organization of independent boards, free f rom interference in day-to-day affairs but subject to the over-all cont ro l of the state. W h e r e the state undertakes economic activit ies such as d is t r ibu t ion of credit and export of f ru i ts and vegetables, such boards could be of considerable ser­vice.

SOCIAL CENTRES IN LEBANON

The determinat ion of Lebanon to develop c o m m u n i t y welfare centres was made clear by a recent decree author is ing the establishment of social centres w h e n e v e r the need arises and the finances can be pro­v ided. These centres are obviously conceived of no t as people's i n s t i t u -

t ions, but as state agencies f o r

sal l h is p lot Further; conversion of d r y i n to w e t lands a n d the prepare t i o n of such land for wet crops need in i t ia l investment wh i ch the small farmer may not afford. Ne i the r is i t wise to pe rm i t the unrestr icted use of water lest i t leads to an unfa i r appropr ia t ion of the benefits of i r r i ­gat ion by a hand fu l of b ig land­owners. L a n d in excess of a fixed l i m i t should be purchased at pre-project price and made available to smal l owners and tenants. T h e pro­blems of absentee landlord ism and o f investment in land purely f o r le t t ing o u t on rent w h i c h is such an undesirable feature of landhok l -ing elsewhere should be guarded against in advance in the new pro­ject area.

Aga in , some villages may be suit­able fo r nett ing up co-operatives for a id ing farmers; in some others, agri­cu l tu ra l labour may need contro l and d i rect ion either by an agricul­tural company or a state-controlled corporat ion. Dr Tannous raises the issue regarding the structure of fa rm organisation in the fo l low ing words:

" As the i r r igat ion projects now under way are realised and ex­panded, on what socio-economic basis w i l l they be operated, fami ly ownership, collective commun i t y cu l t i va t ion , or large-scale absentee ownership? "

The pour ing in of aid may b r i ng about some improvement in physi­cal p roduct ion bu t i t may not b r i n g equal oppor tun i t y to every one nor he lp to promote equal i ty o f land-ho ld ing . So when new oppor tun i ­ties of p roduct ion are created, as a result of i r r igat ion, development must be planned in advance and re­gulated f r om stage to stage. Econo­m ic development w i l l be unequal and benefits may no t reach the small farmer at a l l , unless a proper socio­economic pol icy is pursued right f rom the commencement of the pro­ject.

COMMUNITY ORGANISATION AND TECHNICAL AID

In the Po in t 4 L i tany Project, c o m m u n i t y organisers w i l l have to be t ra ined in the f i r s t instance to organise cooperat ives and vil lage -councils in those villages where farmers are ma tu re enough to elect proper leaders fo r these bodies. In other areas w h i c h are less advanced, some state-aided b u t independent corporat ions may have to be set up to provide the necessary services and to train people in community parti-

February 5, 1955

rural areas. The government has possibly thought of departmental action rather w a n commun i t y orga-nizat ion, due to diff iculties created by the existence of communal groups, in the country. A social worker w i l l be stationed at the cen­tre. T h e counci l of ministers w i l l decide the programme of work for the social centre, the number of officers to be appointed for the pur­pose and their qualifications. Each centre w i l l have a hal l for meetings, a l ibrary, a cl inic w i t h laboratory, dispensary, materni ty and ch i ld cl in ic, workshops for rural i n ­dustries, literacy classes, rural club and play ground, stable for bulls, a demonstrat ion field, and an insti­tute for del inquent chi ldren. T h e expenditure w i l l be shared by the respective ministries whi le the social affairs ministry w i l l put up the neces­sary bui ldings. T h e local people wi l l have to bear one-third of the cost of construction and also pro­vide land for the bu i ld ing.

The scheme seems to be a copy and a mut i lated copy of the Egypt­ian original wh ich the Government of Egypt is now modi fy ing in the l ight of the i r experience. Such a centre cannot be a communi ty in­st i tut ion for which the communi ty is responsible; it merely brings to­gether in one place the activities carried on by the different depart­ments of the government.

