Poverty Alleviation through Rural Development: Challenges and Strategies in India with Special Reference to North East

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1 Poverty Alleviation through Rural Development: Challenges and Strategies in India with Special Reference to North East Introduction: Dr.Anjan Jyoti Borah Asst. Prof, Dept. of Political Science B.P.Chaliha College, Nagarbera, Kamrup Assam Rural development in general is used to denote the actions and initiatives taken to improve the standard of living in non-urban neighbourhoods, countryside, and remote villages. These communities can be exemplified with a low ratio of inhabitants to open space. Agricultural activities may be prominent in this case whereas economic activities would relate to the primary sector, production of foodstuffs and raw materials. (Kidwai, 2014:139) The objectives of development include sustained increase in per capita outputs and incomes, expansion of productive employment and greater equality in the distribution of the benefits of growth. Rural Development over the years has emerged as a strategy designed to improve the economic, social and cultural life of a specific group of people living in the rural areas (Desai: :).The objectives of rural development are multi-dimensional as well as multi- directional. It aims at increased employment, higher productivity, higher income as well as minimum acceptable levels of food, clothing, shelter, education, health and building up of a sound value system which is in keeping with the high cultural heritage of the country. Concept of Rural: According to Whitaker(1982), rural was first used by the US Bureau of the Census in 1874 when it was defined as indicating the population of a country exclusive of any cities or towns with 8000( eight thousand) or more habitants. Modified over the years, by the 1980 census, a specific definition for rural had been dropped. Instead, the urban population is now defined as all persons living in urbanized areas and places with population of 2,500 or more located outside urbanized areas; all population not classified as urban constitutes the rural population.( US Bureau of Census, 1983). The Farmers Home Administration considers rural areas to be open country communities of up to 20,000 in non-metropolitan areas, and towns of up to 10,000 with a rural character in metropolitan areas (US department of Housing and Urban Development, 1980). The Rural Highway Public Transportation Administration defines rural as indicating areas with population of 5000 or more. Objectives of the study: The main objectives of the present study are- (i) To understand the concept of rural development. (ii) To examine the poverty eradication policy initiatives and rural de. (iii) To examine the constraints of rural development especially in North East India. (iv) To suggest some strategies for rural development in NEI. Keeping in mind the objectives of the study, the present study is divided into four partstheoretical concept, policy initiatives for poverty alleviation and rural development, issues and 1

2 challenges, rural development & poverty eradication in Northeast India, and strategies to be adopted for rural development. Part: I Rural development involves raising the socio-economic status of the rural population on a sustainable basis. It denotes overall development of the rural areas. Its aim is to improve the quality of life of the rural people. Rural development can be achieved only when the rural people actively participate in the development process strategy. According to South African Rural Development Framework (SARDF) (1997:9), rural development can be defined as helping rural people set the priorities in their own communities through effective and democratic bodies, by providing the local capacity: investment in basic infrastructure and social services, justice, equality and security: dealing with the injustices of the past and ensuring safety and security of the rural population, especially that of women. The SARDF points out the following indicators for rural development- Involve rural people in decisions that affect their lives through participation in rural local government. Increase employment and economic growth in rural areas Provide affordable infrastructure. Ensure social sustainability in rural areas Methodology: Descriptive and analytical methods have been followed for the purpose of the study. Materials and data have been collected largely collected from the secondary sources. Statistical Reports have also been consulted. Keeping in mind the objectives of the study, every possible effort have been made to make the study meaningful and significant. Necessity of Rural Development: For centuries, the village socio-economic fabric has undergone many changes. Besides, over 31 crore of rural people do not have adequate income, employment opportunities, fall short of demand, coupled with illiteracy, ignorance, land under cultivation is not only diminishing but also gets further fragmented, ecology degraded, infrastructural facilities do not match with the rural population. In addition, rural population is unorganized. To lift the people from these moorings, integrated rural development is the only answer. Though man cannot overcome all the limitations his environment imposes upon him, he can always attempt to modify it to suit his convenience. In this matter of gradual adaptation, man has brought about many changes. In this direction, rural development is the core of development and is a continuous process. Characteristics of Rural Poverty: Poverty in the rural India is characterized as- (i) Increasing landlessness and no alternative provided to earn meager livelihood. (ii) Fragmented division of land and size of land holding has gone up to an alarming level. (iii) Per head land has decreased from 0.5 hectare in 1951 to 0.12 hectare by the end of the century. (iv) Local infrastructure both at the regional and village level is not sufficient to start any other economic activity. 2

