Effects of Implementation of Guidance Project on the Quality of Life of Villagers (Case Study of Shirkoh Village, Taft City)

Nowadays, rural development is considered synonymous with a better and more desirable quality of life. In this regard, governments are obliged to provide suitable and dignified living conditions for rural residents through rural planning and development. The Village Master Plan (Tarh Hadi) is one of the rural development projects that can play a fundamental and infrastructural role in the comprehensive development of rural areas. This article, using a descriptive-analytical method, examines the effects of the implementation of the Tarh Hadi on the quality of life of the villagers in Shirkouh District, Taft County. The aim is to evaluate the impact of the plan on improving the quality of life in terms of various indicators and assess the level of public awareness regarding its implementation and effectiveness in enhancing the villagers' quality of life.

Every society’s economic planning and analysis require knowledge of a specific figure that indicates the relative change in the economic situation over a period of time or between two points in that society, which is the purpose of using economic indicators. These economic indicators may include the impact of the implementation of the Tarh Hadi on job creation, the impact of the Tarh Hadi on employment diversification, the impact of the Tarh Hadi on household income, the impact of the Tarh Hadi on household savings, the impact of the Tarh Hadi on household assets, the impact of the Tarh Hadi on reducing economic inequalities, and the impact of the Tarh Hadi on increasing rural property values.

The study area of this article is Taft County, one of the counties in Yazd Province, with its center being the city of Taft. Shirkouh District is one of the districts in Taft County, located in the central part. This district is bordered to the north and northwest by Pishkouh District, to the east by Mehriz County, and to the south by Nir District. The district includes 16 villages and, according to the 2016 Census of Population and Housing, it has 420 households and a population of 1,045 people.

This research, by its nature and given the use of statistical techniques to examine the correlation between variables, is considered a descriptive-analytical study. A descriptive method has been used to assess and understand the current situation, while an analytical method has been employed for statistical analysis. Moreover, it is considered applied research, as its results can assist decision-makers and executives in planning and decision-making processes. It is noteworthy that the correlation between variables is classified as descriptive-analytical research with an applied purpose. The collected data will be analyzed using an independent t-test, regression, and combined with analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Over time, and since the initiation of Tarh Hadi projects in rural areas of the country, with significant costs incurred at various stages of its preparation and implementation, we have witnessed diverse impacts on different aspects of quality of life. These effects, depending on the level of implementation and the geographical area under study, as well as the sense of responsibility of rural managers and residents, can become evident in economic and environmental aspects, ultimately leading to rural development and population attraction. With the development of the country’s villages, it is possible to reduce the additional burden of urban life and, through reverse migration of villagers and the attraction of active and creative forces, pave the way for rural development.

The results show that the implementation of the Tarh Hadi has had positive social impacts, such as increased public participation, strengthening of local and new institutions, incorporation of public opinions, hope for the future, the ability to meet households' basic needs, and the desire to remain in the village. Economically, it has had positive effects on job creation, employment diversification, household savings, household assets, reducing economic inequalities, and increasing rural property values. Physically, it has positively influenced housing quality in terms of building materials used, housing facilities such as sanitary bathrooms and toilets, the ability to obtain housing, surface water collection and disposal, road network quality, pedestrian pathways, and ease of access to roads. Environmentally, it has positively affected village cleanliness, drinking water quality, the establishment of wastewater disposal systems, waste collection and disposal, animal waste storage, avoidance of building houses on steep and dangerous lands, prevention of residential units in flood-prone and riverbank areas, and the reduction of water resource loss and pollution. Ultimately, there is a significant relationship between the implementation of the Tarh Hadi and the improvement of the quality of life (environmental, economic, physical, and social indicators) in the villages of the central district of Taft County.