T h e scheme provides for an addit ion to the existing staff in the shape of a social worker for these centres. In so far as the Counci l of Ministers decide the expenses of a l l the departments in the centre, it may help to economise expenditure, i f the work in the villages is co­ordinated through these centres. T h e social worker who w i l l be a govern­mental official is expected to help every department. To some extent co-ordination of staff w i l l be achiev­ed through the Counci l of Ministers. Bu t when the decree lacks the fun­damental character of social centres, namely communi ty ownership and management, it only adds another departmental activity to the social affairs minist ry. Th is decree, how-ever, has no t set up a department of social centres w i t h all the para­phernalia of a direct ing staff of ex­perts in al l lines. Th is much can be p u t to its credit . I ts main a im seems to be to provide a bu i ld ing in each centre. To ask the villagers

to contribute a third of the cost of such bui ldings, however, is to give undue prionts to what is, after all, a non-estential service.

Some minor points in the decree also call for comment. It proposes an inst i tute for del inquent ch i ld ren in each centre Are del inquent chi ldren so many that every centre w i l l need th is inst i tute? Nei ther are publ ic baths and laundry l ikely to interest the average fanner.

TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

I had also an opportuni ty to study some other types of projects aimed at promot ing communi ty develop­men t on a self-help basis, such as (1) tradit ional communi ty activities and communal charities, (2) com­mun i ty organization in urban areas and (3) social activities of the pro­gressive socialist party.

I visited three social service insti­tut ions, the Al-Maqassad-Al Khai-riyyah, the Cathol ic press, and a women's inst i tute.

Certain forms of tradit ional com­muni ty activities and communal charities for social services have always existed in Lebanon. C o m ­mon ownership among the middle classes of silk-factories, oil-presses, and flour mi l ls, wool-weaving by artisans, maintenance of village ser­vices as watchmen, and shepherds, the ho ld ing of land in common and its cult ivat ion by rotation in some villages are examples of such tradi­t ional communal activities, Com­munal charities concern themselves mainly w i th hospitals, schools, and orphanages and they developed quite considerably under foreign rule. Bo th Christ iani ty and Islam en­couraged social assistance among the different religious groups. Commu­ni ty development in Lebanon may f ru i t fu l ly uti l ise existing W a k f s and benevolent associations, by try ing to co-ordinate their activities, avoid­ing dupl icat ion and wastage and in­tegrating them w i th state services. C o m m u n i t y self-help in the sense of a l l citizens sharing social responsibi­l it ies cannot be widespread in un­developed countries. It presupposes the existence of individuals who are above poverty, have achieved some amount of economic stabil ity and are eager to assume communi ty responsibilities. W h e r e workers al­ready enjoy a m i n i m u m of security, according to t he existing standard of l i fe, they may be persuaded to contr ibute their mi te for social ser­vices, and may also leave the ma­nagement to the middle class or the leisured r ich .

T h e test of commun i ty organiza­t ion in such countries should be t

not whether those who derive bene­fits f rom social services also contr i­bute towards their maintenance and

conduct them themselves, but whe­ther there is sufficient leadership outside these needy groups to orga­nize social services, and whether voluntary funds are available to tender such services effectively. Judged by these tests, the communal Wak fs (pious foundations) are certainly a f o rm of communi ty organization. Bu t though Wak fs do act as com­mun i t y agencies, as the communit ies are themselves stereotyped, the sec­t ional endowments act as a barrier to the evolut ion of a real communi ty scheme. T h e lack of harmony in local communit ies which has found statutory recognit ion in the consti­tu t ion of the country in the shape of communal representation indi ­cates a situation in which the pro­blem of br inging the communal groups together has to be approach-ed wi th caut ion. These charities and endowments need guidance and direction in promot ing communi ty part icipation in several ways. A federation of the various associations w i l l greatly help in systematising their social services, and increasing publ ic part icipation through com-muni ty chests and volunteer ser­vices.

