Introduction
The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) was a significant initiative aimed at eradicating poverty, hunger, and unemployment in rural India. It was launched in 1978-79 by the Janata government, combining several rural development schemes like the Community Area Development Programme (CADP), Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), and others. The program aimed to uplift the rural poor by providing self-employment opportunities and subsidies. However, its effectiveness was often questioned due to inadequate planning, poor infrastructure, and improper implementation. This article explores the various aspects of IRDP, including its concept, aims, strategy, and challenges.
The Concept of Integrated Area Development
The concept of integrated area development is complex and challenging to define as it has been interpreted differently over time. Deciding the type of integration needed and the means to achieve it remains a major challenge. In general, four aspects of integration are important:
- Sectoral-cum-Temporal Integration:
- Involves determining which sectors (e.g., education, health, agriculture) need development, when they should be developed, and at what pace.
- Ensures the intensity and timelines for different development activities are coordinated for optimal results.
- Spatial Integration:
- Focuses on the linkages between various economic activities over different areas.
- Identifies areas supplying raw materials and the centers of production, ensuring a smooth flow of resources, goods, and people between different places.
- Integration of Development of Individuals and Groups:
- Ensures that the benefits of development are more equitably distributed. Historically, a few individuals have reaped the majority of development benefits, while a large section of society remains impoverished.
- Seeks to reduce inter-personal income disparities by focusing on the poorer sections of society.
- Integration of Socio-Economic and Environmental Goals:
- In a country like India, where a significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line, integrated development aims to balance socio-economic progress with ecological sustainability.
- Ensures that development efforts do not deplete resources or damage the environment.
Launch of IRDP
The Integrated Rural Development Programme was officially launched by the Janata government in 1978-79. The program was a merger of several earlier rural development initiatives such as:
- Community Area Development Programme (CADP)
- Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP)
- Small Farmer Development Agency (SFDA)
- Marginal Farmers and Agricultural Labourers Agency (MFALA)
Although planned during the Fifth Five-Year Plan, the implementation of IRDP started only after 1980, as the plan was interrupted by the implementation of two rolling plans from 1978 to 1980. The IRDP was a centrally sponsored scheme with a 50:50 cost-sharing mechanism between the central and state governments. Initially, the program was confined to 2000 development blocks, later expanding to 5004 blocks across India.
Reasons for Launching IRDP
The development of rural India has always been a priority for the Government of India. The National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the central government recognized the importance of villages for the overall development of the country. IRDP aimed to achieve this by focusing on the following:
- Eradication of Poverty, Hunger, and Unemployment:
- The primary objective of IRDP was to eliminate poverty, hunger, and unemployment from rural India by providing sustainable livelihoods.
Aims of IRDP
The IRDP had several important aims, centered around self-employment and assistance to the rural poor. The key objectives included:
- Self-Employment Opportunities:
- Assistance was provided to rural poor families below the poverty line through subsidies. This target group included laborers, artisans, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, sharecroppers, marginal and small farmers.
- Development in Various Sectors:
- Promoting livestock and poultry development, fisheries, social forestry, and cottage industries to enhance the per capita income of the targeted group.
- Improving Standard of Living:
- Uplifting the weaker sections of society by increasing their income and improving their living conditions.
Main Elements of the Programme
IRDP’s framework included several key components:
- Development Profile:
- A five-year development profile was drawn up for each district, further disaggregated into blocks, based on practical possibilities of development in agriculture and allied sectors. This framework guided the execution of various rural development schemes.
- Operational Programme:
- Extension agencies developed specific operational programs to provide guidance to small and marginal farmers on a systematic basis.
- Special Assistance Programme:
- Focused assistance was offered to the poorest rural households to elevate their economic status above the poverty line.
- Blueprint for Secondary and Tertiary Sectors:
- A detailed plan for exploiting potential in the secondary and tertiary sectors, including linkages for training and marketing, was prepared for each block.
Strategy
The strategy adopted under IRDP focused on:
- Subsidies and Loans:
- Providing both subsidies and loans to the rural poor, especially those below the poverty line, to facilitate self-employment.
- Credit Provision:
- Offering advanced credit through institutions such as commercial banks, cooperative banks, and regional rural banks to the target population.
Implementation
IRDP was implemented through a robust framework involving:
- District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs):
- These agencies played a critical role in planning and coordinating rural development efforts at the district level.
- Block Level Agencies:
- At the grassroots level, block agencies ensured the program reached the intended beneficiaries in villages.
