Preface
Introduction

Section One : Rural India
Socio Economic Structure of Rural India
Rural Poverty

Section Two : Rural Development
Meaning and Content of Rural Development
Rural Development: An Overview
Early Attempts at Rural Development
National Programmes of Rural Development
Community Development Programme
Employment Guarantee Scheme
Issues in Rural Development

Section Three : Present Rural Development Programmes
Wage Employment Programme
Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship Development
Special Area Development Programmes
Rural Housing Programmes
National Social Assistance Programme
Rural Water Supply Programme
Rural Sanitation

Section Four : Approach to Rural Development
Agriculture and Rural Development
Imperatives for Wise Water Management
Energy Management
Modern Agricultural Technology
Social Forestry
Rural Industrialisation
Land Reforms and Rural Development

Section Five : Financing Rural Development
Credit Needs of the Rural Poor
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
Techniques of Lending to Agriculture
Area and Project Approach to Bank Lending
Decentralised Credit Planning
District Credit Plans
Block Level Planning
20-Point Programme and Rural Development

Section Six : Rural Management
Agencies for Rural Development
Role of Voluntary Agencies
Vikas Volunteer Vahini
Council for Advancement of People`s Action and Rural Technology
Rural Management
Training for Rural People
Panchayats for Rural Development

Section Seven : Future of Rural Development
Future of Rural Development
Rural Development in the 21st Century

Section Eight : Experiments in Rural Development
Case Studies
Annexure − I

Section Nine : Select Bibliography
Books
Reports

Rural Development in India is an important segment of economic development. Although, thousands of crores of rupees have been spent on rural development during the last 57 years, the problem is as grave as it was. Yet, the importance of this subject has enhanced.
Rural India is real India. Over Seventy-six per cent of the total population of India lives in villages. Rrual India still contributes about half of the national income. Agriculture is the basic occupation which sustains the rural areas. Rural development is not simply an economic proposition; it has social, psychological and cultural dimensions as well. It is a multi-dimensional as well as multi-directional concept.
To be precise, rural development is a programme designed to improve the socio-economic living conditions o the rural poor. It aims also at raising their cultural level and reorienting their rich traditions. It seeks to achieve increase rural production and productivity, greater socio-economic equity and a higher standard of living for the rural poor. It is partly ameliorative and partly development-oriented. Development is interlinked with motivation, innovation and the active participation of the beneficiaries, inter alia, this calls for organisation and management. Rural development rcognises the importance of improved food supplies and nutrition, as well as the importance of such basic services as health, housing, education and expanded communications, which will go a long way in enhancing the productivity of the rural poor. Moreover, it aims at providing gainful employment, so that the rural people too may contribute their mite to the national product.
Rural development implies a fuller development of existing resources, including the construction of infastructure, such as roads and irrigation works, the introduction of new production technology, the revival of traditional arts and crafts, and the creation of new types of institution s and organisations.
The study presents a kaleidoscopic review o varied aspects of rural development in FORTY TWO chapters.
The Study also features:

Programmes, policies, and analyse the progress and shortcomings.
Emerging issues and challenges.
Prospects and out of look of Rural Development in India.

The study is useful to students, Researchers, Adminstrators and Professionals.