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The Television Set Case Study: Problem solving stages

1. Identification of Problem:
The main problem is the deviation from the intended purpose of installing television
sets, from dissemination of agricultural information to entertainment purpose.
2. Establishment of the Problem:
Initially when there was programme related to agricultural information, there was
peace and prosperity. But since the time the television was switched on for
entertainment programmes, people from neighbouring villages started coming to the
village and thus leading to destruction of crops, thefts and rowdism.
3. Objective Related to the Problem
Short Term Objective: Bring the focus back to agricultural information sharing.
Long Term Objective: Reinstating peace and harmony in the village.
4. Generation of the Alternatives:
a. Increase the number of television sets.
b. Do not allow people from other villages to watch the programme.
c. Charge nominal fees from outsiders to watch the programmes.
d. Appeal to television authority to restrict the timing of programmes.

5. Development of Criteria
a. Welfare of people of village
b. Acceptability by the villagers
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c. Satisfaction of villagers

6. Evaluation of Alternatives
a) Increase in the number of television sets will ensure that krishi darshan
programme has a wider reach and thus people will be able to increase their
agricultural productivity thus leading to their welfare.
It will have acceptability since different television sets could be marked for ladies
thus reducing eve-teasing.
People will be satisfied since there will be less crowd at any particular community
centre and less rowdism.
b) Not allowing people from other villages to enter will ensure that there are less
thefts and damages to property. Gangs from other villages will not come to take
advantage of the crowd.
People will also accept it happily since there will be less danger of unsought
activities from outsiders.
People will be satisfied as they will be able to abide by the customs in the case of
death.
c) Charging fee for watching the programme will attract only those people who come
to gain agricultural knowledge or who come for entertainment and not for other
hidden purposes. Thus there will be more social order and less crime.
It will be accepted by all the villagers as there will be less trespassing and
destruction.
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All the villagers will be satisfied since there are only genuine watchers.
d) If the time of programmes is restricted then villagers will spend less time in front
of television and more on increasing the agricultural output which will lead to
overall welfare of the village.
Some people might not accept the restriction on the timing as they might have
developed a habit of sitting in front of television for long duration.
Most of the people will be satisfied with the decision as the production will rise.
7. Prioritisation for the alternative
a. Do not allow people from other villages to watch the programme.
b. Charge nominal fees from outsiders to watch the programmes.
c. Increase the number of television sets.
d. Appeal to television authority to restrict the timing of programmes.
8. Action Plan:
Do not allow people from other villages to watch the programme:
People from other villages should be banned from entering just for the purpose of
watching the programmes. This can be done by applying checks at the entrance of the
place where television will be operated. A watchman may be employed at the
entrance for this purpose. All the persons have to prove their identity at the entrance.

9. Contingency Plan:
Charge nominal fees from outsiders to watch the programmes:
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A fee for watching the shows on television should be levied from all the outsiders.
The village level worker must appoint a person to collect the fees and should check
himself whether the collection is taking place or not.