Unit-1: Rural Planning and

Development
(Concept, Elements and Importance
of Rural Development)
Development and its objectives…
• Development is a universally cherished goal of individuals, families, communities and nations all
over the world.
• Development is also natural in the sense that all forms of life on planet earth have an inherent urge
to survive and develop.
• ‘Development’ is a subjective and value-loaded concept and, hence, there cannot be a consensus as
to its meaning

Objectives of Development
• Increase in real income per capita (economic growth).
• Improvement in distribution of income (equity).
• Political and economic freedom.
• Equitable access to resources, education, health care, employment opportunities and justice.
Sustainable Development
• Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

• It emphasizes the need for society to ensure inter-generational equity in the sense that the present
generation does not consume so much as to foreclose the option of the future generations to enjoy
at least the present level of consumption and well-being

• Sustainable development implies a process in which the set of desirable societal objectives or the
development index does not decrease over time
Rural Development
• Rural development connotes the overall development of rural areas with a view to improve the
quality of life of rural people.
• It is a comprehensive and multidimensional concept and encompasses the development of
agriculture and allied activities, village and cottage industries; crafts, socio-economic infrastructure,
community services and facilities, and, above all, the human resources in rural areas.
• Rural development can be conceptualized as a process, a phenomenon, a strategy, and a discipline.
• As a process, it implies the engagement of individuals, communities, and nations in pursuit of
their cherished goals over time.
• As a phenomenon, rural development is the end result of interactions between various
physical, technological, economic, socio-cultural and institutional factors.
• As a strategy, it is designed to improve the economic and social well-being of a specific group
of people, that is, the rural poor. As
• a discipline, it is multidisciplinary in nature, representing an intersection of agricultural, social,
behavioural, engineering and management sciences.
Basic Elements of Rural Development
1. Basic Necessities of Life:
• People have certain basic needs, without which it would be impossible (or very difficult) for
them to survive. The basic necessities include food, clothes, shelter, basic literacy, primary
health care, and security of life and property. When any one or all of them are absent or in
critically short supply, we may state that a condition of ‘absolute underdevelopment’ exists.
Provision of basic necessities of life to everybody is the primary responsibility of all economies,
whether they are capitalist, socialist or mixed. In this sense, we may claim that economic
growth (increased per capita availability of basic necessities) is a necessary condition for
improvement of the ‘quality of life’ of rural people, which is rural development.
2. Self-respect:
• Every person and every nation seeks some sort of self-respect, dignity or honour. Absence or
denial of self-respect indicates lack of development.
3. Freedom:
• In this context, freedom refers to political or ideological freedom, economic freedom and
freedom from social servitude. As long as a society is bound by the servitude of men to nature,
ignorance, other men, institutions and dogmatic beliefs, it cannot claim to have achieved the
goal of ‘development’. Servitude in any form reflects a state of underdevelopment.
Why Rural Development is important?
>50%

