Rural Development Approaches and Components
Rural areas are an important asset for development in our country. Most of the population in India happen to live in rural areas and their basic occupation is agriculture. Rural development is an important part of bringing sustainable development as rural development ensures the usage of maximum natural and renewable energy resources. The social ripples focus on rural development with a vast number of approaches. The main aim of rural development is to empower the rural population socially, economically, and ecologically so that they can become self-reliant. This approach was used by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. He used rural development as an intrinsic part of the national movement for independence and self-reliance. But sadly even after independence most of the population in rural areas is below the poverty line.
The process of rural development is improving the standard of living by raising their social and economic life of people by changing occupational structure, social organization, and settlement pattern. In the case of rural areas development can be brought by extending the improvements in irrigation techniques, improvements in techniques of cultivation, expansion of electricity, construction of school buildings, roads and provision of health and education facilities, etc. According to World Bank, poverty in rural areas is not only limited to access to basic needs that are food, clothing, and shelter but it is also about access to education, health services, and clean water.
Approaches to rural development
The process of rural development is all about finding ways to improve the social and economic well-being of people residing in rural areas. At the social ripples, their teams focus on generating awareness and taking measures so that individuals in rural areas should participate in the process of development. It is because the individual who is living in that particular rural area is going to understand the need and approach of development better than anyone else. Hence they promote individual participation approach towards rural development. Other rural development approaches are bottom-up approaches, participatory rural appraisal, rapid rural appraisal, community-driven development approach, growth center approach, etc.
Components of rural development
The main three components of rural development are
· Agriculture
We are aware that the occupation of most of the individuals in rural areas is agriculture, and it is dependent on environmental conditions. Empowering the farmers by educating them with dynamic ways of agriculture is one of the components of rural development.
· Ecological settings
It is all about generating awareness and educating people about using and conserving natural resources, for example, educating about soil wetness, solar exposure and wind exposure, biogas combustion, etc.
· Technology
This component includes generating awareness about the significance of technology. Various new agricultural technologies are going to make their work manageable and are going to increase their yields.
· Infrastructure and self-reliance
Infrastructure is an integral part of rural development. It includes facilities such as roads, transportations, communities, power supplies, electricity supplies, water supplies, etc. the people in rural areas, are blessed with great skills men and artisans. Using their art and craft can make them more self-reliant in every aspect.
· Law and order
A distributive law and order can help individuals in managing their tasks effectively. It is one of the vital components of rural development.
· Medical and healthcare
People in rural areas are facing poor health and sanitation due to poverty. Generating awareness and employment opportunities to people can help them to raise their livelihood healthily.
· Education
Education is not only the fundamental right of every individual but also it is a need to bring a better society. Hence, this component of rural development is all about increasing access to education to individuals in rural development.
The social ripples work on these approaches and components to bring sustainable rural development.
