Importance of Rural Resilience
- Population Dependency: Over 65% of India’s population resides in rural areas.
- Challenges: Rural India faces issues such as erratic monsoons, groundwater depletion, and agricultural volatility.
Key Factors Driving Rural Growth
- Infrastructure Development:
- PM Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Jal Jeevan Mission enhance connectivity and amenities.
- Over 7 lakh kms of rural roads built in the last 21 years.
- Digital Inclusion:
- Rising smartphone use and platforms like Unified Payments Interface (UPI) foster financial inclusion.
- UPI transactions in rural areas rose 118% in 2023.
- Agricultural Reforms:
- Support for agribusiness under PM-KISAN and National Livestock Mission.
- Credit disbursed to agriculture reached ₹22.84 lakh crore by January 2024.
- Rural MSMEs and Start-ups:
- Growth driven by Startup India Rural Program and MUDRA Yojana.
- 31% of MSMEs are engaged in manufacturing, with over 50% in rural areas.
- Decentralized Renewable Energy:
- PM-KUSUM scheme promotes solar power, benefiting farmers and reducing costs.
- Healthcare and Social Welfare:
- Programs like Ayushman Bharat improve health outcomes; 5 crore hospital admissions recorded.
- Rural Tourism:
- Initiatives under Dekho Apna Desh leverage cultural heritage to boost income.
- Women Empowerment:
- Over 8.7 crore women involved in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) improve decision-making and income.
Key Issues in Rural Landscape
- Agrarian Distress: Low income levels due to fragmented landholdings and climate change impact.
- Health Infrastructure: Only 25% of rural population has access to modern healthcare.
- Educational Inequality: Inadequate infrastructure and digital access hinder rural education.
- Unemployment: High rates of underemployment, particularly among youth.
- Access to Clean Water: Many households still lack consistent access to safe drinking water.
- Climate Change: Increasing extreme weather events threaten agricultural livelihoods.
- Social Inequalities: Gender disparities and caste-based discrimination remain prevalent.
- Financial Exclusion: Many rely on informal moneylenders due to lack of access to institutional credit.
Measures to Promote Rural Growth and Resilience
- Climate-Smart Agriculture: Adopt practices to reduce vulnerability to climate change.
- Technology in Governance: Use platforms like e-Gram Swaraj for better fund allocation.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage private sector involvement in rural development.
- Integrated Rural Entrepreneurship: Support diverse rural businesses through training and loans.
- Sustainable Housing: Implement disaster-resilient housing technologies.
- Strengthening Healthcare: Expand telemedicine and health infrastructure.
- Enhancing Local Governance: Empower Panchayati Raj Institutions for effective scheme implementation.
Way Forward
Building rural resilience is crucial for India’s future, requiring a holistic approach integrating infrastructure, technology, and socio-economic empowerment to address ongoing challenges.