Programmes of Rural Development in India: All You Need To Know!

Programmes of Rural Development in India have played an important role in improving the living conditions of people in rural India. Several Programmes were launched by the government over the years for rural upliftment.

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History of Rural Development Programmes in India

The Community Development Programme launched in 1952 was the first organised rural development effort. It aimed at developing the social and economic conditions of villages through people's participation. The Programme focused on six-point approaches - agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, communication, education and health. But it failed due to a lack of funds and trained workers.

Objectives of Programmes for Rural Development in India

India has a large rural population with high poverty. Rural development programmes aim to improve living standards in villages. The main objectives of these programmes are:

• Increase agricultural production: Most people in villages depend on farming. So goals focus on improving crop yields, irrigation, seeds and fertilizers. More shows will raise farm incomes.
• Generate employment: Many schemes provide funds and training for self-employment. Some create jobs in rural works. This helps increase incomes and fight poverty.
• Develop infrastructure: Objectives include building roads, bridges, electricity, schools and hospitals in villages. This improves access to services and markets for farmers.
• Increase access to credit: Schemes provide cheaper credit and subsidies for rural people. Easy loans help farmers buy farm inputs and start small businesses.
• Improve nutrition and health: Objectives focus on reducing malnutrition, diseases and mortality rates. Health centres, clean water and toilets improve health conditions in villages.
• Promote education: Schemes aim to build more schools and Anganwadi. More students enrolling and completing education will create a skilled workforce.
• Empower women: Objectives include providing loans, jobs and training to rural women. This helps increase the incomes of women and their decision-making power.
• Decentralize planning: Many programmes give funds and powers to panchayats to take local-level decisions. This ensures people's participation in the planning and execution of projects.
• Encourage cooperatives: Objectives focus on forming farmer collectives, producers and self-help groups. Cooperatives help members get institutional credit, market linkage and better bargaining power.
• Provide basic amenities: Rural programmes aim to supply electricity, drinking water and cooking gas connections to all villages. Ensuring basic facilities improve the quality of rural life.
• Conserve environment: Objectives include renewable energy, waste management and organic farming methods. This helps protect the environment and make agriculture sustainable.
• Promote equity: Target vulnerable sections like Scheduled Castes, Tribes and women. Ensuring their participation in schemes helps achieve inclusive growth in rural areas.
• Build institutions: Formation of user groups, self-help groups and producer companies are objectives. Strong local-level institutions can sustain projects and community welfare activities.
• Improve connectivity: Schemes aim to connect villages with all-weather roads, banking, postal and internet services. This enables access to markets, information and government services.
• Provide insurance: Objectives include extending health, livestock and crop insurance to rural people. Insurance covers help farmers withstand risks of crop losses, diseases and accidents.

List of Programmes of Rural Development in India

India has witnessed several Programmes of rural development over the years aiming to improve the socio-economic conditions in villages and small towns. Here is a list of major Programmes of rural development in India initiated by the government since independence.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana began in 2000. Its purpose is to provide all-weather roads to rural areas. Basic amenities like schools and hospitals have roads to connect them.

• The government wants to cover all rural areas by 2019. Around 60 thousand villages remain left to be covered. Government allocates a large amount of money every year for this programme.
• Under the scheme, roads are built or improved. Existing roads which are narrow and kutcha, are made bigger and broad with the pucca surfaces.
• The roads connect villages with other villages too. Farmers can now take their crops to mandi easily. Children go to school daily without any problem, even during rain. Patients reach hospitals faster in case of an emergency.
• More money is allotted to hilly areas and remotely located villages. Service roads are also constructed alongside major highways.
• Roads are built according to technical standards fixed by the government. Good quality material is used for pucca roads. The work is monitored regularly.
• Programmes of rural development in India, like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, improve basic facilities and bring development to rural areas. The construction of good roads acts as a catalyst for the growth of villages.

Read More About PMGSY Here!

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana 

Programmes of rural development in India aim to provide employment opportunities for rural youth. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana is one such skill development scheme.

• It began in 2014 to provide skill training to rural BPL youth. The scheme enables poor rural candidates to secure jobs as per their skills and aptitude.
• The government identifies job roles which are in demand. Based on this, training courses are offered across various sectors. Candidates are enrolled for courses like ITIs, apprenticeships etc.
• The scheme focuses on placement-oriented training. At least 70% of trainees should get a job after the course. Post-training support is also provided to help youth get jobs.

Learn More About Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana Here!

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 

Programmes of rural development in India focus on generating employment in rural areas. Mahatma Gandhi, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, is one such scheme.

