Oct. 10, 2024
Towards a Vibrant Rural India
Context: India's rural economy is showing promising signs of progress and rising incomes according to the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) for 2022-23 as rural expenditure shifts from just fulfilling basic food needs toareas like conveyance, medical expenses, and consumer services.
Constitutional Provisions Related to Rural Development in India
• Constitutional Provisions: Article 40 mandates the State to organize village Panchayats and equip them with the necessary powers to function as self-governing units.
• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 established Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to foster grassroots democracy and drive rural development.
• The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution assigns 29 functions to PRIs, including agricultural extension, land improvement, and land reforms.
Recent major Drivers of Rural Development
• Rising Disposable Income: The HCES reveals a historic low for the share of food expenditure in rural households (46%) and rise in spending on categories like conveyance (7.55%), which suggests increased vehicle ownership.
• Agricultural Reforms and Technological Advancements:Promotion of high-yielding seed varieties and improved irrigation techniques and Soil Health Card Scheme.
• Infrastructure Development: constructing all-weather rural roads and development of community resource centers and production centers.
• The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has facilitated opening of bank accounts, while the Mudra Yojana has provided affordable credit.
• BharatNet have aimed to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to gram panchayats, facilitating access to e-governance services, online education, and digital marketplaces for rural communities.
• Hunar Haat scheme provided a platform for artisans and craftsmen to showcase and sell their products while the Geographical Indications (GI) tagging has helped in protecting and promoting unique regional products.
• The Ayushman Bharat Yojana has provided affordable healthcare, while the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) has focused on improving sanitation facilities and promoting open defecation-free (ODF) villages, leading to better health outcomes and productivity.
Current Major Challenges:
• Agricultural Distress and Farmer Indebtedness: Irregular monsoons, lack of irrigation facilities, inadequate access to credit, and fluctuating market prices have led to agricultural distress and farmer indebtedness.
• Lack of "Funds, Functions, and Functionaries" (FFF) with Panchayati Raj Insitutitions have often led to inefficiencies and implementation gaps in rural development programs.
• Inadequate Rural Infrastructure: Many villages still lack access to basic amenities like all-weather roads, reliable electricity supply, and clean drinking water.
• Inadequate Access to Quality Healthcare: Despite 65% of Indians living rurally, these areas have only 25-30% of hospitals within reach. The shortage of medical personnel, lack of infrastructure, and limited access to affordable medication are major challenges.
• Educational Challenges: inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, high dropout rates, and limited access to digital resources.
• Gender Gap in Land Ownership: In many rural areas, cultural norms and legal hurdles prevent women from inheriting or owning land.
Measures to be adopted to accelerate the growth of Rural India
• Establishing rural industrial parks focused on agro-processing, handicrafts, and cottage industries, leveraging local resources and skills.
• Promoting digital literacy through Tech Mitras in Panchayats to enable rural communities to leverage digital technologies for education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.
• Implementing a hub-and-spoke model for rural healthcare, with primary healthcare centers connected to larger district hospitals through telemedicine and e-healthcare systems.
• Incentivizing the adoption of precision agriculture technologies, such as remote sensing, soil mapping, and data-driven decision support systems.
• Women-led Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs can provide women with greater access to credit, inputs, and market linkages.
• Identifying and developing rural tourism circuits highlighting local cultural heritage, traditions, and natural attractions.
• Empowering panchayati raj institutions by providing adequate financial resources, capacity-building, and decision-making authority.