3 (v) Lack of secure housing in terms of many natural disasters. (vi) Poor location in terms of basic amenities and facilities. (vii) Poor availability of health facilities, basic education, transportation and food security. (viii) Poor employment opportunities. (ix) No freedom from violence and intimidation on the basis of social identity based on caste, community and religion. The main issues of rural development are rising poverty, growing population, inadequate infrastructure, negation of basic amenities, ill-health, fragmentation of land, illiteracy, ignorance, deep-rooted apathy, debased value systems, under employment,, rampant unemployment,, lack of direction and motivation, social pressures and compulsions, social evils, destruction of eco-system, lack of awareness, lack of organized efforts etc. Dimensions of Rural Development: Few dimensions of rural development may be pointed out directly helps in poverty reduction in the rural areas are - (i) (ii) (iii) Human Development: The basis of all rural development is people centric. The human dimensions include educational levels, health, cultural identity and their social structure. Human factors equally important in the urban areas and its impact in different aspects of rural masses. Natural Resources and Environment: Rural areas are rich in natural resources such as forests, fertile soils, or rivers that can be used as if not large but mini hydropower, coal or oil has always attracted human population. But in the long run rural development based on natural resources is only possible, if it does not over exploit these resources, if it preserves the cultural landscapes, if it avoids the pollution of soils, water and air, if it preserves the biological diversity of plants and animals. Every new policy of rural development has to be evaluated in its impact on the natural environment. Economic growth: In recent years there have also been economic development in rural areas that could be summarized under the term new economy. These include not only facilitates and services of the IT industry, but also biotechnology forms. These new economy is sometimes combined with traditional production and tourism, such as in the direct marketing projects on the Internet for originally produced agricultural products. Part:II Policy Initiatives for Poverty Alleviation & Rural Development in India: Intensity of rural development Planning in India started with the slogan India lives in its villages given by the great leader of the nation Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1920 as it was the most neglected aspect of the British rule in India. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, on the night of August, th, 1947 declared that destiny of the villages of India; meaning future of India depends on the development of villages. This historic phase was engaged in drafting a constitution, its government and in preparing Five year Plan as it was important to institutionalize political aspirations of the people of India and ensure their simultaneous socio-economic development. After independence, a large number of planning strategies were started in each five year plan. In order to alleviate the multiple numbers of rural poor, comprising the small and marginal 3

4 farmers, landless labourers, rural artisans, women, tribals etc., the central and the state government operates various programmes since the First Five Year Plan. These schemes are either beneficiary-oriented or directed towards infrastructure building. The former benefits the individuals and families directly, on the other hand the later one directed towards infrastructure strengthening activities that have an indirect, long term impact on the rural poor.in the year 1952 the community development plan at block level was started and great success was achieved. This programme was related to the nationwide programme of rural development. The various programmes and strategies adopted for rural development programme in India since independence are- 1. Community Development Programme, National Extension Service, Khadi and Village Industries Programme, Village Housing Project Schemes, Multipurpose Tribal Development Blocks Programme, Package Programme, Intensive Agricultural District Programme, Rural Industries, Intensive Agricultutal Areas Programme, High Yielding Variety Programme, Farmers Training and Educational Programme, Well Construction Programme, Rural Works Programme, Tribal Development Block, Composite Programme for Women and Pre-School Children, Drought Prone Areas Programme, Crash Scheme for Rural Employment, Small Farmers Development Agency, Tribal areas Development Programme, Pilot Project for Tribal Development, Pilot Intensive Rural Employment Programme, Minimum Needs Programme, Commend Areas Development Programme, Hill Area Development Programme, Special Livestock Production Programme, Food for Work Programme, Desert Development Programme, Whole Village Development Programme, Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment, Integrated Rural Employment Programme, Prime Minister New 20 Point Programme, Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas, Rural Landless Employment Programme, National Rural Employment Programme, Indira Awaas Yojana, Jawahar Rojgar Yojana with its components (a) Indira Awaas Yojana (b) Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas 4

