Rural Development & Poverty Alleviation in India

Bulk of India's population lives in rural areas. According to 2011 Census, rural population formed 68.8 percent of the total population of the country. Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, is the nodal agency for rural development in India. It co-ordinates, implements and funds schemes which aim at ensuring that the fruits of economic development reach the villages and the common man. Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation. Increased participation of people in the rural development process, decentralisation of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit and inputs go a long way in providing the rural people with better prospects for improved quality of life. Improvements in health, education, drinking water, energy supply, sanitation and housing coupled with attitudinal changes also facilitate their social development. Various schemes/programmes have been launched for rural development including the following: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) [restructured as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)], Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid-day Meal Scheme (MDMS). The present work, consisting of 19 chapters, provides a comprehensive account of policies and programmes for transformation of rural India. It explains the key reform measures undertaken for raising the standard of living of the rural population. The aspects of rural India covered, include: Constitutional Provisions and Institutional Set up for Rural Development; Land Development Programmes; Rural Employment Programmes; Food and Nutritional Security; Rural Industries; Rural Credit and Co-operatives; Micro Finance, Self-help Groups (SHGs) and Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs); Rural Housing; Rural Transport and Communications; Rural Electrification; Rural Water Supply; Rural Health and Family Welfare; Rural Sanitation and Cleanliness; Rural Education and Training; Social Justice and Empowerment of Disadvantaged Groups in Rural Areas; Rural/Agriculture Insurance; E-governance in Rural Areas.