Village development groups : Model based on participation in achieving rural development

Undoubtedly, cooperative society is a lever for economic development in rural areas. If this could be in line with government policies, it will be very effective to improve living conditions, employment production and income improvement and social status of rural people. The objective of this study is to observe the carbon sequestration project activities in cooperation with international organizations including UNDP and the GEF. Rangelands rehabilitation done for the Afghan refugees had been completely destroyed over a decade in Eastern Iran. In this project, cooperation and participation were formed by organizing people into groups called village development groups (VDGs), where men and women were separated and mixed as well. The cooperatives, which have reached up to 39 in their organizational structure, are micro credit fund whose financial capital is provided by the people’s voluntary savings. Results of the cooperatives’ performance during three years show that they protect and sustain rehabilitation of degraded rangeland, which are found by collecting of native seeds, creating and cultivating treasure trees and pasture. They also rely on one’s training and micro credit fund provided by the government to help people achieve other income-generating resources that ultimately lead to few poor families, improvement in social and economic aspects and growth in human development index projects in the region.


INTRODUCTION
Development has a special place in programming system and accelerates all aspects of human life.It includes basic changes in organizational, social and official structures, public views as well as improvement in production and income rate.Development in most cases involves customs and beliefs of people (lehmann, 2001).
The goal of development is to help the proportion of households without access to clean water.A recent UN habitat report shows that meeting this target in large urban areas and small towns or large villages will require different approaches and governance systems, from the point of technical choices, appropriate institutional arrangements, capacity-building and sustainable financing mechanisms" (Nzengya and Aggarwal, 2013).Village development is a multidimensional and process which involves improvement and promotion in different poor and vulnerable human life quality (Azkia, 2004).Of late, rural development has assumed global attention espe-cially among the developing nations (Gangopadhyay and et al., 2008).One of the methods of village development process is to enable participation in villages.Participation involves providing local people resources and supporting external data in programs for creating effective and useful impacts (lowe et al., 2005).Village, cultural, organizational and political sustainable development is an inseparable subject of rural development.Participation of people is a human asset (invest), which is the fundamental axis of change (langeroudi, 2003).Participation is an innate concept in human communities that needs planning from up to down and connection among all the present components for its strength.In fact, participation is the direct involvement of people in making decisions through some formal and informal mechanisms (Schatzow, 2002).The non-governmental organizations have extended remarkably all over the world; they reinforce participation of people in society in development process (Saidi, 2009).Some have defined cooperation as a process through which poor rural people can organize themselves (Ledesma, 1980).
Todaro, in a book on economic development of third world, size and importance of village development and its role on national development, said agriculture and village development is the main national development (Todaro, 1981).Robinson and Dokoreh, like Todaro, said village development depends on the condition of national development.Another theory on village development is the one put forward by Misra.Misra believes that urban, rural, industrial and agricultural development should be considered as a priority.He believes that the pattern of growth centers on the most desirable village development strategy (Hamed Moghadam, 2004).Rural development involves improving rural livelihoods by implementing a comprehensive development (Kanamaru, 2005).Without the participation of local communities and empowerment, it is not possible to plan and practice what is called participatory development (Shban Ali, 1999).In this way, everyone is involved in all stages of development because this type of social participation is a social, integrated, comprehensive, dynamic, and correlated multi-dimensional process (Shadi, 2003).Tolon also considered participation as a fundamental condition for village.In his opinion the first step for village development is to give major attention to real needs and the next step is to prioritize these needs by consultation with the villagers.In order to achieve these goals, planning and forming groups and village associations is required.With the allocation of substances to the 1303 trade act production and consumption cooperative, cooperatives across the country quickly began to form including village cooperatives, which have role and a major plan in agricultural development.Due to the importance of cooperative sector as part of the country's economy, cooperatives gradually found position among the people.Growth and development of cooperatives such as village agricultural cooperatives can play a major role in sustainable agricultural development.
Regional development is the provision of aid and other assistance to regions which are less economically developed (Rahnama and Heydari, 2013).In a general sense, development is a sophisticated and comprehensive process that occurs in the social, economic, political and cultural life of society and it is the state of retardation of development appropriate to the situation that leada to accepting characteristics of rationality and wisdom is associated with age and the interaction logic, arithmetic and planning lies (Bradshaw, 2000).Sustainable development covers all the social and economic problems of the community.As we all know, the economy of third world countries including our country relies mostly on agricultural products and agricultural activities are often done in the villages.Sustainable development involves improving the traditional methods of agricultural production and optimum utilization of land and production resources and distribution of agricultural products; it also entails eliminating hunger and alleviating poverty.It is the building of new social and cultural villages which originnate attention to human issues and political necessity.Village development issue and its importance are evident.This is why sociologists and researchers believe that the future of third world problems such as unemployment, poverty, lack of income, hunger, lack of production, etc. must be resolved in the villages.Thus, village development is important for the mentioned problems and especially the basic needs of rural.The role of village production is to give food security and assistance to industry and the role of non-oil exports in GDP of villages is to create job opportunities in the spatial dimensions for national development (Petr, 2001).The main goal of sustainable village development is to create unity between economic, cultural and environmental dimension in order to raise village people's livelihoods and welfare.Therefore, in our country, village development has been discussed for years as proposed agricultural development and the intellectual framework for efforts to improve life in village areas.Today's development as a process is the most discussed in countries, particularly developing countries.Realization also involves development of countries benefiting from the talent and active participation of people and their participation in the development process.Development and participation matters are intertwined.Stable and long development process is considered to be successful coupled with increased public participation (Moghanizade, 2000).In this regard, the development groups formed in rural areas are very effective measure for democratic process and rural participation in village development.The idea of comparing development group activities in rural areas than other area is very important.This is because these groups or institutions a r e o n small-scale and local shortages can exist in their village.The plan to reflect the obstacles and problems in village development has also been a more successful operation.Since village development is towards human development and features orientation, it creates motivation in the rural people.One of the basic conditions required to achieve this purpose is the formation of organized groups, including village development groups and local rural groups.Forming groups of village is a major and important need for participatory planning in order to achieve village development.These groups are formed with great benefits for its members and an appropriate method to take care of their interests.On the other hand, the presence of group development is considered as a consultant in local decision making and management of village areas (DHV, 1995).
In today's world, suitable for cooperative is economic and social development that can optimize the productivity of living conditions, work and production and improvement of income levels and social status of the community effectively.Experience of developed countries shows that the best cooperatives are organizations that have managed to accumulate scattered tools to provide and disperse forces for talent and motivation (George, 2003).
By transferring authority to people, cooperatives can be said to lead to social development, protection and preservation of nature and creating job opportunities for advancement (Faiz, 2005).
This paper has introduced Hosseinabad region, its role, status and effect on village development.Before carbon sequestration projects were done in the area; there were human and environmental problems such as poverty, lack of resources, natural degradation, lack of precipitation, inappropriate transport etc.So after the implementation of international projects, there is need to examine its effects on the evolution of the rural area and the structural conditions of the various measures are to be determined.Research objectives include: to promote and improve rural life through the necessary training based on the special talents and capabilities of the region, to create mobility and empower local communities in order to attain goals and sustainable development, to reduce poverty and improve economic conditions and livelihood of rural family by creating employment to poor and low income people, to create micro credit fund to develop productive and social activities, to develop and promote production activities through the provision of entrepreneurship training programs (Figure 1).

