Rural Development in India

India is predominantly an agrarian country. Therefore 80%

of India's population lives in villages. Hence it becomes

important that proportionate amount of attention and funds

be spent for betterment of the rural folk. But inspite of their

being in majority, they have been lagging behind in the

fields of education, civic amenities, medical facilities and

economic well being. So the Government of India realize the

need of improvement of condition of rural people. Many

programmes and projects for the upliftment of rural folk

have been started.

One of the earliest steps taken was to bring about the

Community Development Programme which was started in

1952. Its purpose was to ensure the supply of improved

high quality seeds, modern implements and chemical

manures to farmers. Also irrigation facilities were improved,

facilities were provided for the upliftment of livestock and

small-scale village industries. Ministry of Rural

Reconstruction was formed in August 1979 whose major

task was in the field of rural development.

Besides this another programme i.e. Integrated Rural

Development Programme (IRDP) has been launched by

Government in 1979. It aims at creating additional

employment and raising the income levels of the identified

target groups, consisting of marginal and small farmers,

agricultural labourers, small artisans, and persons

belonging to scheduled castes and tribes. To start with the

programme was sought to be taken up in such blocks

where necessary infrastructure already existed. The

launching of this programme was widely welcomed as a

better deal for the rural poor.

Under IRDP there were further smaller agencies like Small

Farmers Development Agency (SFDA). The Drought Prone

Areas Programme (DPAP), Command Area Development

(CAD), Desert Development Programme (DDP) which all

aimed at rural upliftment. Under this programme of...