Dynamics of Rural Development in India

Abstract

India is the second largest populous country in the world and more than half of its population lives in rural areas. This leads to widespread unemployment, low standard of living, inadequate productive skills and malnutrition in the country. In the developing countries especially like India, rural development is always been an important issue related to country’s economic progress. The rural development programmes are the key devices for the development of the rural areas in the country. As we know that, the people of rural area have seen difficulties from the time immemorial, the time has come to give them their deserving rights. India cannot shine without the shinning of the Rural India. National Development is almost synonymous with the Rural Development. This paper makes an attempt to measure actual performance and Government’s initiatives to accelerate the process of rural development through rural development programme in India and would be dealing with the changing life of the vulnerable people. The study reveals that the target number of houses to be constructed by the year 2021–2022, is 2.95 crore. The target set is to be achieved in phases and in the 1st phase 1 crore houses have been taken up for construction and in the 2nd phase 1.95 crore houses are being taken up for construction. 35.27 lakh houses have been constructed during 2020–2021 under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY-G) scheme. The pace of construction of PMGSY roads a nine years high of 135 kms per day in 2018–2019 as against an average of 73 kms during the period 2011 to 2014. Hence, the pace of construction has increased by 93%. Under PMGSY about 6, 26,910 Km road length completed where as 41000 Km road length constructed by using green technology and 14312 Km road length constructed by using plastic waste. MGNREGA has provided employment to 6.9 crore households by generating more than 305.71 crore person-days of wage employment covering 74.74 lakh works during financial year 2020–2021 and 5 crore works completed since inception. During COVID-19 pandemic, migrant workers were allowed to work under the scheme by being applying for job card. Approximately 1.44 crore Job Cards have been issued in FY 2020–2021. Total person-days generated in FY 2020–2021 have been 305.71 crore against approved LB for FY 2020–2021 of 333.09 crore. There has been 47% increase in person-days generated in comparison to FY 2019–2020. Further, the paper will give an idea how it will be beneficial for our country and how this little effort to rebuild the rural life and livelihood will make our country from developing to the developed country.