• With more than 740 million of its people living in rural areas and with the rural sector contributing
about 18 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), no strategy of socio-economic development
for India that neglects rural people and agriculture can be successful.
• Rural development is in fact a sine qua non of overall development.
• Agriculture is the major source of livelihood in the rural sector.
• Mahatma Gandhi once said that the real progress of India did not mean simply the growth and
expansion of industrial urban centers but mainly the development of the villages.
• This idea of village development being at the center of the overall development of the nation is
relevant even today.
• It is because more than two-third of India’s population depends on agriculture that is yet to become
productive enough to provide for them; one-fourth of rural India still lives in abject poverty.
• That is the reason why we have to see a developed rural India if our nation has to realize real
progress.
Challenges for Rural Development
• Rural development essentially focuses on action for the development of areas
that are lagging behind in the overall development of the village economy.
• Some of the areas which are challenging and need fresh initiatives for
development in rural India include
• Development of human resources including – literacy, more specifically, female literacy,
education and skill development – health, addressing both sanitation and public health
• Land reforms
• Development of the productive resources of each locality
• Infrastructure development like electricity, irrigation, credit, marketing, transport facilities
including construction of village roads and feeder roads to nearby highways, facilities for
agriculture research and extension, and information dissemination
• Special measures for alleviation of poverty and bringing about significant improvement in the
living conditions of the weaker sections of the population emphasizing access to productive
employment opportunities
Challenges for Rural Development
• All this means that people engaged in farm and non-farm activities in
rural areas have to be provided with various means that help them
increase the productivity.
• They also need to be given opportunities to diversify into various non-
farm productive activities such as food processing.
• Enabling them better and more affordable access to healthcare,
sanitation facilities at workplaces and homes and education for all
would also need to be given top priority for rapid rural development.
 Sustainable Development in Rural Areas
• Sustainable rural development is vital to the economic, social and environmental
viability of nations.
• It is essential for poverty eradication since global poverty is overwhelmingly rural.
• The manifestation of poverty goes beyond the urban-rural divide, it has
subregional and regional contexts.
• It is therefore critical, and there is great value to be gained, by coordinating rural
development initiatives that contribute to sustainable livelihoods through efforts
at the global, regional, national and local levels, as appropriate.
• Strategies to deal with rural development should take into consideration the
remoteness and potentials in rural areas and provide targeted differentiated
approaches.
Sustainable Development in Rural Areas
• A healthy and dynamic agricultural sector is an important foundation of rural development, generating strong
linkages to other economic sectors.
• Rural livelihoods are enhanced through effective participation of rural people and rural communities in the
management of their own social, economic and environmental objectives by empowering people in rural areas,
particularly women and youth, including through organizations such as local cooperatives and by applying the
bottom-up approach.
• Close economic integration of rural areas with neighbouring urban areas and the creation of rural off-farm
employment can narrow rural-urban disparities, expand opportunities and encourage the retention of skilled
people, including youth, in rural areas.
• There is considerable potential for rural job creation not only in farming, agro processing and rural industry but also
in building rural infrastructure, in the sustainable management of natural resources, waste and residues.
• Rural communities in developing countries are still faced with challenges related to access to basic services,
economic opportunities and some degree of incoherence with regard to planning related to rural-urban divide.
• Investments in environmental protection, rural infrastructure and in rural health and education are critical to
sustainable rural development and can enhance national well-being.
• Beyond meeting basic needs, investments must be linked to the potential to raise productivity and income.
• The vulnerabilities of the rural poor to the economic and financial crisis and to climate change and water shortage
must be addressed.
• The success of sustainable rural development depends on, inter alia, developing and implementing comprehensive
strategies for dealing with climate change, drought, desertification and natural disaster.
THANK YOU
Importance of Rural Development for Creation of Sustainable Livelihoods.
It is essential for poverty eradication. There is great value to be gained by coordinating rural
development initiatives that contribute to sustainable livelihoods. A healthy and dynamic
agricultural sector is an important foundation of rural development, generating strong linkages
to other economic sectors. Rural livelihoods are enhanced through effective participation of
rural people in the management of their own social, economic and environmental objectives.
Close economic integration of rural areas with neighbouring urban areas can narrow rural-
urban disparities and expand sustainable livelihoods opportunities in rural areas. There is
considerable potential for rural job creation in building rural infrastructure, in the sustainable
management of natural resources, waste and residues. The success of sustainable livelihoods
in rural area depends on making investments in environmental protection, rural infrastructure
and in rural health and education.
 Unit-1: Rural Planning and
Development
(Programmes in Agricultural,
Social Security and Social Sector)
Programmes for Agricultural Sector
 Agriculture Sector
• Agriculture is one of the prominent sectors of Indian economy providing
livelihoods to more than half of India’s population.
• While providing food security, this is the backbone of the country’s rural
economy.
• In the first quarter of FY 2020-21, when the Indian economy registered 23.9
percent negative growth, agriculture was the only sector which emerged as a
silver lining for India’s economic recovery with over 3.4 percent growth.
• It makes agriculture the most prominent sector in country.
• And therefore, it needs a lot of public sector support for a sustainable
growth.
 Programmes for Agricultural Sector
1. National Mission For Sustainable Agíicultuíe (NMSA)
2. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
3. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
4. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
5. Micro Irrigation Fund scheme
6. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North
Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
7. e- National Agricultural Market (e-NAM)
8. Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
9. Soil Health Card (SHC)
10. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana
11. PM-Kusum
National Mission For Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
• Sustaining agricultural productivity depends on quality and availability of natural
resources like soil and water.
• Agricultural growth can be sustained by promoting conservation and sustainable use of
these scarce natural resources through appropriate location specific measures.
• Indian agriculture remains predominantly rainfed covering about 60% of the country’s net