COMMUNITY HOUSING IN URBAN AREAS

The provision of housing for the work ing classes who are l i v ing in slums is a major problem in Beirut. T h e government asked the Uni ted Nat ions to send an expert on hous­ing. But the expert seems to have l i t t le work to do in the absence of provision of funds by the govern­ment. He has worked out a scheme of low-cost housing, costing per house (Lebanese) £4000 to £5000. Co-operative housing has great possi­bi l i t ies of developing communi ty l i fe. But speculation on bui ld ing sites militates against any housing project. I f the rental value of land can be control led by law, capital values too can be restricted, say, to those prevail ing in 1939. Supply and cost of housing materials need contro l . Some stipulation regarding the allocation of state funds for pur-

poses for which the services of the UN are sought, seems to be called

for. The investors in Lebanon arc not satisfied w i t h a 5 per cent re­turn on housing. Beirut municipa­l i ty has not got even the funds for pr ior i ty projects, eg, a modern slaughter house or a sufficiently big plant for garbage disposal. Most of its revenue is spent on salaries and wages. T h e garbage goes into the sea though, incidentally, it pro­vides some employment to the slum populat ion who make a l iv ing by s i f t ing this garbage. Armenians form

February 5, 1955 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

Carrying out social services needed in

a large p ropo r t i on of the population i n t h e s l i m a r e a . F o r e i g n b e n e v e -lent f u n d s of Armenians as wel l as b ig employers ough t t o he lp t h e i m ­p lementat ion of the low-cost hous ing scheme o f t he U N expert. T h e one silver l i n i n g in the c loud i s t h e pro­posal made by t he D i rec to r o f t he Port of Be i ru t (a F rench company) to b u i l d houses for its o w n emp lo ­yees. T h i s company main ta ins a dispensary and two social workers for its workers.

T h e trade un ion law leaves ample scope fo r t he p romo t i on of social activit ies among clerks, shop assis­tants and indust r ia l employees. Be­ing a food i m p o r t i n g count ry , Leba­non can bu i l d permanent c o m m u ­n i ty organizations, th rough the trade unions in the f i rst instance for an economic d is t r ibu t ion of wheat and other impor ted food grains.

COMMUNITY WORK OF THE SOCIALISTS

T h r o u g h t he kindness of Professor Baty and Mr V i c t o r A r a m o u n i , I had an oppor tun i t y to in terv iew at his count ry house Mr Kemal D j u m -blatt Baig, the leader of the pro­gressive socialist party c o m m u n i t y work in h is area.

T h e l ibraries and n igh t schools run b y M r D j u m b l a t t i n some v i l ­lages are open to members of al l communi t ies . T h e villagers provide the space and ma in ta in t h e vo lun­teers w h o do the teaching. T h e night-schools work three days per week. At the villages where there is a branch or office of the socialist progressive party, the villagers are asked to provide a room to be used as a c l i n i c . A doctor or a nurse visits i t once or tw ice a week to treat the villagers w h o pay 25 piasters per pat ient . T h i s is called D jumb la t t ' s medical a id .

These act iv i t ies, though open to a l l , are r un by the leader of a po l i ­t ica l par ty . Social services are b o u n d to be run by pol i t ica l parties in de­mocrat ic countr ies. In the absence of non-party c o m m u n i t y organisa­t ions and state services, these act iv i ­ties have to be appreciated for evok­ing c o m m u n i t y responsibi l i t ies. C o m m u n a l charit ies partake of the same colour as social activi t ies of po l i t i ca l parties. T h e state has an impo r tan t du ty o f evolv ing non-party organisations for c o m m u n i t y under­takings and foster ing t h e m w i t h f inancial grants and technical a i d .

THE TASKS AHEAD

T w o essential inst i tu t ions w h i c h are f o u n d e d on c o m m u n i t y respon-

tural co-operat ive society and the mun i c i pa l o r v i l lage c o u n c i l should be organised t h roughou t t he count ry in such villages where farmers are able to manage t h e m .

T h e state should adopt a def in i te po l icy of foster ing agr icu l tura l co­operat ion by of fer ing special conces­sions and faci l i t ies. They should be recognised as essential ins t i tu t ions of the farmers w i t h def in i te services to pe r fo rm in regard to sale of agricul­tu ra l requisites, supply of credi t and marke t ing of produce. They should be nour ished by a central agr icul tural bank and central supply sale orga­nisations. In order to p romote social activit ies, there should be a legal provis ion en jo in ing on the co­operatives to set apart a f u n d out of its prof i t for the purpose.

