a case study of rural development programmes in india

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A Case Study of Rural Development Programmes In India

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Explaining Rural Development in Contemporary India: A Paradoxical Situation

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• K. L. Sharma 2 , 3 , 4  

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Rural development is not simply an offshoot of policies and programmes initiated by the Indian State and public-sector agencies and NGOs. It is far more inclusive and comprehensive as the rural people themselves aspire for their betterment and put efforts to that end. Undoubtedly, the constitutional provisions, policies and programmes for rural upliftment have weakened some of the institutional bottlenecks, and granted a voice to the deprived and excluded sections of rural India. ‘Urban bias’ is one such potent factor, obstructing egalitarian rural development. Onslaught on traditional obstructive institutional social arrangements has paved a way for ‘new actors’, individuals and families to assert for their shares in the process of development. That led rural development to proceed in an inclusive form, both materially and socio-culturally, ensuring incorporation of all sections of society, particularly the poor and the deprived people. Thus, it is both a policy and a process, encompassing activities in public and private domains. Therefore, rural development is a change for a desired type of society and hence, has a human face as well. The above insight is drawn by the author from his study of Six Villages in Rajasthan in the 1960s and again after half a century in 2015-16, with a view to grasp the nature and direction of social change and development. A comparative analysis of the same villages, covering a period of five decades, indicates that ‘inclusive development’ is the real concern of the people, implying access to assets, markets and opportunities on an equal basis, reduction in disparity of income, maximum benefits for the poor, increased focus on agriculture, employment, health care and education, and equitable sharing of public goods and services.

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K. L. Sharma

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

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Sharma, K.L. (2021). Explaining Rural Development in Contemporary India: A Paradoxical Situation. In: Verma, M.K. (eds) Environment, Development and Sustainability in India: Perspectives, Issues and Alternatives. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6248-2_5

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Home » Social Justice » Issues related to Rural Development » Government Schemes for Rural Development in India

Government Schemes for Rural Development in India

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005 :

• The scheme was introduced as a social measure that  guarantees “the right to work”.
• The Ministry of Rural Development monitors the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments.
• It is the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat which approves the shelf of works under MGNREGA and fixes their priority.
• Social Audit of MGNREGA works is mandatory, which leads to accountability and transparency.
• For the financial year 2021-22, 2.95 crore persons have been offered work, thus, completing 5.98 lakh assets and generating 34.56 crore person-days.

Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM):

• It is a centrally sponsored programme, launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in June 2011.
• To eliminate rural poverty through the promotion of multiple livelihoods and improved access to financial services for the rural poor households across the country.
• Revolving Fund and Community Investment Fund amounting to approximately Rs. 56 Crore released to women SHGs in FY 2021 as compared to approximately Rs. 32 Crore in the same corresponding period in FY 2020.
• Training on farm and non-Farm based livelihoods, on covid management and promotion of Agri-Nutri gardens.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY):

• To provide connectivity, by way of an all-weather road to unconnected habitations.
• Unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Deserts and Tribal Areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.
• Highest length of road has been completed under PMGSY in the comparable period over the last 3 years.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin:

• To achieve the objective of “Housing for All” by 2022, the erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) w.e.f 1st April, 2016.
• To help rural people below the poverty line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.
• People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action, ex servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, Disabled persons and Minorities.
• Beneficiaries are chosen according to data taken from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011.
• Highest expenditure amounting to Rs. 5854 Cr in FY 2021-22; double than the FY 2020-21 in the comparable period.

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY):

• a Government of India initiative for the empowerment of deprived sections, aims to achieve integrated development of selected villages through convergent implementation of all relevant Central and State schemes..

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) :

• It is a village development project launched by Government of India in October 2014, under which each Member of Parliament will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.
• The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAANJHI) was launched on on 11th October, 2014.
• The goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.

National Rurban Mission (NRuM) :

• The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) aims at developing such rural areas by provisioning of economic, social and physical infrastructure facilities.
• The Mission aims at development of 300 Rurban clusters, in the next five years.
• The National Rurban Mission (NRuM) follows the vision of “Development of a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of “Rurban Villages”.
• The objective of the National Rurban Mission (NRuM) is to stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well planned Rurban clusters.

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

• Itis a welfare programme being administered by the Ministry of Rural Development.
• This programme is being implemented in rural areas as well as urban areas.
• NSAP represents a significant step towards the fulfilment of the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution of India which enjoin upon the State to undertake within its means a number of welfare measures.
• These are intended to secure for the citizens adequate means of livelihood, raise the standard of living, improve public health, provide free and compulsory education for children etc.
• In particular, Article 41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want within the limit of its economic capacity and development.

Mission Antyodaya: 

• It seeks to converge government interventions with Gram Panchayats as the basic unit for planning by following a saturation approach by pooling resources – human and financial – to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

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Rural India: Progress and Problems

• 07 Aug 2023
• 13 min read
• GS Paper - 2
• Human Resource
• GS Paper - 3
• Growth & Development
• Inclusive Growth

This editorial is based on Rural poverty declines, but lifestyle issues emerge which was published in The Hindu BusinessLine on 04/08/2023. It talks about the rural development and role of NITI Aayog in the progress of rural India.

For Prelims: Multidimensional Poverty Index , NITI Aayog , National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) , The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MNREGA) , Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) , Public Distribution System (PDS) , Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) , Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) , Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

For Mains: Challenges in Rural Development

India is a country of contrasts, where rapid economic growth coexists with persistent poverty and social problems. The rural areas, which house about two-thirds of the population , are undergoing significant changes in terms of living standards, education, health, and environment.

