All Papers/Social Work Research (2023-24)/Q11
Q11
15 Marks

Part C (Q11): Explain any three tools of PRA/PLA. Draw the diagrams of each.

Expert Answer

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) use various visual tools to allow communities to analyze their own realities.

1. Social Resource Mapping

Social Resource Mapping is a visual exercise where community members collectively draw a map of their locality, highlighting social structures, institutions, and resources, rather than just geography. It reveals spatial inequalities (e.g., where water pumps are located relative to marginalized housing) and helps identify resources for development.

Example Diagram Context: Imagine a hand-drawn map of a village. The North side has large, pucca houses and the main road. The South side has kucha houses and is separated by a geographical barrier. The map uses symbols (triangles for temples, squares for handpumps). The visual clearly shows 4 handpumps in the North and 0 in the South, diagnosing a structural inequality.

2. Venn Diagram (Chapati Diagram)

A Venn Diagram is used to understand the institutional landscape of a community and the power dynamics at play. Community members cut out paper circles representing institutions. The size of the circle represents the institution's power/importance, and the distance from the center (the community) represents its accessibility.

Example Diagram Context: Imagine a central circle representing "The Village." Overlapping it heavily is a large circle for "Self-Help Group" (very accessible and important). Far away, barely touching the village, is a medium circle for "Government Hospital" (important, but inaccessible due to distance or apathy).

3. Seasonal Calendar

A Seasonal Calendar is a visual tool used to explore changes in livelihood, health, food availability, and workload over the course of a year. It helps identify periods of extreme stress (e.g., the "hungry season" before harvest).

Example Diagram Context: Imagine a large grid drawn on the ground. The top row lists the 12 months (or local agricultural seasons). The rows below track different variables using seeds or stones to indicate intensity.

  • Row 1 (Rainfall): Many stones in July/August.
  • Row 2 (Agricultural Labor Demand): High in June (sowing) and October (harvest).
  • Row 3 (Disease/Malaria): High in September (post-monsoon).
  • Row 4 (Food Scarcity/Debt): Highest in May/June (before the new harvest, when last year's stores run out).

This instantly shows the social worker that May-June is the most vulnerable time for the community.