sown area and accounts for 40% of the total food production.
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) has been formulated for enhancing
agricultural productivity especially in rainfed areas focusing on integrated farming, water
use efficiency, soil health management and synergizing resource conservation.
• It aims at promoting sustainable agriculture through a series of adaptation measures
focusing on ten key dimensions encompassing Indian agriculture namely; ‘Improved crop
seeds, livestock and fish cultures’, ‘Water Use Efficiency’, ‘Pest Management’,
‘Improved Farm Practices’, ‘Nutrient Management’, ‘Agricultural insurance’, ‘Credit
support’, ‘Markets’, ‘Access to Information’ and ‘Livelihood diversification.
• The focus of NMSA is to infuse the judicious utilization of resources of commons
through community based approach.
 Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
• The extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods and hailstorms cause crop
failures and financial loss to the farmers every year.
• And therefore, to save them from these ill effects, the Government, by merging all
previous crop insurance schemes, launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
(PMFBY) from Kharif 2016 season with the aim to support production in agriculture
by providing an affordable crop insurance system.
• Objectives:
• To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of
failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests &
diseases.
• To stabilize the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
• To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.
• To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector.
 Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has been formulated with the vision
of extending the coverage of irrigation ‘Har Khet ko pani’ and improving water use
efficiency ‘More crop per drop' in a focused manner with end to end solution on
source creation, distribution, management, field application and extension activities.
• Objectives:
• To achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level
• To expand cultivable area under assured irrigation
• To improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water
• To enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies
• To enhance recharge of aquifers
• To introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of
reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture and attract greater
private investment in precision irrigation system.
 Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
• Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is one of the important government
schemes which encourages farmers for traditional and organic farming in India.
• Under the scheme, the Government of India provides a financial assistance to the
farmers of Rs 50,000 per hectare every three years for organic inputs, certification,
labelling, packaging, transportation and marketing of organic produce.
• The scheme focuses on reducing the ill effects of overuse of fertilisers and
agrochemicals by promoting organic manures, bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides.
• It helps improve the soil fertility by improving organic carbon in the soil which
results in enhancing moisture holding capacity in the field too
• Objectives
• Promotion of commercial organic production through certified organic farming.
• The produce will be pesticide residue free and will contribute to improve the health of
consumer.
• To raise farmer's income and create potential market for traders.
• To motivate the farmers for natural resource mobilization for input production.
 Micro Irrigation Fund scheme
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has created a
Micro Irrigation Fund with a corpus of Rs. 5,000 crore implemented from 2019-
20.
• Objectives:
• To facilitate the states in availing an interest subvented loan for expanding
coverage of micro irrigation facilities by taking up special and innovative
projects
• To incentivising micro irrigation beyond the provisions available under
PMKSY to encourage farmers to install micro irrigation systems.
 Mission Organic Value Chain Development for
North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
The scheme is being implemented in north eastern states Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura
Objectives:
• To develop the certified organic production in a value chain mode to link farmers with
consumers
• To support the development of entire value chain starting from organic inputs, seeds,
certification and creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, marketing and
brand building initiatives.
• End to end support to the farmers from farm to fork including quality production, effective
postharvest management, value addition through processing and direct market linkages to
national and international markets.
• Transformation of farmer clusters into Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) empowering the
growers with institutional mechanisms, collective production and processing strength for
quality and quantity and ensures emergence of new breed of organic agri-enterprises.
 e- National Agricultural Market (e-NAM)
• In order connect the existing agricultural mandis on a common online market
platform for trading agricultural commodities, Government of India, launched a
pan-India portal, e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) on April 14, 2016.
• So far, e-NAM has connected nearly 1,000 mandis in 18 states and three union
territories.
• Implemented by Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), e-NAM aims at
reducing transaction costs, bridging information asymmetries, and helping
expansion of market access for farmers and other stakeholders.
• Since the implementation, e-NAM has registered a user base of 1.66 crore
farmers, 1.31 lakh traders, 73,151 commission agents and 1,012 farmer producer
organization (FPOs).
 Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
• In a bid to provide adequate and timely credit to the farmers for their agricultural
expenditures, the Central government had launched Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
scheme in the year 1998.
• Under the scheme, the Government of India provides farm credit at a very
subsidized rate of 4 percent per annum.
• Since 2019, the Centre has extended the benefits of Kisan Credit Card to animal
husbandry, dairy and fisheries farmers for their working capital requirement and
raising the existing limit of collateral free loan from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs.1.60 lakh.
• As part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat package, the Centre has announced to cover
2.5 crore farmers under KCC scheme with a credit boost of Rs 2 lakh crore
through a special drive.
• As a result, till October 19, 2020, according to the Government of India’s data, the
package has disbursed Rs. 1.35 lakh crore to 1.5 crore farmers under the scheme.
 Soil Health Card (SHC)
• SHC is a Government of India's scheme promoted by the Department of
Agriculture & Co-operation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers'
Welfare.
• A Soil Health Card is used to assess the current status of soil health and, when
used over time, to determine changes in soil health that are affected by land
management.
• A Soil Health Card displays soil health indicators and associated descriptive terms.
The indicators are typically based on farmers' practical experience and knowledge
of local natural resources.
• Benefits of SHC to a farmer:
• advisory based on the soil nutrient status of a farmer's holding.
• recommendations on dosage of different nutrients needed.
• advise the farmer on the fertilizers and their quantities he should apply,
• soil amendments that he should undertake, so as to realize optimal yields.
 PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