A l l obstacles to the p romot ion o f social and economic progress by c o m m u n i t y organizations should he removed. E x p o r t subsidy to growers and traders is a costly and unwork­able pol icy. B r i ng ing d o w n costs of cu l t i va t ion and marke t ing is a more endur ing m e t h o d . T h i s has to Le achieved th rough cont ro l of profits of pr ivate trade and by sett ing up n co-operative organisat ion. A mea­sure of cont ro l w i l l be needed over pr ivate companies d is t r ibu t ing credi t , agr icul tural requisites, and do ing market ing service. Pr ior i ty for i m ­ports wh ich p romote agr icul tural de­ve lopment should be given. Impor ts wh i ch h inder the growth of agr icul tural industr ies should be re­stricted to the m i n i m u m . Short , m e d i u m and long-term capital should be provided for agricul tural projects and ind iv idua l fanners by internal savings th rough the prevent ion of conspicuous consumpt ion , and taxa­t i o n , and by regulat ion of in ternal investments. Extension work should be promoted by a state extension staff work ing th rough co-operatives wh ich should ma in ta in a who le t ime secretary f rom thei r own funds and part ly aided by the State.

T ra i n i ng of vi l lage leaders should be p romoted f i rst ly by creating con­d i t ions for t he g rowth of such lead­ership. T h e m i n i m u m land reforms wh ich w i l l redistr ibute lands belong­ing to b ig land owners, provide secu­r i ty and fair rents for tenants and a fa i r wage for agr icul tura l labour should be under taken, thereby creat­ing the basic condi t ions for the growth of a self-respecting popu la t ion and new leadership. Rura l schools w i t h an agr icul tural bias and t ra in ing in c i t izenship should be p romoted . T h e co-operative societies and m u n i ­c ipal counci ls w i l l be an effective training ground for rural leadership.

T h e Lebanese peasant i n t he m o u n t a i n tracts is suff iciently awak­ened to be able to manage c o m m u ­n i t y organizations. C o m m u n i t y lead­ers are com ing up f r o m t h e educated classes in towns to give t h e necessary lead and d i rect ion to vi l lage leader­ship.

CONCLUSIONS

T h e methods o f work o f c o m m u n i t y welfare centres need examina­t i on . A h igher standard of l i v i ng can be at tained on ly f r o m a nat ion 's own resources. I t cannot be p lanted on an undeveloped economy. Eco­nom ic progress, therefore, shou ld be given the f i r s t p r io r i t y a long w i t h prevent ive heal th work . A reorgani­zat ion of state departments in order to integrate agr icul tural development under a single depar tment , staff for various rural services, provis ion for co-ord inat ion, t ra in ing centres for v i l ­lage level workers and h igher grades of staff and t ra in ing abroad f o r supe­r ior officers are the m i n i m u m re­qu i rements . T h e t ra in ing scheme o f the Amer ican Univers i ty in Bei rut can be trusted to create an efficient staff fo r c o m m u n i t y deve lopment .

In areas where new i r r igat ion pro­jects are under taken, a sotio-econo-m ic pol icy should be fo l lowed wh ich gives m a x i m u m security to the smal l producer and aids agr icul tural pro­duc t i on . W h e r e ow ing to t he do­m i n a t i o n o f t rad i t iona l b ig l andown-ership, t he fanner has no t developed a sense of ' b e l o n g i n g ' , a paternal type of state-aided b u t semi- indepen­dent boards a im ing at the goal of c o m m u n i t y par t ic ipat ion should be provided for. I t is better t ha t eco­n o m i c services invo lv ing investment of funds are managed by i n ­dependent boards or corporat ions, w i t h a v iew to avoid po l i t ica l inter­ference in in fan t democracies.

Some fo rm of c o m m u n i t y welfare is p romoted th rough the various communa l charit ies and endowments . T h e y should be co-ordinated at the centres where they operate and also at the state level so that they may evolve in to welfare centres fo r the c o m m u n i t y as a whole , instead of for di f ferent religious and communa l groups. C o m m u n i t y welfare can be

promoted in urban areas th rough housing schemes, trade unions, and

enforcement of a welfare section in pr ivate company undertakings.

