Rural Development programme: Rural social change has been among the most important subjects of study in the ‘developing countries since the 1950s, partly because major national efforts in these countries have been directed towards economic development and such efforts have been located in predominantly agrarian social settings. We see changes in rural communities due to the efforts of the Government.
After Independence, the Community Development Programme (CDP) was started in 1952. It was an initiative meant for the all-around development of villages. The aim of CDP was to facilitate villages. The aim of CDP was to facilitate involvement and participation of the village community for its own welfare later on in 1957, Panchayati Raj (Local Self Government) was started. The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) replaced the CDP in 1979.
Examples: Some important recent schemes for Rural Development launched by the Government of India are Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)/ National Rural Livelihood Mission, Prime Minister Rural Development Fellows Scheme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