• Launched on February 24, 2019, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana makes

transferring of Rs 6,000 per annum directly to the farmers’ bank accounts through
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each.

• The scheme supplements the financial needs of the small and marginal farmers in
buying farm inputs and other agricultural expenses.

• The scheme aims to protect the farmers from falling in the vicious traps of local
moneylenders and ensures their continuance in the farming activities.
 PM-Kusum
• In order to reduce the consumption of diesel and electricity for agricultural irrigation, the Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam
Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-Kusum) scheme in February 19, 2019.

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja
Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme for farmers for installation of solar
pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country.

• With a total Central financial support of Rs 34,422 crore, PM Kusum scheme aims to add solar and
other renewable capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022.

• Under the scheme, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has targeted to install 10,000 MW of
decentralized grid connected renewable power plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW,
installation of 20 lakh solar powered agricultural pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP
and solarization of 15 lakh grid-connected irrigation pumps of individual capacity up to 7.5 HP.
Programmes for Social Security
 Programmes for Social Security
1. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
2. National Pension Scheme
3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
4. Public Provident Fund (PPF)
5. National Savings Certificate (NSC)
6. Atal Pension Yojana
7. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
• It is a small-scale social security scheme for your
daughter’s education and marriage.
• It’s a part of the government’s ‘Beti Bachao and Beti
Padhao mission’.
• The government through Sukanya Samriddhi
Yojana wants to convey a message that if a parent could
make a proper plan for their girl child, they can definitely
improve and secure their daughter’s future.
Key points:
• For whom– The scheme is suitable for every parent with
a girl child with the aim of channelizing savings for their
education and marriage.
• Eligibility– Suitable for your daughter up to 10 years of
age
 National Pension Scheme
• It’s a voluntary pension scheme introduced with an aim of fulfilling retirement needs.
• It is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA)
which provides the tax benefits for investment up to Rs 50,000 under section 80CCD in
addition to Rs 150000 under section 80C.
• Hence, your total annual deduction comes to Rs 200000.
Key points:
• For whom– It is ideal for individuals who do not have anyone to look after them post-
retirement.
• Eligibility– Suitable for individuals between 18 to 60 years of age
• Costs involved– The minimum contribution is Rs 1000 while there is no cap on the
maximum contribution.
• Benefits– Fulfills your retirement need and also offer a tax benefit
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
• These social security schemes are suitable for the
economically weaker sections of society who do
not even have a bank account.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana offers basic
financial services like a Savings Account, Deposit
Account, Insurance, Pension, Remittances, etc.
Key points:
• For whom- For individuals who do not have any
access to basic financial services. It is suitable for
individuals working in an unorganized sector.
• Eligibility– Anyone belonging to the weaker
section of the society.
• The costs involved-There are no minimum and
maximum contributions for this scheme
 Public Provident Fund (PPF)