Target Areas
The IRDP targeted several key areas across India, classified into seven distinct categories:
- Tribal Areas in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
- Agriculturally Developed Areas in Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Agriculturally Less Developed Areas in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- Hilly Areas in Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
- Desert Areas in Rajasthan.
- Well-Administered Areas in Gujarat, Kerala, and Karnataka.
- Poorly Administered Areas in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
Inclusion of Other Rural Development Programmes
IRDP also incorporated several other rural development initiatives, such as:
- National Rural Development Programme (NRDP)
- Minimum Needs Programme (MNP)
- Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)
- Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)
Evaluation of IRDP
Several challenges hampered the effectiveness of IRDP, as highlighted by the Ministry of Rural Development:
- Planning Issues:
- The establishment of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) was recommended for better planning, but no uniform approach was followed.
- Lack of Human Resource Surveys:
- The absence of proper surveys on local human resources led to poor planning and execution.
- Inadequate Training:
- Officers responsible for implementation often lacked the prerequisite training, leading to inefficient management of the program.
- State-Level Resistance:
- Some states were reluctant to share the 50% financial burden, which affected the overall implementation.
- Inadequate Infrastructure:
- Lack of sufficient infrastructure for credit provision and basic amenities further weakened the program.
- Poor Maintenance:
- Follow-up measures to maintain the assets created under IRDP were often missing, reducing the long-term impact of the program.
Some latest schemes
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is one of the most prominent rural employment schemes in India. Enacted in September 2005, it guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households.
- Focuses on employment generation and social security.
- Applicable to all districts in India, except urban districts with 100% urban populations.
- Promotes the development of rural infrastructure through labor-intensive projects.
This act has been instrumental in reducing poverty and providing a stable income to rural households by creating jobs.
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)
NRLM, also known as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, was initiated to alleviate rural poverty by building strong grassroots institutions. The mission:
- Encourages a demand-driven approach to poverty reduction.
- Empowers states to formulate their poverty reduction strategies.
- Supports women, marginal farmers, and vulnerable groups to form self-help groups (SHGs) and increase their livelihood options.
Through NRLM, rural communities are becoming more self-sustaining, which contributes to their overall social and economic well-being.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY)
Launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2014, DDU-GKY is a skill development programme aimed at improving the employability of rural youth:
- Focuses on providing training and career-oriented skills to rural youth, particularly from disadvantaged communities.
- Part of NRLM, with a focus on skilling and diversifying incomes of rural households.
This programme helps bridge the gap between rural and urban employment opportunities by catering to the aspirations of rural youth, especially from low-income families.
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMAY-G)
The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana focuses on providing affordable housing to the rural poor:
- Aims to ensure every rural household has a safe and secure house by 2022.
- Emphasizes the construction of pucca houses, offering financial assistance to those living below the poverty line (BPL).
PMAY-G plays a vital role in improving living conditions and ensuring better housing standards for rural families.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
Introduced in December 2000, PMGSY aims to improve rural connectivity by providing all-weather roads to unconnected habitations:
- The Ministry of Rural Development oversees its implementation, working closely with state governments.
- Enhances market access, healthcare, and education opportunities for rural residents by improving infrastructure.
This programme has significantly boosted the rural economy by connecting villages to nearby towns and markets.
Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM)
Launched in 2016, the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission is designed to bridge the rural-urban divide:
- Focuses on integrated infrastructure development, including both physical and social infrastructure.
- Supports economic activities and skill development to transform rural areas into urbanized centers.
By investing in infrastructure and economic activities, SPMRM promotes the holistic development of rural regions, ensuring better living standards and opportunities for rural populations.
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
NSAP was introduced in 1995 to provide social security to vulnerable sections of society, including the elderly, widows, and people with disabilities:
- Focuses on financial assistance to families below the poverty line (BPL).
- Covers more than three crore individuals, including 80 lakh widows, 10 lakh disabled people, and 2.2 crore elderly citizens.
The programme enhances the social security net by offering direct financial aid to the most vulnerable populations, thereby improving their quality of life.
Conclusion
The Integrated Rural Development Programme was a commendable initiative aimed at uplifting the rural poor by providing self-employment opportunities and improving the standard of living. While it addressed various rural development challenges, the program’s effectiveness was limited by poor planning, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of proper implementation. For future rural development programs to succeed, these shortcomings must be addressed.
- Discuss the concept of integrated rural development and its significance in addressing socio-economic disparities in rural India. (250 words)
- Analyze the reasons for launching the Integrated Rural Development Programme and its impact on poverty alleviation in rural India. (250 words)
- Evaluate the role of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) in the implementation of the Integrated Rural Development Programme. (250 words)
Responses