Rural Development in India has witnessed several changes over the years in its emphasis, approaches, strategies and programmes. There is no doubt that rural areas are beginning to make progress but still have a long way to go as in most parts of the country there are still lack of basic facilities like water, food security, employment opportunities, primary healthcare & sanitation, infrastructure, education, energy, micro credit, telecom & internet, etc. On the positive side we find noticeable ICT projects in rural India like e-choupal, iShakti, Esagu, as they empower farmers with relevant information to help them to make lives better.
In October 1974, the Department of Rural Development was set up as a part of Ministry of Food & Agriculture. For 25 years it went under many changes like elevation to a separate ministry, renaming, etc. before getting the present status of a separate ministry in 1999. The prime aim of the Ministry is to alleviate rural poverty and ensure improved quality of life for the rural population especially those living below poverty line. Presently many programmes/projects are being implemented under its following three departments:
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Department of Rural Development
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Department of Land Resources
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Department of Drinking Water Supply
Rural Development department implements schemes for generation of self employment and wage employment, provision of housing & minor irrigation assets to rural poor, social assistance to the destitute and rural roads. Some of the major programmes of this Department are: Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Rural Housing, Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana and Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana.
The Department of Land Resources implements schemes to increase the bio-mass production by developing wasterlands in the coutnry besides providing support services & other quality inputs such as land reforms, betterment of revenue system & land records. Its major programmes are: Drought Prone Area Programme, The Desert Development Programme, the Integrated Wasterland Development Programme and Land Reforms.
The Department of Drinking Water Supply takes care of the provision of drinking water supply and extension of sanitation facilities to the rural poor. Some of the major programmes of the department are: The Swajaldhara, the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme and the Total Sanitation Programme.