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.
