CHARACTERISTICS OF A MATURE COMMUNITY:

1. Residents are in favor and interested in any programs being introduced in the

community.

2. There is ample communication between people.

3. High morale – Pride in the past community achievements or loyalty to the

community.

4. There is leadership.

5. There are social services and agencies present such as churches and

schools.

6. Social groups or organization are present.

7. High average educational level.

8. The people’s practice is based on belief in God.

9. Natural resources are developed.

10. High standard of living. People have their own houses.

11. There is a political awareness of activity.

12. High interest in remunerative work.

13. Adequate recreational facilities available.

14. No rate of disease, delinquency and crime.

15. Community layout is well planned, beautiful and clean.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IMMATURE COMMUNITY:

1. Indifference of the population to group and community relationships.

2. There is a minimum communication between people.

3. Low morale – Little or no sense of the past community achievements.

4. No leadership and no group basis for development of leadership.

5. No social services and agencies present.

6. Social groups other than families are non-existent.

7. Illiteracy is widespread.

8. Believed in magic and superstition.

9. Natural resources are undeveloped.

10. Squatter or tenant property relations are accompanied by disinterest in

ownership of personal property and careless use of land.

11. No political awareness of activity.

12. Little interest in remunerative work.

13. Few recreational facilities.

14. Little rate of disease, delinquency and crime.

15. Community layout is little and no sense of art.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISORGANIZED COMMUNTY:

1. An atmosphere of suspicion, distrust and jealousy, marks personal and group

relations.

2. Malicious whispering and propaganda prevalent.

3. Indifference towards community past achievements.

4. Community leaders are interested on retaining positions and powers.

5. Incomplete and inadequate social services.

6. Social groups are existent but lack coordination.

7. The population is a mixture of illiterate, half-educated and well-educated

individuals.

8. Indifference to religion.

9. Confused and wasteful exploitation of natural resources.

10. Unequal distribution of wealth – much poverty.

11. Lethargic attitude towards politics, resulting in boss rule. (graft and

corruption)

12. Labor is dissatisfied.

13. Inadequate recreational facilities.

14. High rate of disease, delinquency and crime.

15. Community layout is plan less, ugly and dirty.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ORGANIZED COMMUNTY:

Meaning of community can be better understood if we analyze its characteristics

or elements. These characteristics decide whether a group is a community or

not. However, community has the following characteristics or elements:

(1) A group of people: A group of people is the most fundamental or essential

characteristic or element of community. This group may be small or large but

community always refers to a group of people. Because without a group of

people we can’t think of a community, when a group of people live together and

share a common life and binded by a strong sense of community consciousness

at that moment a community is formed. Hence a group of people is the first pre-

requisites of community.

(2) A definite locality: It is the next important characteristic of a community.

Because community is a territorial group. A group of people alone can’t form a

community. A group of people forms a community only when they reside in a

definite territory. The territory need not be fixed forever. A group of people like

nomadic people may change their habitations. But majority community are

settled and a strong bond of unity and solidarity is derived from their living in a

definite locality.

(3) Community Sentiment: It is another important characteristic or element of

community. Because without community sentiment a community can’t be formed

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only with a group of people and a definite locality. Community sentiment refers

to a strong sense of awe feeling among the members or a feeling of belonging

together. It refers to a sentiment of common living that exists among the

members of a locality. Because of common living within an area for a long time

a sentiment of common living is created among the members of that area. With

this the members emotionally identify themselves. This emotional identification

of the members distinguishes them from the members of other community.

(4) Naturality: Communities are naturally organised. It is neither a product of

human will nor created by an act of government. It grows spontaneously.

Individuals became the member by birth.

(5) Permanence: Community is always a permanent group. It refers to a

permanent living of individuals within a definite territory. It is not temporary like

that of a crowd or association.

(6) Similarity: The members of a community are similar in a number of ways. As

they live within a definite locality they lead a common life and share some

common ends. Among the members similarity in language, culture, customs, and

traditions and in many other things is observed. Similarities in these respects are

responsible for the development of community sentiment.

(7) Wider Ends: A community has wider ends. Members of a community

associate not for the fulfillment of a particular end but for a variety of ends. These

are natural for a community.

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(8) Total organised social life: A community is marked by total organised social

life. It means a community includes all aspects of social life. Hence a community

is a society in miniature.

(9) A Particular Name: Every community has a particular name by which it is

known to the world. Members of a community are also identified by that name.

For example people living in Odisha is known as odia.

(10) No Legal Status: A community has no legal status because it is not a legal

person. It has no rights and duties in the eyes of law. It is not created by the law

of the land.

(11) Size of Community: A community is classified on the basis of it’s size. It may

be big or small. Village is an example of a small community whereas a nation or

even the world is an example of a big community. Both the type of community

are essential for human life.

(12) Concrete Nature: A community is concrete in nature. As it refers to a group

of people living in a particular locality we can see its existence. Hence it is

concrete.

(13) A community exists within society and possesses distinguishable structure

which distinguishes it from others.

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