Various Rural Development Progrrammes in India which will be helpful for Social science students.

1. RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN INDIA
Aswathy Mohan

2.  Rural development is the process of improving
the quality of life and economic well-being of people
living in rural areas, often relatively isolated and
sparsely populated areas
 Rural development is a comprehensive term. It
essentially focuses on action for the development of
areas outside the mainstream urban economic system.
we should think of what type of rural development is
needed because modernization of village leads to
urbanization and village environment disappears.

3.  Rural development programs have historically been top-
down from local or regional authorities, regional
development agencies, NGOs, national governments or
international development organizations.
 Accordingly, on 31st March 1952, an organization known
as Community Projects Administration was set up
under the Planning Commission to administer the
programmes relating to community development.
 The community development programme, inaugurated
on October 2, 1952, was an important landmark in the
history of the rural development. This programme
underwent many changes and was handled by different
Ministries.

4.  In October 1974, the Department of Rural Development
came into existence as a part of Ministry of Food and
Agriculture. On 18th August 1979, the Department of Rural
Development was elevated to the status of a new Ministry
of Rural Reconstruction.
 On July 5, 1991 the Department was upgraded as Ministry
of Rural Development. Another Department viz.
Department of Wasteland Development was created under
this Ministry on 2nd July 1992. In March 1995, the Ministry
was renamed as the Ministry of Rural Areas and
Employment with three departments namely Department
of Rural Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Rural
Development and Wasteland Development.

5.  In order to ensure that the fruits of economic reform
are shared by all sections of societies five elements of
social and economic infrastructure, critical to the
quality of life in rural areas, were identified. These are
health, education, drinking water, housing and roads.
To impart greater momentum to the efforts in these
sectors the Government launched the Pradhan
Mantri Gramdoya Yojana (PMGY) and the Ministry
of Rural Development was entrusted with the
responsibility of implementing drinking water,
housing and rural roads component of PMGY.

6.  Sriniketan project
 Marthandom project
 Marthandam project
 Rural reconstruction programme by Mahatma Gandhi

7.  By Dr. Rabindranath in 1914.
 All round improvement in the villages of Zamindari.
 OBJECTIVES
 Develop agriculture
 Improving the livestock
 Formation of cooperatives
 Improving village sanitation.

8.  By Dr. Spencer Hatch of YMCA in Marthandom in
1921.
 OBJECTIVES
 To bring about a complete upward development
towards a more complete and meaningful life for rural
people.
 Sprituality
 Mentality
 Physically
 Socially
 Economically

9.  By F L Bryne, who was the Deputy Commissioner of
Gurgaon district in Punjab in 1927.
 OBJECTIVE
 Aimed at improving agriculture, education, health a
nd sanitation facilities, cooperation and social
development with greater vigour.
 Intended to remove poverty through a mass
movement.

10.  Sevagram in Wardha in 1938
 By Mahathma Gandhi
 18 Point constructive programme included the use of
Khadi , promotion of village industries , basic
education, adult education, rural sanitation, removal
of untouchability , upliftment of the backward classes,
welafare of women , education in public health and
hygiene , prohibition , propogation of mothertongue
and economic equalitty.

11.  Firka Development
 Etawah pilot project
 Nilokheri experiment

12.  Scheme of Madras was a Govt. sponsered scheme in
1946.
 To develop basic amenities and an institutional frame
work for carrying out communication, water supply,
sanitation, formation of local self Govt.
 To attain self sufficiency in food, clothing, shelter,
development of agriculture, animal husbandry, Khadi
and village industries.

13.  In1948, Albert Mayor started the Etawah pilot project.
 Development of the rural areas of Etawah district in
Uthar Pradesh.
 OBJECTIVE
 To see what degree of productive and social
improvement as well as initiative, self confidence and
cooperation can be developed.

14.  In 1948 by S K Dey , the former minster for
community development and cooperation.
 The scheme was known as Mazdoor Manzil because
of its principle he who will not work neither shall he
eat.
 The colony had school, an agricultural farm,
polytechnic training centre, dairy, poultry farm,
piggery farm, horticulture garden, printing press,
garment factory, engineering workshop, soap factory,
etc.

15.  Peasant movements

16.  After five decades of independence nearly 63 per cent of
the population still depends on agriculture for its
livelihood, though industrial growth is significant. The
agrarian structure has undergone a change from a feudal
and semi-feudal structure to a capitalist one. Agricultural
production has increasingly become market oriented since
the 1960s.
 Non-farm economic activities have expanded in the rural
areas. In the process, not only has the rural-urban divide
become blurred, but the nature of peasant society in terms
of composition, classes/strata and consciousness has
undergone considerable changes.

17.  1. Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
 2. Kheda Peasant Struggle
 3. The Bardoli Movement in Gujarat
 4. Moplah Rebellion in Malabar
 5. Peasant Revolt in Telangana
 6. Tebhaga Movement in Bengal.

18.  . The Champaran peasant movement was a part of the
independence movement. After returning from South
Africa, Gandhiji made the experiment of non-
cooperation by leading the Champaran (Bihar) and
Kheda (Gujarat) peasant struggles. The basic idea was
to mobilize the peasants and make them attain their
demands.

19.  The peasantry of Kheda consisted mainly of Patidars
who were known for their skills in agriculture. The
Patidars were well-educated. Kheda is situated in the
central part of Gujarat and was quite fertile for the
cultivation of tobacco and cotton crops.