{"id":89528,"date":"2026-02-23T18:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T12:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=89528"},"modified":"2026-02-23T18:00:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T12:30:24","slug":"integrated-rural-development-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/integrated-rural-development-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"Integrated Rural Development Programme, Objectives, Significance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Integrated Rural Development Programme was launched in <\/span><b>1978<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, is a government scheme to reduce rural poverty by providing assets, skills and financial support to poor families, helping them become self-reliant and improve their livelihoods.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About Integrated Rural Development Programme<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) was started by the Government of India in 1978 and put into action in 1980.<\/span><b> It ran until 1999, after which it was merged with five other schemes and re-launched as the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main aim of IRDP was to help the rural poor become self-reliant through self-employment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IRDP was created by combining earlier rural schemes like the Community Area Development Programme <\/span><b>(CADP)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Drought Prone Area Programme <\/span><b>(DPAP)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Small Farmer Development Agency<\/span><b> (SFDA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and Marginal Farmers and Agricultural Labourers Agency<\/span><b> (MFALA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This merger allowed the government to provide a more coordinated effort to fight poverty and support rural development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scheme focused on reducing poverty, hunger and unemployment in villages. At the beginning, it was implemented in 2,000 out of the 5,004 development blocks in India. The National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the central government also highlights that villages are essential for the country\u2019s overall development and emphasizes the need to improve rural communities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Read about: <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/united-nations-development-programme-undp\/\" target=\"_blank\">United Nations Development Programme<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><b>Integrated Rural Development Programme Objectives<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Main Goal:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Help poor rural families earn extra income so they can rise above the poverty line.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Coverage:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Around 55 million poor people benefited under the scheme at a cost of \u20b913,700 per person to the government.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Target Groups:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sharecroppers, marginal and small farmers, laborers, artisans, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other rural poor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Support Provided:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Financial assistance, subsidies, loans, or credit to buy productive assets like tools, livestock or equipment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Self-Employment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Focuses on creating opportunities for rural people to earn their own livelihood.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Partner Programs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Some associated schemes include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ganga Kalyan Yojana (GKY)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Million Wells Scheme (MWS)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply of Improved Toolkits to Rural Artisans (SITRA)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sectoral Support:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Promotes fisheries, livestock, poultry, social forestry and cottage industries in villages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Income and Living Standards: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aims to increase income and improve the overall living conditions of poor rural families.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Empowerment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Helps disadvantaged people become self-reliant by giving them assets, skills and financial support.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) Key Aspects<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Cumulative Sectoral Development<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focuses on imp<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sectors grow together for balanced rural progress.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Spatial Integration<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look at the connection between resources (like raw materials) and where production or activities happen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identifies areas that need extra attention to make development more effective.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Individual and Group Development<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensures that development benefits reach not just a few, but the majority of rural people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotes fair distribution of funds and opportunities so everyone can improve their living standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Socio-Economic and Environmental Balance<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focuses on providing essentials like food, shelter, education and health to reduce poverty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensures that while using resources for development, the environment is protected for future generations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) Sixth Five-Year Plan Period<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) was mainly launched to fight poverty in villages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It aimed to help the poorest families get productive assets, skills, and knowledge so they could earn a stable income.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These families also needed basic social services like housing, healthcare, and education to improve their living standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other important programs under this initiative included the National Rural Development Programme (NRDP) and the Minimum Needs Programme (MNP).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Panchayat Samitis were responsible for implementing these programs at the local level.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) Beneficiaries<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The IRDP is meant to help people in rural areas who are poor or struggling. The main beneficiaries are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural artisans &#8211; people in villages who make handicrafts or do traditional work.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laborers &#8211; those who work as daily wage workers or farm helpers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small and marginal farmers &#8211; farmers who have very little land and income.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) &#8211; groups officially recognized by the government for special support.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Economically weaker people &#8211; anyone earning less than Rs. 11,000 per year.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Subsidies Provided Under Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small farmers get 25% subsidy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agricultural laborers and marginal farmers get 33.33% subsidy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SC\/ST families, children and persons with disabilities get 50% subsidy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maximum subsidy for SC\/ST households and differently-abled persons: Rs 6,000 in general areas, Rs 5,000 in DPAP\/DDP areas, Rs 4,000 in non-DPAP\/non-DDP areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women and differently-abled individuals among SC\/ST candidates are given extra preference.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First preference is given to those with ceiling surplus land and green card holders under bonded labor or family welfare schemes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The program helps rural poor, marginalized farmers and disadvantaged groups improve their income and livelihood.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) Implementation<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) is carried out by different organizations at different levels:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Block-level staff:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Work at the village and local level to implement the program on the ground.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Coordinate and manage the program at the district level.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Oversees the program in each state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Provides funds, makes policies, monitors progress, evaluates the program and gives guidance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) Funding<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) is a centrally sponsored scheme. The cost is shared equally between the Union Government and the States (50:50).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The program has been running in all blocks across the country since 1980.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central funds are given to states based on how many rural poor they have compared to the total rural poor in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial help is also provided by banks, cooperatives and regional rural banks in the form of subsidies and loans.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) Targeted Areas<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tribal areas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Madhya Pradesh and Odisha<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Agriculturally developed areas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Agriculturally underdeveloped areas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hilly regions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Jammu &amp; Kashmir, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Desert areas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Rajasthan<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other states:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka have well-managed administration, while Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have weaker administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) Significance<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) has been helping rural India for over 44 years, benefiting more than 6 lakh families, with 60% of them from Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Its main aim is to reduce poverty and promote equality by giving disadvantaged groups a chance to improve their income and living standards. The government has implemented the program in different stages to reach more people and make it more effective. While there have been challenges in proper execution at the local level, the program has still been largely successful in providing support to the rural poor. Overall, IRDP has played an important role in helping marginalized communities become self-reliant and in promoting social and economic inclusion across rural India.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), launched in 1978, aimed to reduce rural poverty by providing subsidies, loans and assets to promote self-employment and uplift SC\/ST, small farmers and rural poor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":89494,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[5264,5265,5670],"class_list":{"0":"post-89528","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-governance","9":"tag-governance-notes","10":"tag-integrated-rural-development-programme","11":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89528"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89536,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89528\/revisions\/89536"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}