1. Sustainable Rural Development
Strategies for Sustainable and Inclusive Development in Rural
areas in the 12th Five Year
Kuldeep Singh
Kuldeep Singh, Rural Development Division, Planning Commission
Rural Development Division,
Planning Commission of India

2. Percentage of Population Below
Poverty Line (BPL)
45
Rural 42
Population: 40
121 68.8%
37.2
Crore
Population of 35
India (2011 33.8 Rural
Census )
Urban
Urban
Population: 30 29.8
31.2% All India
25 25.45
20.9
20
2004-05 2009-10
Beneficiaries (In Thousands)
400000 Expenditure (Rs. in crores)
350000
250000
300000
250000 200000
11Th Five Year Plan 200000 150000
(Beneficiaries ~
Expenditures) Rural 150000 100000
Development Programs
100000 50000
50000
0
0

3. Major Challenges for Rural Transformation
Untapped Unemployment, Under-
Lack of Conducive Low employment and seasonal
Environment for Emerging
Contribution employment , Low
Opportunities Productivity in agriculture &
Entrepreneurship in GDP
for livelihood allied sectors
Low Inadequate Low coverage and
Large segment dependent on Social
Productivity assistance under
Agriculture, Small & Marginal Farmers , in Rain fed
Low capacity to invest, low output Security NSAP
Agriculture System
Lack of Financial Low level of skill &
Inclusion, Inaccessibility Inadequacy Poverty education, Low
to credit, High lending of Credit Trap Productivity &
rate by MFI and unsustainable Income
informal source of
finances
Weak Local Institutions, low
Poor connectivity and Poor public participation and
Lack of
marketing Infrastructure, Infrastructure Delivery democratic decentralization
Lack of power & other Mechanism
facilities

4. Present
Creation of Employment
Program - MGNREGA
Continuum - NRLM
Housing, with Basic
amenities through Sustainable Agriculture &
convergence Rural Connectivity
- IAY Sustainable Rural -IWMP including synergy
with MGNREGA
- TSC Development
- MKSP
- NRDWP
- PMGSY
Social Protection Program
- NSAP

5. Approach adopted - Action Plan

6. Focus on ‘horizontal’ issues through ‘vertical’ programs that cut across sectors
Employment
Women Empowerment
Social Security (Old Age, Disabled & Widows Pension and Family Benefit)
Sustainable Agriculture
Skill Development for Rural Youth
Financial Inclusion
Public Private Partnership (PPP)
Rural Transformation
Infrastructure Development
Effective Delivery Mechanism
Training & capacity building
Entrepreneurship Development
Use of IT and Institution
Watershed Development
Institutions of Poor
Building
Rural Connectivity
Skill Development
Houses for Poor
Drinking water
Asset Creation
Sanitation
Sectoral Group

7. Approach to Poverty reduction through Sustainable Rural
Development
1
Self Employment and wage Employment under various Rural
Employment
Development Programs.
2
Sustainable Multilevel approach to increase investment in agriculture, watershed
livelihood through development and empowerment of women through MKSP.
Agriculture
3 Focus of MGNREGA to create durable and quality assets .
Durable Asset
Connecting rural People with Banking system, Post offices and
4
Financial Banking Correspondents (BC) for payments etc.
Inclusion
Promotion of proven technologies and best practices with multiplier
5
Innovative Tech.& effects.
Best Practices
Rural Flexi-Fund to incentivize better performing States and
6
managing the inequality of the region through better targeting and
Flexi-Fund
focused projects on state-specific priorities.

8. Approach to Poverty reduction through Sustainable Rural
Development
7
Convergence Multilayer convergence at all levels with Inter and Intra-ministerial
programs.
8 Focus of major Rural Development Programs on women and skilling
Women and
the youth .
Youth
9 Participation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in all major
Vulnerable
Flagship Programs of Rural Development.
Section
10
Information electronic Financial Management System (e-FMS) to ensure availability
Technology of funds at each level along with effective and time bound payments.
11 • electronic Muster & Measurement system (e-MMS) to strengthen
Transparency monitoring process expediting the payment of wages and removal
of duplicity.
• Social Audit along with Grievance Re-dressal Mechanism to
promote accountability.

9. Expected Outcomes
1. Sustainable Development for Rural Transformation.
2. Skill development of large number of rural poor youth for employment
3. To facilitate 30 lakh entrepreneurs among the poor to set up micro-
enterprises.
4. Nurturing and strengthening the ‘Institutions of Poor’
5. Women Empowerment
6. Better Quality IAY Houses.
7. Comprehensive Financial Inclusion through linkages to banks, Post offices
and other Financial Institutions.