Discuss the challenges in Implementing the Rural Development Programmes in India. (UPSC CSE Mains 2019 - Sociology, Paper 2)
According to Agarwal (1989) Rural Development is a strategy to improve the economic and social life of a specific group of people- the rural poor, including small and marginal farmers, tenants and landless.
Challenges in Development of Rural India
- Poverty and Inequality:
- Widespread poverty persists, characterized by low income, limited access to basic services, and unequal distribution of resources.
- Income inequality between rural and urban areas and within rural regions hampers equitable development.
- Agricultural Distress:
- Dependence on agriculture as a primary livelihood exposes rural communities to risks posed by unpredictable weather patterns, market fluctuations, and crop failures.
- Fragmented land holdings, inadequate irrigation, and outdated farming practices hinder productivity and income generation.
- Unemployment and Underemployment:
- Inadequate non-farm employment opportunities lead to seasonal unemployment and underemployment in the agricultural sector.
- Lack of skill development and market-oriented vocational training limits rural workforce engagement in diverse sectors.
- Infrastructural Gaps:
- Insufficient rural connectivity, including roads, electricity, and telecommunication, limits access to markets, services, and information.
- Basic amenities such as clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and healthcare remain inadequate in many rural areas.
- Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss:
- Rural areas are impacted by the effects of climate change, such as droughts, floods, heat waves, and extreme weather events.
- These can affect the availability and quality of natural resources, such as water, soil, and forests, and the livelihoods of rural communities, especially farmers and pastoralists.
- For example, the population of farmland birds declined by one-third between 1990 and 2016.
- Migration and Urbanisation:
- Rural areas are experiencing a high rate of out-migration, especially of young and educated people, to urban and semi-urban areas in search of better opportunities and services.
- This can result in labour shortages, land fragmentation, social isolation, and loss of cultural identity in rural areas.
- On the other hand, urbanization can also bring some benefits to rural areas, such as improved connectivity, market access, remittances, and innovation.
- Addiction and Mental Health:
- Rural areas are facing a rise in addiction to tobacco, gutka, liquor, and social media among rural youth and adults.
- These can have negative impacts on the health, productivity, social relations, and safety of rural people.
- Moreover, rural areas often lack adequate mental health services and awareness, which can lead to stress, depression, suicide, and violence.
- Waste Management and Sanitation:
- Rural areas often lack proper waste management systems and facilities, such as segregation at source, composting/biogas plants/recycling units for organic/inorganic waste respectively.
- This can lead to environmental pollution, health hazards, aesthetic degradation, and loss of resources.
- Rural areas still face challenges in achieving universal access to sanitation facilities and hygiene practices.
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