5 (c) Millions Wells Scheme (d) Pilot Project on Dry Land Farming (e) All India Co-ordinated Dry land Farming Research Project (f) Central and Arid Zone Research Programme( Institute) (g) Wasteland Reclamation and Rural Development Programme 37. Panchayati Raj (Village Level Admn. Unit) and Rural Development, Food for Work Programme,(1977) Continued Sarvashika Abhiyan ( Continued after 1980) 40. Natiobal Family Benefit Scheme, Minimum Needs Programme,(1999) Continued National Old Age Pension Scheme, 43. Prime Ministers Road Development Programme, Commend Areas Development Programme Continued, Community Development Programme Continues, Second Green Revolution Programme-based on value addition and cash crops, One Hundred Days Work Programme 48. Annapurna, Many of the programmes are repeated even after a gap of 35 years because the results could not be achieved in a satisfactory manner. These programmes are- 1. Small Farmers Development Agency( SFDA) and 2. Marginal Farmers and agricultural Labourers Development Agency (MFLDA) which was started in 1971 following the recommendations of All India Rural Credit Review Committee (1969). The objective of the programme was to assist the farmers through improving agricultural technology and to diversify farm economy through subsidiary activities like animal husbandry, dairying, horticulture etc. The Agency provides a subsidiary of 25% to small farmers and 33.5% to marginal farmers and agricultural labourers. The government s policy and programmes have laid emphasis on poverty alleviation, generation of employment and income opportunities and provision of infrastructure and basic facilities to meet the needs of rural poor. For realizing these objectives, self employment and wage employment programme continueto pervade in one form or other. As a measure to strengthen grass root level democracy, is constantly endeavoring to empower PanchayatiRajInstitutions in the Govt. terms of functions, power and functions. The Eleven Five Year Plan addressed the task of reducing the numbers of poor. India has successfully reduced the share of the poor in the population by 27.4 percent from 54.9 percent in Between 1973 and 1983, the percentage of the poor had declined from 54.9 percent to 44.5 percent. It again reduced to 36 percent in Presently, MGNREGA, NOPAS, NFBS, IAY, Annapurna etc. and many such other schemes are in continuation. But the achievement was not as one had desired and the much cherished aim of eradicating poverty remained a distant dream. Part:III Issues and Challenges of Rural Development in India: Till 1975 various programmes were started but desirable success could not be achieved. Research and innovation could not reach from lab to the field, i.e., to rural areas. Development programmes were started but benefit could not reach the farmers except deficit and food self- 5

