A Study on Information Need among Rural Masses in Nagra Block of Ballia District (U.P.)

The study was conducted in the Community Development Block, Nagra in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. Ballia district is the eastern most part of the Uttar Pradesh state and borders of Bihar state. There are 160 villages in the Nagra Block of Ballia district. Four villages namely Nagra, Tadi Badagaon, Nikashi and Kasaundar were randomly selected. Fifty respondents were selected from each of the selected villages through random sampling technique. Thus, a total of 200 respondents were selected for the purpose of study. The study with an objective to assess the relationship of demographic characteristics with information need, availability and utilization pattern of information sources among rural masses. An Ex-Post Facto research design was used for the present study. Different variables selected were average age of the family, educational status of the family, caste category, socio-economic status, income, land holding, material possession, size of family and type of family. Data were collected through interview schedule, observation and informal interpersonal discussion with the villagers.