(A) Meaning |
1. Rural development means an action plan for the economic and social upliftment of rural areas. 2. It aims at improving the quality of life of people living in rural areas. 3. It focuses on the action for the development of areas that are lagging behind in the overall development of the rural economy. |
Rural development is important because of the following reasons: |
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(i) A large proportion of population is living in rural areas |
1. Rural people account for about 3/4th (75%) of the total population. 2. In 2016, 68.84% of the population accounted for the rural population. 3. They have always lagged much behind the overall progress of the economy. |
(ii) Agriculture: Major source of livelihood |
1. Agriculture is still a major source of livelihood in rural areas. 2. More than two-third of India’s population depends on it. 3. So, the development of agriculture will contribute to the betterment of rural areas and rural people. |
(iii) Lack of basic necessities |
1. Majority of poor people live in rural areas. 2. They do not have access to basic necessities of life like food, health facilities, sanitation, etc. |