METHODS
The general research methodology is based on field studies conducted with the help of different observation techniques, interviews and questionnaires.After the collection o f data, they were recorded on computer.For efficiency, (SPSS) statistical index software was used for entering the data in the system; the desired frequency tables and other indicators for updating the data were derived.To achieve more comprehensive and accurate information, 25 rural development departments (VDG) 1 in the research area were involved in the study and focus groups help facilitate training and local expensive projects that have been studied; comprehensive information from social institutions (VDG) was obtained.

RESULTS
Carbon Sequestration Project of Hossein Abad is a joint work of government (UNDP) and Global Environmental Facility (GEF).Hossein Abad plain catchment area (Ghynab, 144,000 hectares) is located at Sarbisheh City, politically (Figure 2).Its average basin elevation is 1,700 meters.This plain exposure t o 120-day winds of Sistan causes intense erosion, from June to October each year; its causes major damage to natural vegetation, agricultural fields and products.The region with serious effects of drought has left.It has severe negative economic and social impact on the lives of the inhabitants of the village and towns.This desert established village has a population of about 32, 800 households, who take livestock and agriculture as their main occupation.
Participation management approach has been adopted by local communities and societies.Participation and partnerships create a spirit of cooperation among local people, which is the basic principle of the strategy of this Carbon Sequestration Project.Carbon Sequestration 1village development groups Project requires public participation and participative management is a necessary infrastructure for partnership.Building of educational institutions was discussed in several meetings in each of the rural and nomadic community in the study area to create motivation to form a social organization.Simple methods were used to teach (teaching aids) the people of the importance of partnerships, solidarity and cooperation in international affairs and its impact for realizing opportunities location.Despite all the initial problems associated with ethnicity and social and cultural conditions of local communities, with the passage of time and multiple programs that encourage community education, rural development was gradually formed known as Village Development Groups (VDGs), consisting of men and women.
Micro credit funds help members of each group by providing what they need for their production and living activities independently.Interested groups have learned how to implement it for job creation.Micro credit fund is given mostly to the low-income g r o u p and rural women for job generating activities.
Village development groups were targeted as the based members; and the project, skills training for men and women were selected as one of the basic tools of employment and income creation.There was initial funding of work based on training or activities that people are willing; credit fund consists of small savings.Weekly meetings were conducted to rotate and use the funds for productive activities the groups got involved in.Others who need another opportunity were taken care of by the local community.On the other hand, funding was given to the groups based on the projects they request for as well as the necessary incentives for their activities.Finally, local community organizations lead to their mobility and capacity.In addition, education and awareness has caused visits and gathering of information needed.Since 2007, a variety of activities in line with economic and social development have been done in the region.25 Village Development groups (VDGs) in 15 villages and micro credit funds have been formed.Now, Carbon Sequestration Project has been done in 25 Village Development Groups made up of 39 persons (7 females, 8 males and 24 mixed group).One goal of creating micro credit funds in Village development groups is to improve members' livelihood and assist in their production activities; therefore, independently each of the village development groups (VDGs) members who have necessary training apply for loan schemes to create job.In this project considering the poverty of the people, through this project granting financial facilities are granted in the form of loans to a number of people in Village development for employment opportunities.After three years of the project implementation, the basic question: will the economic and social objectives of Carbon Sequestration project be fulfilled or not?This article seeks to probe into it.