As India's rural landscape undergoes a transformative journey, marked by a commendable decline in multidimensional poverty , a complex tapestry of changes emerges. The updated National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) released by NITI Aayog unveils an encouraging narrative of progress, showcasing a substantial reduction in poverty rates between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

What is NITI Aayog’s National MPI?

• It considers 10 indicators, such as nutrition, child mortality, years of schooling, cooking fuel, sanitation, etc.
• The incidence of poverty (the percentage of people who are poor) and the intensity of poverty (the average deprivation score of the poor).
• The incidence of poverty fell from 24.85% to 14.96% , while the intensity of poverty fell from 47.14% to 44.39%.
• The improvement in rural poverty can be attributed to various targeted development initiatives taken by Union and State Governments along with other stakeholders.

What are the Signs of Improvement in Rural Living Standards?

• Durable housing fosters resilience against natural elements, ensuring safety and comfort for rural inhabitants.
• Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) provided for availability for rural housing.
• Improved sanitation contributes to community well-being and a cleaner environment.
• For example: Over 1 lakh villages declared themselves as ODF (Open Defecation Free) Plus under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G)
• Electricity enables better educational outcomes , increased productivity, and enhanced quality of life.
• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) launched to enhance rural electrification.
• Clean cooking fuel supports sustainable environmental practices, promoting a healthier ecosystem.
• Under Ujjwala 1.0, the target was to provide LPG connections to 50 million women from BPL households by March 2020.
• Under Ujjwala 2.0, an additional 10 million LPG connections were to be provided to the beneficiaries.
• Rising participation of girls in education reflects progressive societal values and contributes to gender parity and inclusive development.
• Knowledge dissemination through connectivity aids educational growth and fosters informed decision-making.
• For example: Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana aims to empower the villagers to make choices and provide them with opportunities to exercise those choices.
• Income diversification enhances financial stability and resilience against agricultural uncertainties.
• MGNREGA: The primary objective of the scheme is to guarantee 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work.
• National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
• Public Distribution System (PDS)
• Mission Antyodaya
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

What are the Challenges in Development of Rural India?

• Widespread poverty persists, characterized by low income, limited access to basic services, and unequal distribution of resources.
• Income inequality between rural and urban areas and within rural regions hampers equitable development.
• Dependence on agriculture as a primary livelihood exposes rural communities to risks posed by unpredictable weather patterns, market fluctuations, and crop failures.
• Fragmented land holdings, inadequate irrigation, and outdated farming practices hinder productivity and income generation.
• Inadequate non-farm employment opportunities lead to seasonal unemployment and underemployment in the agricultural sector.
• Lack of skill development and market-oriented vocational training limits rural workforce engagement in diverse sectors.
• Insufficient rural connectivity, including roads, electricity, and telecommunication, limits access to markets, services, and information.
• Basic amenities such as clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and healthcare remain inadequate in many rural areas.
• Rural areas are impacted by the effects of climate change, such as droughts, floods, heat waves, and extreme weather events.
• For example, the population of farmland birds declined by one-third between 1990 and 2016.
• This can result in labour shortages , land fragmentation, social isolation, and loss of cultural identity in rural areas.
• On the other hand, urbanization can also bring some benefits to rural areas, such as improved connectivity, market access, remittances, and innovation.
• Rural areas are facing a rise in addiction to tobacco, gutka, liquor, and social media among rural youth and adults.
• Moreover, rural areas often lack adequate mental health services and awareness, which can lead to stress, depression, suicide, and violence.
• Rural areas often lack proper waste management systems and facilities, such as segregation at source, composting/biogas plants/recycling units for organic/inorganic waste respectively.
• Rural areas still face challenges in achieving universal access to sanitation facilities and hygiene practices.

What are the Possible Solutions to Address the Issues Related to Rural Development?

• Focus on skill development and entrepreneurial opportunities can anchor the workforce in rural areas.
• This can reduce the need for migration, increase the income and livelihood security of rural people, and enhance their self-reliance and dignity.
• Stricter regulations and awareness campaigns are essential to reduce tobacco, gutka, and alcohol consumption.
• Holistic community interventions can promote healthier lifestyles and curb substance dependence.
• Raising awareness about the detrimental effects of excessive internet use can encourage healthier digital habits.
• Community initiatives can foster interpersonal interactions and strengthen social bonds.
• Keeping the focus of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 on waste management at the village level through segregation at source, composting/biogas plants/recycling units for organic/inorganic waste respectively.
• This can improve the environmental quality, health hygiene, aesthetic appeal, and resource efficiency of rural areas, and also generate income and employment opportunities for rural people.

How can NITI Aayog Play a Role in Addressing Rural Issues?

• Devise policies that specifically target rural challenges such as addiction, digital dependency, and waste management.
• Facilitate collaborations between government agencies, NGOs, private sector, and communities for comprehensive solutions.
• Conduct research to understand the root causes of these challenges and their regional variations, aiding in crafting effective solutions.
• Implement robust monitoring systems can gauge the progress of initiatives and fine-tune strategies for optimal impact.
• Support and fund innovative projects that address addiction, technology dependence, waste management, and more.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year’s Question (PYQs)

Q. The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative with UNDP support covers which of the following? (2012)

• Deprivation of education, health, assets and services at household level
• Purchasing power parity at national level
• Extent of budget deficit and GDP growth rate at national level

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

• The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) reflects the deprivations that a poor person faces simultaneously with respect to education, health and living standards, as reflected in the following table. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q. Despite Consistent experience of high growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive. (2016)

• chandigarh News

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About the Author

Neel Kamal writes about sustainable agriculture, environment, climate change for The Times of India. His incisive and comprehensive reporting about over a year-long farmers' struggle against farm laws at the borders of the national capital won laurels. He is an alumunus of Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology. Read More

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