Govt. programs for rural development-Rural development for economy

Rural development in India

 

Rural development in India is very important for the growth of economy. India is based on agriculture sector. One fifth of the gross domestic product comes from agriculture alone. Seventy percent of India’s population is centered in villages. Rural people mainly depend on agriculture for livelihood. For Indian economic growth, it is important that agriculture is given important and for the rural people who are short of amenities like electricity, roads, food, clothing, drinking water etc should be developed. Rural development thus is very important factor for development of India.

Rural areas have not seen much development over the last few years. Rural development in India is important for its strong economy. Rural areas of India are suffering from problems like illiteracy, unemployment and lack of infrastructure is schools and colleges. Youth are coming over to cities for work and education. The standard of life in rural areas should be improved for development of rural areas. If the rural areas in India remain poor, India also remains poor.

Rural economy is also an integrated part of overall Indian economy. Rural development in India is very important for countries like India as more than 70% of people who live in rural areas are below the poverty line. For the development of rural areas, it is important to eradicate poverty. Poverty alleviation thus has been given more importance in the rural development programs in India. Given below are the strategies followed by Indian governments for rural development.

Integrated Rural Development Program: This program was launched in 1978-79, to provide assistance for rural people. Subsidies, bank credits etc were introduced for rural people through this programs. Keeping in view the requirements of rural people other sub-programs were introduced under this program such as Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment, Development of Women and Children in rural Areas, Supply of Improved Tool kits to Rural Artisans and Ganga Kalyan Yojana.

Wage Employment Program: This programs was meant to help the rural people to reduce seasonal unemployment and also provide employment opportunities in times of natural calamities like floods, droughts etc. This helps in rural development in India.

Employment Assurance Scheme: This program was initiated in the year 1993 in drought prone, desert, tribal and hilly areas. Later it was extended to other parts of India also.

Food for work program: This was started in 2000-01. Under rural development in India strategies, food grains were supplied to drought hit states of India free of cost.

Rural Housing: Uplifting the SC/ST and other labors living in rural areas is important for rural development in India. Rural Housing program was initiated to provide pucca houses to these people. Many families that are below poverty line could get benefits from this scheme. HUDCO has also extended its services to rural areas and is providing loans for construction of house with concessional interest rates for weaker and low-income groups in rural areas.

Social security programs: Many social security programs like National social assistance program, National family Benefits scheme, National maternity benefit scheme, National old age pension scheme etc were introduced for rural development in India. National old age pension scheme provides months pension of Rs. 75 for people who are below poverty line are over 65 years. National Family Benefit Scheme gives Rs. 10,000 for the family which loses its bread winner. Under National Maternity Benefit Scheme, pregnant women get Rs. 500.

Land Reforms: Rural development in India will be possible if people who are below poverty line are given some land for agriculture.

Although these measures have helped for the rural development in India by way of curbing poverty there are still flaws in them. Rural development in India is the best way to get agriculture products to the market economically. For this purpose rural people should be given power, water and other necessities. Rural people should also be taught not to waste the natural resources. Though Indian governments take measures for rural development in India, the results may not reach the targeted people because of various reasons.

Rural development in India can be achieved by providing basic infrastructure like schools, health facilities, drinking water, power and roads to the rural areas. Measures should be taken to improve agriculture productivity and thus improve the living conditions of the rural people. Rural India is the backbone for Indian economy and rural development in India cannot be neglected for the development of the nation.