6 sufficiency was not achieved till Many other programmes remained confined only to laboratories such as soil conservation, aforestation, rural employment, health programme etc. The target to achieve full literacy by 1985 with 5% margin, to eradicate rural poverty with a 5% margin, to provide full employment with 5% margin remained a big dream and was extended till The impact of economic development in tribal areas, hill areas and remote areas is being observed in such a way that they feel themselves as the major victims and deprived of even basic food items. These are not free from chronic food deficit mal-and under nutrition, unemployment in the rural sector, landlessness, small and marginal farming units with 88% of the total households (i.e., less than one hectare of land/ household). Due to overall failure in the development in the rural areas, the unplanned migration in the urban sector and towns has reached such an extent that urban poverty in the country is more or less equal to the rural poverty; otherwise the gap of rural-urban poverty was more than 10%. The problem of small and marginal farmers, labourers, agricultural labourers and youth employment is taking a serious turn, i.e., social chaos, and large scale unrest. It has already taken a platform of Naxalities Movement as their basic support from such deprived class of people and till 2002 these political groups including Maoist were effective in 56 districts of India along the belt of north Behar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and over all along the eastern coastal districts. If a drastic economic change is not made in rural India, they may turn to be a chaotic and may cause the emergency of a new political system. Over the last decade or so, India has gradually enhanced its global standing as a growing Asian power. Several political, social and cultural factors have combined to project an image of raising stature that has captured the world s imagination. The image is not inaccurate; but it is not proper, because India is also home of one-quarter of the world s poor. Although economic growth has brought considerable benefits in terms of poverty reduction, the achievement on this front have not been as rapid or as effective as expected. Indeed the problems faced by India today are not just of low income or consumption levels. Non-income poverty affects a much larger section of the population, who do not have access to basic services of a good standard. Social exclusion and uneven development have in many cases widened inequalities and mitigated the poverty- reducing impact of economic growth. Part: IV Rural Development & Poverty Alleviation in North East: North Eastern Region (NER) is a land lock area comprising eight states and it shares borders with five South Asian countries Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The region accounts for 8 percent of the country s land area and is the habitation of 3.8 percent of India s population, while Assam accounts 68 percent of the population. The region stands way below in comparison with the rest of India in socio-economic indicators. As per 2001 census, the annual per capita income of NER is 6,625 INR against the rest of India average of 10,254 INR. Nearly 34.28% of the population is below poverty line as compared to the national average of 26.1%. Presently, Assam has lakh persons living below poverty line, Manipur 12.5 lakh, Meghalaya 4.9 lakh, Mizoram 2.3 lakh, Tripura 6.3 lakh, Nagaland 4.1 lakh and Arunachal Pradish 3.5 lakh (The Telegraph, 20 th March, 2012). 6

7 Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh have shown a dip in the poverty scale. Both the states are affilicted with less poverty in than While Tripura has recorded a dip of about 23 percent, in Arunachal Pradesh it was a six percent. Nagaland on the other hand, has registered a rise of over 12 percent in poverty followed by Manipur at 9.2 percent. Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya registered increases 3.5 percent, 5.7 percent and one percent respectively. (ibid) However, the NER is highly literate region. Except for Arunachal Pradesh, all the other states have literacy rates about or above national average of 64.8% which provides a good pool of educated human resources in the region. The NER is endowed with huge untapped natural resources. It is acknowledged as the eastern gateway for the country s Look East Policy. The region is witnessing a series of insurgencies and is alienated from the economic resurgence that the rest of the country is experiencing. The World Bank describes condition of the region as a low-level equilibrium of poverty, non-development, civil conflict and lack of faith in political leadership ( It may be noted that the terrain and topography of some of the north eastern states resemble similarity with neighbouring countries like Taiwan. It may create the pathway for possible cooperation between them in terms of exchange of advanced agricultural technologies and capacity building of human resources engaged in similar agricultural activities. Myanmar is another bordering country with which Indian sub-continent can become a trading partner. The signing of a Free Trade Area in goods in 2009 was a strategic move for increasing economic ties between India and ASEAN. With the institutional framework in place, the two sides are now confident of scaling the India-ASEAN trade to $100 billion by 2015 and double that volume by 2020.NER has expertise in tea, organic farming, food processing, exploration of wind power, wellness therapies like spas, etc. Setting up of food processing industry to harness the rich production of horticultural crops in Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland may be explored. Further, the region is very rich in wood and bamboo handicrafts and orchids which may also crate huge economic possibilities. It is, in this context, necessary that training initiatives should be taken for skill development especially for the rural youth and encouraging entrepreneurship amongst the local youth to improve quality and increase quantity. This may boost the economy of the region and counter the problem of poverty, unemployment and related evils. Part: V Conclusion & Recommended Strategies: To be socially, and economically sustainable and rural development, India s growth story needs to be inclusive. However, country s north east has been experiencing a comparatively slower pace of industrialization and socio-economic growth. The region is blessed with abundant natural resources for development opportunities; they have not been utilized to their full potential. The region has certain distinct advantages. It is strategically located with access to the traditional domestic market of eastern India, along with the proximity to the major states in the east and adjacent countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar. The region is also a vantage of entry point for the South-East Asian markets. The resource rich north east with its expanses of fertile farmland and a huge talent pool could turn into one of India s prosperous regions. Owing 7