• It began in 2005 to provide at least 100 days of wage employment every year to rural households. The scheme guarantees work to improve the livelihood of the rural poor.
• MGNREGA aims to build assets like roads, canals, ponds etc. Jobs are provided for public works related to natural resource management.
• Any adult member willing to do unskilled manual work can apply under the scheme. Works are identified, keeping local needs and resources in mind.
• The central government funds the scheme fully. Wages are paid as per the minimum wage fixed by states. Extra wages are paid in case of delayed payment.
• At least one-third of the beneficiaries under the scheme should be women. Scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and disabled people get preference.
• Public works taken up should not compete with local labour. Only such works where additional manpower is needed are allowed.
• Transparency is ensured through proper maintenance of muster rolls and accounts. Grievance redressal systems are put in place.
• Programmes of rural development in India, like MGNREGA, provide a safety net for the rural poor during lean agricultural seasons. The additional income helps them meet basic needs.

Want to learn more about MGNREGA? Read it here!

Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

Programmes of rural development in India focus on improving education facilities. Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan is one such integrated scheme.

• It started in 2018 by merging schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education.
• The scheme aims to provide quality education from preschool to senior secondary level in rural areas. It focuses on universal access, equity and quality improvement.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan works to improve school infrastructure and equip classrooms with teaching materials. Teacher training programmes are organised regularly.
• Digital initiatives are taken up under the scheme to introduce e-books, online lessons and digital labs. Workshops are conducted on modern pedagogical practices.
• More stress is given to girls' education and children with special needs. Activities are planned for the overall development of weak students.
• Financial support is provided for various interventions undertaken by states. Construction of new school buildings and hostels is funded.
• Importance is given to vocational education from Class 9 onwards. Students are counselled about career options and trained for employable skills.
• Programmes of rural development in India, like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, bridge the gap between rural and urban education. Better school facilities and trained teachers ensure quality education for all.

Learn More about Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Here!

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin 

Programmes of rural development in India aim to provide proper houses to the poor. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin is one such affordable housing scheme.

• It began in 2016 to provide pucca houses with basic amenities to rural households by 2022. The scheme aims to cover all 2.95 crore eligible rural households with a new house.
• PMAY-G will focus on "Housing for All" by 2022. Financial assistance up to Rs 1.20 lakh is provided for constructing a new house or improvement of an existing house.
• More funds are allotted to houses of SC/STs, minorities, scheduled tribes and disabled persons. Assistance is provided in instalments based on construction milestones.
• The scheme is implemented through state governments and their selected agencies. Individual beneficiary-led construction is the main mode of implementation.
• Each state identifies eligible households. Beneficiaries are given the freedom to choose their indigenous house designs.
• Programmes of rural development in India, like PMAY-G, benefit the poorest people who cannot construct houses on their own. Houses reduce the effects of poverty and act as assets for the rural poor.
• The scheme generates substantial employment opportunities for rural masons, labourers and material suppliers. This, in turn, boosts the rural economy.

Failure Of Rural Development Programmes In India

Programmes of rural development in India aim to improve the economy and living standards of people in villages. However, many schemes have failed to make a significant impact due to various reasons.

• Lack of coordination: Different rural development programmes are implemented by different government departments. There is poor coordination between these departments. This leads to duplication of work and wastage of resources.
• Poor targeting: Many schemes lack proper identification and selection of eligible rural beneficiaries. The criteria for selection are often inadequate or flawed. As a result, the intended beneficiaries are left out.
• Fund leakage: A large part of funds allocated for rural programmes are siphoned off due to corruption and mismanagement. Only a small portion reaches the actual beneficiaries on the ground. This affects the proper implementation of schemes.
• Local resistance: Implementing agencies often face resistance from local communities regarding programmes of rural development in India. Rural folks do not actively participate due to a lack of awareness and motivation.
• Lack of Infrastructure: Rural schemes often fail due to inadequate infrastructure in villages like roads, storage facilities, markets etc. This hampers the production, storage and sale of agricultural produce.
• Delayed payments: Rural workers and beneficiaries often complain about delayed payments under rural schemes. This demotivates them and affects the sustainability of programmes.
• Political interference: A lot of rural programmes suffer from the interference of local politicians and bureaucrats. They influence the selection of beneficiaries and contractors in their favour.
• Insufficient funds: Programmes of rural development in India frequently face a shortage of funds allocated to them. Budgets are often reduced midway, affecting ongoing projects and expansion plans.
• Inadequate monitoring: There is poor monitoring and evaluation of rural development schemes. Officials do not conduct frequent field visits and inspections to gauge actual performance.
• Asset decay: Many rural assets created under various schemes, like water bodies, irrigation canals etc., decay quickly due to poor quality of work and maintenance. Assets become defunct within a few years.
• Infrastructure gaps: Rural infrastructure facilities created under schemes remain inadequate compared to needs. Gaps continue to persist in areas of road connectivity, housing, electricity, banking etc.
• Mismatched skills: Skill training programmes fail to match skills imparted with market requirements. There is a mismatch between the skills of rural youth and the jobs available. This affects placement and livelihood opportunities.
• Technology gaps: Rural folk often lack the technological know-how or access to use the benefits of programmes. They are unable to adapt to technological intervention by the government.
• Lack of ownership: Local communities do not feel ownership of rural programmes. They consider schemes as doles from the government with little contribution from their side. This affects sustainability.

Conclusion

Despite good intentions, most programmes of rural development in India suffer from design and implementation flaws.

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