• It’s a government-backed long-term social security scheme that aims to benefit

self-employed people to save for their retirement.
• It offers tax benefits under 80C of the Income-Tax Act and provides a tax-free
return on maturity.
Key points:
• For whom- Suitable for salaried class people and small business owners.
• Eligibility– Any adult can open the account on his or her own name or on behalf
of a minor.
• Costs involved– Annual contribution ranges from a minimum contribution of Rs
500 to a maximum of Rs 1,50,000.
• Benefits– Tax-free interest on maturity and provides an annualized return of 7.6%
 National Savings Certificate (NSC)
• National Savings Certificate is a small-scale social security scheme and tax
savings investment in India.
• It is a government savings bond issued for a time period of five and ten years and
is very popular among the rural masses.
Key points:
• For whom- Suitable for Government employees, Businessmen, and other salaried
classes who are Income Tax assesses.
• Eligibility- Any adult can open the account in his or her own name or on behalf of
the minor.
• Costs involved- Minimum investment can be Rs 100 and investment up to INR
1,00,000/- per annum qualifies for IT Rebate under section 80C
• Benefits- Provides annualized return of 7.6% and qualifies for IT Rebate under
80C.
 Atal Pension Yojana
• Atal Pension Yojana, a government-backed social security scheme intended to provide pension
benefits with a minimum contribution per month.
• This scheme is targeted at the unorganized sector and provides pension benefits with a minimum
contribution per month.
• Under this statutory social security scheme, for every contribution made to the pension fund, the
Central Government would also co-contribute 50% of the total contribution or 1,000 per annum,
whichever is lower, to each eligible subscriber account, for a period of 5 years.
• But the subscriber has to contribute for a period of 20 years or more under this scheme.
• It was introduced to help the low-income group of the society like maids, drivers or security guards.
• Upon the death of the contributor, the nominee of the Atal Pension Yojana can claim for the
accumulated corpus or pension money.
Key points:
• For whom- It’s for people under the low-income group or who’s not a part of the tax bracket
• Eligibility- Suitable for all individuals between 18 to 40 years of age
• Costs involved- For a monthly pension of Rs 1,000, an 18-year-old will have to contribute Rs 42 per
month for 42 years while a 40-year-old subscriber will have to invest Rs 291 per month for 20 years
• Benefits- Provides fixed monthly pension between Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 post-retirement
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
• It is a life insurance scheme backed by the Government of India.
• It was introduced in the 2015 budget by our finance minister, Arun Jaitley.
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, one of the best social security schemes
aims to increase the number of insurers in India which is currently very low.
Key points:
• For whom- It’s for an individual who is the sole earning member of the family
and have dependents under him/her
• Eligibility- Anybody who has a bank account and falls under the age group
between 18 to 50 years can avail of the scheme
• The cost involved- The premium is Rs 330 every year
• Benefits- It ensures a term insurance cover of Rs 200000 to the dependents in case
of the policyholder’s death.
Programmes for Social Sector
 Programmes for Social Sector
1. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
2. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramin Kaushal Yojana
3. Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana/National Rural Livelihood Mission
4. Prime Minister Rural Development Fellows Scheme
5. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)
6. Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana
7. Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan
8. Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
9. National Social Assistance Programme
10. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana/Indira Awas Yojana
11. Antyodaya Anna Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana
• Rural Road Connectivity is not only a key component of Rural Development by
promoting access to economic and social services and thereby generating increased
agricultural incomes and productive employment opportunities in India, it is also as a
result, a key ingredient in ensuring sustainable poverty reduction.
• Launched on 25 December 2000 by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the scheme
aims at enhancing rural road connectivity.
• This scheme provides connectivity to the habitations with less or no connectivity at all
and helps in poverty reduction by promoting access to economic and social services.
• This ensures sustainable poverty reduction in the long run as people get an opportunity to
get connected with the rest of the world.
• The scheme has been benefiting several villagers and is helping them lead better lives.
• Nearly 82% of roads have been built till December 2017 which have successfully
connected several rural areas to cities
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) is a youth employment
programme of the Indian Government.
• It was launched by Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari on 25 September 2014.
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, a part of National Livelihood
Mission, has the objectives of catering to the career aspirations of the rural youth and
adding diversity to the income of rural families.
• The scheme’s prime focus is on the rural youth of poor families aged between 15 and 35.
• An amount of Rs 1500 crores has been provided for the scheme which will help in
enhancing employability.
• The yojana is present in 21 States and Union Territories across 568 districts and 6215
blocks changing the lives of youth.
• Around 690 projects are being implemented by 300 partners.
• As per the government reports, over 2.7 lakh candidates have been trained till now and
nearly 1.34 lakh candidates have been placed in jobs.
 Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana/
National Rural Livelihood Mission
• Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana which is redesigned as National Rural
Livelihood Mission was launched in 2011.
• Also known as Ajeevika, this scheme aims at empowering women self-help model
across the country.
• Under this scheme, the government provides a loan of 3 lakh rupees at an interest
rate of 7% which can be reduced to 4% at the time of repayment.
• The scheme was aided by World Bank and aimed at creating efficient and also
effective institutional platforms for poor people.
• It also helped in increasing the household income by improving access to financial
services.
• NRLM also helps in harnessing the capabilities of the poor so that they can
participate in the growth of the economy of the country.
Prime Minister Rural Development Fellows Scheme