Village Development Groups (VDGs) formed as a social capital and micro credit funds as well as a major financial capital is a significant topic in the performance evaluation of Carbon Sequestration Project.The direction of the Carbon Sequestration Project is for local community empowerment in order to improve natural resources.The permanent presence of people is considered as an attempt to engage in participatory activities and responsibility.In this context, one of the major participatory activities that mobilize and empower the local community support for community groups is village and micro credit funds (the result of savings).These issues are important aspects of social, humani-tarian, financial and environmental activities.The participation of women is obvious in this movement.They are not only in development group but have made up their own credit funds or mixed with men.They have important role in micro credit funds formed in direct and indirect activity.This transference of responsibility to local people in order to be more reliable and responsible to manage and monitor natural resources rehabilitation, providing livelihoods, employment and income and pursue their own affairs has caused a new intellectual space on the dominant environment.Village Development Groups status and micro credit fund in successive years are written as follows.
The most important result is in line with developments related to the formation of groups and micro credit fund in project area during the years of assessment (2009)(2010)(2011) as follows: 1-Number of village development groups has increased from 25 groups in 2009 to 39 groups in 2011 in the region.Village development group consists of 7 women and 11 mixed groups (men and women) with a membership of about 50 percent of women.It has not only indicates extreme religious and secular struc-ture adjustment on women's participation in social and economic activities but also is a sign of identity and creating confidence in women in patriarchal society.2-Development groups have had a total number of meetings (1539) (Table1); the various issues groups, micro credit funds, review requests and loans provision.Each group has held 20 meetings in a year.3-The total amount of savings within the group of micro credit fund increased from 11,427,425 dollars in 2009 to 25,871,015 in 2011, reflecting increase.This shows the desire and willingness of the people to save and their financial contributions to help other members of the group.Micro credit funds give loans to members for projects such as breeding and poultry production, melon planting,  1).

DISCUSSION
One of the goals of creating micro credit funds for village development groups is to improve members' livelihood and help them to be independent in their productive activities.Therefore, each member that has the necessary training will be given loan.Searching the motivation of the people to participate in affairs is an important social and cultural component.An index cannot only be used to evaluate their belief in stable decision, but it also necessary to create confi-dence in programmers and administrators so that in their absence, the civil-participation organization will be protected and continue their jobs.In the research, community has been used for a long time to create the most important participation organization; which is development group through cultural-instructional and promotional activities.It is important to motivate people to accept group membership.Based on the obtained results from 25 development groups, 51% people accepted membership by their own determination and based on their personal decision; that this is a good satisfying credit for development groups' stability.Also, 39% accepted based on project suggestion and 10% of other people accepted membership in village development groups (Table 3).This project was successful.It creates the concept of participation, development of rural men and women, organizing village development groups, micro credit funds, with people getting involved in planting and natural resources.These are examples which show the concept of participation.Results of the cooperatives' performance during three years show that they protect and sustain rehabilitation of degraded rangeland, which are found by collecting of native seeds, creating and cultivating treasure trees and pasture.They also rely on one's training and micro credit fund provided by the government to help people achieve other income-generating resources that ultimately lead to f e w poor families, improvement in social and economic aspects and growth in human development index projects in the region.
Based on the obtained results from 25 village development groups, 51% of people accepted membership in groups by their own choice and personal decision.This is a good and satisfying credit for group activities treasury and rehabilitation activities.90,000 plants of Tagh (plant of typical), root plant, Atriplex and Haloxylon pot plant have been produced.Most of these seeds have been used for seeding and planting in rehabilitation area with people participating in them.Totally, during the last 5 years, women's participation in social activities has been increased in a way that 63% of women are interested in attending collaborative and group activities, 64% believed that usually group activities result is better and and 51% said that they usually attend the lecture meetings which are held in the village.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Mechanism of micro-credit fund for village development groups.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Location map of Carbon Sequestration Project.

Table 1 .
Change in the process of village development groups in Plain Carbon Sequestration Project.

Table 2 .
HDI index and the parameters of the project implemented.

Table 3 .
Why households become members of the village development groups.

Name of village Membership of the village Development Groups With my choice (determination) Project suggestion Following others Sum
Source: Research achievements (2012).