8 to its unique challenges, the conventional market-based solutions may not work here, given the issues related to poor infrastructure connectivity, unemployment and low economic development, law and order problems etc. The government and the private sector need to collaborate and take the lead in providing solutions to these problems. More reform needs to be initiated in a range areas, such as investment in agriculture, hydel power, infrastructure as well as in creating new avenues of growth through the development of vertically integrated food processing chains, market linked skill development and cross-border trade. 1. Rural Development needs rural participation, rural urge to grow and prosper and sustain development by playing catalyst role in the rural society. 2. The academic institutions and research bodies should be associated both at the level of planning and implementation. To be effective, it is important that rural development management be decentralized through proper delegation of authority and accountability to be given to the local grass root levels. 3. It is also desirable to consider coordination and integration of various anti-poverty programmes to offer more benefits to the poorest of the poor. 4. Instead of taking up national policy fragmented policy should be adopted and implement region wise on needful basis. The success of rural development depends upon planning, project design and a careful identification of various target groups in the community. At the same time it needs careful assessment of the capacity of local institutions to act as implementing agencies. 5. There is also need to improve the proper evaluation of the programmes at the grass root levels. 6. Most of the rural people are ignorant about various schemes and policies and deprived of its benefits. Hence, it is necessary to make aware and to transmit all the policy information to the village people through local administrative machinery. 7. Identification of beneficiaries is the major problem in rural areas. Proper beneficiaries, proper amount and proper time are the major constraints for the success of the programme. Therefore, utmost care should be taken at the selection of beneficiaries so that unscrupulous elements cannot intervene in it. 8. Infrastructure has a great impact on rural development. A road or highway may transform a sleepy country into a vibrant tourist resort and economic activity; a simple power line may propel remote village in to a vibrant rural community; a wireless transmitter may link the most isolated place with the World Wide Web. The overall success of rural development depends on well planning, well implementation of programmes, participation of people etc. It means rural development programmes cannot be successful without adequate planning, strong central co-ordination, effective local level organization and people s active participation at the planning and implementation stages. References: 1. World Bank (1975) : The assault on World Poverty, Baltimore, John Hopkins University Press, P-3 2. Dr. Sundaram, I. Satya (1997) : Rural Development, Himalaya Publishing House 8

9 3.Mehta, A.K. and Shah, A. (2001), Chronic Poverty in India: Overview Study, CPRC-IIPA working Paper, New Delhi, Chronic Poverty Research Center, University of Manchester and Indian Institute of Public Administration 4. Dr. Sundaram, I. Satya (1997) : Rural Development, Himalaya Publishing House 5. World Bank (1975) : The assault on World Poverty, Baltimore, John Hopkins University Press, P-3 6. Lynden, B. & Khonglah, M. P. (2004): Rural Development; An Educational Perspective Published in (Ed) Dimensions Of Rural Development in North East India, Akansha Publishing House 7. Ghose, B. Nath & d De, Utpal Kr. (2004): Women and Development In Rural India, Published in (Ed) Dimensions Of Rural Development in North East India, Akansha Publishing House 8. The Telegraph, 20 th March, Vasudeva, Vikrant.(October1,2010) Legal Intervention in Poverty Alleviation: Enriching the Poor Through Law ( PDF), NUJS Law Review, Retrieved on January 3, 2015 Website browsed: Youstaytoo.com/poverty-alleviation-in/