• The Prime Minister Rural Development Fellowship (PMRDF) is a scheme

initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development, implemented in collaboration with
State Governments.

• It has dual goals of providing short-term support to the district administration in

the underdeveloped and remote areas of the country and develop competent and
committed leaders and facilitators who can serve as a resource for a long-term.
 National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(NREGA)
• As per the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) of 2005, 100
days of employment is guaranteed to any rural household adult who is willing to
do unskilled manual work in a financial year.
• The Act addresses the working people and their fundamental right to live life with
dignity.
• If a person does not get a job within 15 days, he is eligible for getting
unemployment allowance.
• National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) also highlights the
importance of basic right to work.
• Amendments have been introduced to this act to minimize corruption in the
scheme.
 Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana

• The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) was launched in 2001 to

provide employment to the poor.
• It also aimed at providing food to people in areas who live below the poverty line
and improving their nutritional levels.
• Other objectives of this Yojana were to provide social and economic assets to the
people living in rural areas.
• The scheme did not include the employment of contractors or middlemen.
 Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan

• Pioneered by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee, the Sarv Siksha
Abhiyan was launched in 2000.

• It is an attempt to provide an opportunity to all children between 6 and 14 years of

age to get free education which is also a basic fundamental right.

• The state and the central government share the expenses of this project.
 Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
• Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) is a rural development project launched in
2014 by the Government of India in which each Member of Parliament will take
the responsibility of three villages and look after the personal, human, social,
environmental and economic development of the villages.

• This would substantially improve the standard of living as well as the quality of
life in the villages.

• No fundings have been provided to this project as fundings can be raised through
existing schemes.
 National Social Assistance Programme
• National Social Assistance Programme signifies the fulfilment of Directive
Principles in Article 41 and 42 of the constitution which states that it is the duty of
the state to provide assistance to the citizens in terms of sickness, unemployment,
old age in limits of the economic capabilities.

• It is basically a centrally sponsored scheme of Government of India which

provides financial help to widows, elderly, people with disability in form of
pensions.

• The scheme was launched on August 15 in 1995.

 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana/ Indira Awas Yojana
• Indira Awas Yojana revamped as Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana in 2016 is a
welfare programme created by the Indian Government to provide housing to rural
poor people in India.
• The goal of this scheme is to provide home to all citizens till 2022.
• The cost of constructing the houses will be shared by the centre and the state.
• The scheme has been implemented in rural areas throughout India, except in Delhi
and Chandigarh.
• Houses developed under this scheme will have basic amenities such as toilet,
electricity connection, drinking water connection, LPG connection etc.
• The alloted houses will be jointly under the name of husband and wife.
 Antyodaya Anna Yojana
• Launched by the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000,
the Antyodaya Anna Yojana aimed at providing food grains to around 2 crore
people at subsidised rates.

• As per the scheme Below Poverty Line (BPL) families were provided 35 kgs of
food grains.

• Rice was provided at the rate of Rs 3/kg and wheat at the rate of Rs 2/kg.

• The scheme was first launched in Rajasthan but has now been implemented in all
Indian states.