Patching Development: Information Politics and Social Change in India

Patching Development is a case study from India that demonstrates how development programs can be designed to work for marginalized citizens. It shows that political will and good policy design are critical, but resistance from entrenched local power systems can be difficult to overcome. Rajesh Veeraraghavan's ethnography of the Indian National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in Andhra Pradesh reveals that the local system of power is difficult to transform due to coercive counter strategy from actors at the last mile and their ability to exploit information asymmetries. Patching development is a top-down, fine-grained, iterative socio-technical process that makes local information about implementation visible through technology and enlists participation from marginalized citizens through social audits. This book has global significance and casts new light on the challenges and benefits of using information and technology in novel ways to implement development programs.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Diving into an original and unusually positive case study from India, Patching Development showcases how development programs can be designed to work effectively. How can development programs deliver benefits to marginalized citizens in ways that expand their rights and freedoms? Political will and good policy design are crucial, but often insufficient due to resistance from entrenched local power systems. In Patching Development, Rajesh Veeraraghavan presents an ethnography of one of the world's largest development programs, the Indian National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), and examines NREGA's implementation in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He finds that the local system of power is extremely difficult to transform, not because of inertia, but because of coercive counter strategies from actors at the last mile and their ability to exploit information asymmetries. Upper-level NREGA bureaucrats in Andhra Pradesh do not possess the capacity to change the power axis through direct confrontation with local elites, but instead have relied on a continuous series of responses that react to local implementation and information, a process of patching development. Patching development is a top-down, fine-grained, iterative socio-technical process that makes local information about implementation visible through technology and enlists participation from marginalized citizens through social audits. These processes are neither neat nor orderly and have led to a contentious sphere where the exercise of power over documents, institutions, and technology is intricate, fluid, and highly situated. A highly original account with global significance, this book casts new light on the challenges and benefits of using information and technology in novel ways to implement development programs.

Introduction:
Development programs have the potential to bring about significant positive change in the lives of marginalized citizens, but often fail to deliver the desired outcomes due to various challenges. One of the key challenges is the resistance from entrenched local power systems, which can hinder the effective implementation of development programs. In this essay, we will explore the concept of patching development, which offers a promising approach to addressing this challenge.

Patching Development:
Patching development is a top-down, fine-grained, iterative socio-technical process that aims to make local information about implementation visible through technology and enlist participation from marginalized citizens through social audits. The process involves the use of information and technology to identify areas where development programs are not meeting their targets and then implementing targeted interventions to address these issues.

Benefits of Patching Development:
Patching development offers several benefits to marginalized citizens. Firstly, it enables them to have a greater say in the development process, as they are involved in identifying and addressing problems that affect their lives. This participation can help to build trust and confidence in the government and its development programs, which can lead to increased engagement and participation in future initiatives.

Secondly, patching development can help to improve the quality of development programs by ensuring that they are tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of marginalized communities. By incorporating local knowledge and expertise, development programs can be more effective in addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality.

Thirdly, patching development can help to empower marginalized citizens by providing them with access to information and resources that can help them improve their livelihoods and achieve their goals. By leveraging technology, development programs can provide marginalized citizens with training and education opportunities, as well as access to financial services and markets.

Challenges of Patching Development:
Despite the benefits of patching development, there are several challenges that need to be addressed. One of the key challenges is the resistance from entrenched local power systems, which can hinder the effective implementation of development programs. Local elites may have vested interests in maintaining the status quo.quo, which can lead to resistance to change and the exploitation of information asymmetries.

Another challenge is the lack of capacity and resources at the upper-level NREGA bureaucrats in Andhra Pradesh. Upper-level NREGA bureaucrats do not possess the capacity to change the power axis through direct confrontation with local elites, but instead have relied on a continuous series of responses that react to local implementation and information, a process of patching development. This approach may be effective in the short term, but it may not lead to long-term sustainable change.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, patching development is a promising approach to addressing the challenges of delivering benefits to marginalized citizens in ways that expand their rights and freedoms. By leveraging information and technology, development programs can be tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of marginalized communities, and can empower marginalized citizens by providing them with access to information and resources. However, the resistance from entrenched local power systems and the lack of capacity and resources at the upper-level NREGA bureaucrats in Andhra Pradesh need to be addressed to ensure that patching development can be implemented effectively.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197567821