C o m m u n i t y organizations on an area basis have a special impor tance in democracies where po l i t ica l parties cannot b u t lead to divisions among the people, and in countr ies such as Lebanon where c o m m u n a l loyalties and ins t i tu t ions have struck deep

Toots.

February 5, 1955 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

February 5, 1955 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT - NOT A PROSPECTUS " Consent of the Central Government has been obtained to this issue by an Order of which a complete copy is open

to public inspection at the Head Office of the Company. It must be distinctly understood that in giving this consent the Government of India do not take any responsibility for the financial soundness of any schemes

or for the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed with regard to them,"

A Formal Prospectus dated 20th January 1955 has been filed with the Registrar of Companies, Bombay, as required by Section 92(2) of the Indian Companies Act, V I I of 1913, which states that the Subscription List will be open on Thursday the Third day of February 1955 and will close on Monday the Fourteenth day of February 1955.

THE INDUSTRIAL CREDIT AND INVESTMENT CORPORATION

OF INDIA LIMITED

A U T H O R I S E D C A P I T A L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rs. 25,00,00,000

Divide into 5,00,000 Ordinary Shares of Rs. 100/- each and

20,00,000 Unclassified Shares of Rs. 100/- each. PRESENT ISSUE:

5,00,000 Ordinary Shares of Rs. 100/- each, at par.

The Central Government has declared by a notification in the Official Gazette the Shares comprised in the present issue to be an approved investment for the purpose of Section 27A of the Insurance Act, 1938.

Out of the above issue 3,50,000 Ordinary Shares of Rs. 100/- each are agreed to be taken up by the following; — (a) Several Indian Banks and Insurance Companies and certain of the Directors of the Company and their

friends and associates. (b) Certain Nationals and Corporations of the United States of America. (c) The British Eastern Exchange Banks and certain United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Insurance

Companies and other British Companies.

N A M E S OF DIRECTORS D R . SIR A R G O T R A M A S W A M I M U D A L I A R SIR W I L L I A M ROBERT C O C K B U R N

(Chairman) RUSSEL G. S M I T H A R D E S H I R D A R A B S H A W SHROFF D H A R A M S E Y M U L R A J K H A T A U G H A N S H Y A M D A S B I R L A S IR BADRIDAS GO E N K A , C.I.E. K A S T U R B H A I L A L B H A I S . B H O O T H A L I N G A M , I.C.S. SIR B I R E N M O O K E R J E E • (Government Director) J. G. BEEVOR, O.B.E.

GENERAL MANAGER PERCIVAL SPENCER BEALE

REGISTERED OFFICE FORT H O U S E , 221 D A D A B H O Y N A O R O J I ROAD ( H O R N B Y R O A D ) , B O M B A Y 1 .

1. The Company has been incorporated on the 5th day of January 1955 for the objects mentioned in the Memo­randum of Association and particularly for the purpose of carrying on the business of assisting industrial enterprises wi th in the private sector of industry in India

in general by ( i ) assisting in the creation, expansion and modernization of such enterprises;

( i i ) encouraging and promoting the participation of private capital, both internal and external, in such enter­prises ;

(iii) encouraging and promoting private ownership of industrial investments and the expansion of investment markets;

and in particular by ( i ) providing finance in the form of long- or medium-term loans or equity participations;

( i i ) sponsoring and underwriting new issues of shares and securities; ( i i i ) guaranteeing loans from other private investment sources; ( iv) making funds available for reinvestment by revolving investments as rapidly as prudent; (v) furnishing managerial, technical and administrative advice and assisting in obtaining managerial, technical

and administrative services to Indian industry.

Copies of the Prospectus as filed wi th the Registrar of Companies, together wi th the application forms are avail­able at the Registered Office of the Company.

T H I S A N N O U N C E M E N T I S N O T T O B E R E G A R D E D A S A N I N V I T A T I O N T O T H E P U B L I C T O S U B S C R I B E F O R S H A R E S A N D A P P L I C A T I O N S W I L L O N L Y B E R E C E I V E D O N T H E F O O T I N G O F T H E F U L L P R O S P E C T U S A N D I N T H E F O R M I S S U E D T H E R E W I T H ,

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