Integrated Rural Development Programme

(IRDP)
The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) was launched by the Government of India
during 1978 and implemented in 1980 and continued till 1999. After that, IRDP, along with 5
other schemes, was rebranded as the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana. It is aimed at the
self-employment of the rural poor.

It is indispensable to have a firm grip on this topic for the UPSC exam. Therefore, on that note,
let’s look at the details of IRDP.

Objectives of IRDP Scheme

The objective of this program is to make poor rural people generate an additional source of
income to help them cross the poverty line.

Around 55 million poor people have been covered under the scheme at the cost of Rs. 13,700
to the government. IRDP has several partner programmes associated with it. A few of them
are:

• Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)

• Ganga Kalyan Yojana (GKY)
• Million Wells Scheme (MWS)
• Supply of Improved Toolkits to Rural Artisans (SITRA)
• Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)

However, these partner programs were implemented as separate programmes, and they failed
to achieve the main objective of the IRDP. For example, only 3% of IRDP participants received
training under TRYSEM.

Elements of the IRDP Programme

1. A 5-year development program was drawn up for each district.
2. Eradicate poverty, hunger, and unemployment from rural India.
3. Provide self-employment opportunities.
4. Take up measures for poultry and livestock development.
5. Promote cottage industries in the villages.

Problems with IRDP

According to scholars, problems with IRDP lay in its implementation.

1. There is a lack of coordination between the various departments.

 2. Few loans have been given for buying land.
3. The average investment per family was too low. Therefore, the program was not able to generate an
income of Rs. 2000 per family.
4. The people in charge of managing the project were often illiterate and unskilled.
5. IRDP did not take into account that poor people are not included in community decision making.

Who are the Beneficiaries of IRDP?

The beneficiaries of IRDP are:

• Rural poor
• Artisans
• Marginal farmers
• Schedule castes
• Schedule tribes
• Backward classes with an average income of less than Rs. 11,000.

These are some of the more significant features and details regarding the Integrated Rural
Development Programme.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

What is MGNREGA?
▪ About: MGNREGA is one of the largest work guarantee
programmes in the world launched in 2005 by the Ministry of
Rural development.
o The primary objective of the scheme is to guarantee 100
days of employment in every financial year to adult
members of any rural household willing to do public
work-related unskilled manual work.
o As of 2022-23, there are 15.4 crore active workers
under the MGNREGA.
▪ Legal Right to Work: Unlike earlier employment guarantee
schemes, the act aims at addressing the causes of chronic
poverty through a rights-based framework.
o At least one-third of beneficiaries have to be women.
o Wages must be paid according to the statutory minimum
wages specified for agricultural labourers in the state
under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
MGNREGA History:
In 1991, the P.V Narashima Rao government proposed a pilot scheme for generating
employment in rural areas with the following goals:

• Employment Generation for agricultural labour during the lean season.

• Infrastructure Development
• Enhanced Food Security

This scheme was called the Employment Assurance Scheme which later evolved into the
MGNREGA after the merger with the Food for Work Programme in the early 2000s.

Objectives of MGNREGA:
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has the
following objectives:

• Provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to rural unskilled labour

• Increase economic security
• Decrease migration of labour from rural to urban areas

MGNREGA differentiates itself from earlier welfare schemes by taking a grassroots-driven

approach to employment generation. The programs under the act are demand-driven and
provide legal provisions for appeal in the case, work is not provided or payments are delayed.
The scheme is funded by the central government which bears the full cost of unskilled labour
and 75% of the cost of material for works undertaken under this law. The central and state
governments audit the works undertaken under this act through annual reports prepared by
CEGC (Central Employment Guarantee Council) and the SEGC (State Employment Guarantee
Councils). These reports have to be presented by the incumbent government in the legislature.

A few salient features of the scheme are:

• It gives a significant amount of control to the Gram Panchayats for managing public works,
strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions. Gram Sabhas are free to accept or reject
recommendations from Intermediate and District Panchayats.
• It incorporates accountability in its operational guidelines and ensures compliance and transparency
at all levels.

Ever since the scheme was implemented, the number of jobs has increased by 240% in the past
10 years. The scheme has been successful in enhancing economic empowerment in rural India
and helping overcome the exploitation of labour. The scheme has also diminished wage
volatility and the gender pay gap in labour. This can be substantiated the by the following data
available at the official site of MGNREGA:

1. 14.88 crores MGNREGA job cards have been issued (Active Job Cards – 9.3 crores)
 2. 28.83 crores workers who gained employed under MGNREGA (2020-21) out of which active
workers are 14.49 crores.

Food security is the availability, accessibility, and affordability of safe and nutritious food for all
people in a country.

Food security in India

India has made significant progress in improving food security, but challenges still
exist.

• Food Production: India has made remarkable progress in increasing

food production, particularly in staple crops like rice and wheat. The
Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s played a crucial role in
boosting agricultural productivity.
• Buffer Stocks: India maintains strategic grain reserves, known
as buffer stocks, to stabilize food prices and meet emergencies. These
stocks are managed by agencies like the Food Corporation of India
(FCI).
• Addressing Malnutrition: India has implemented programs to address
malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women. These
programs focus on improving nutritional intake and health outcomes.
• Containing Pandemic Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed
vulnerabilities in India’s food security system, as lockdowns disrupted
supply chains and livelihoods. The government implemented relief
measures, including distributing free food grains to vulnerable
populations.
• Nutrition Quality: While food availability has improved, the focus is
shifting toward improving the quality of food and addressing issues of
hidden hunger, where people lack essential vitamins and minerals in
their diet.
• Sustainable Agriculture: There is a growing emphasis on sustainable
agriculture practices, including organic farming, to ensure long-term
food security while protecting the environment.
• Climate Change Resilience: Building resilience to climate change is a
priority for ensuring food security in the face of changing weather
patterns and extreme events.
• Role of Technology: Technology is being increasingly harnessed for
better crop management, weather forecasting, and food distribution,
which can enhance food security efforts.
Government initiatives
National Food Security Act (NFSA):

• The NFSA, enacted in 2013, is a landmark legislation aimed at

providing legal entitlements to food for a large section of India’s
population. It aims to ensure that a specified quantity of food grains is
made available to eligible beneficiaries at affordable prices.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

• The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, which

began on October 2, 1975, is one of the Government of India’s flagship
programs and one of the world’s largest and most innovative early
childhood care and development programs.

Public Distribution System

• It is defined as the system in which food procured by the FCI is

distributed among the weaker or poorer sections of society.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)

• This scheme was launched in December 2000. Under this scheme, one
crore of the poorest among the BPL families covered under the targeted
public distribution system was identified. In this scheme, the State Rural
Development Department has identified poor families through the
Below poverty line survey.

COOPERATIVE MARKETING

Cooperative marketing, where businesses collaborate to promote a product

or service, comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

Cost Sharing: By pooling resources, companies can reduce individual

marketing costs significantly. Shared expenses on advertising, promotions,
and campaigns make it more affordable for each participant.
Leveraged Expertise: Partnerships often bring together diverse skill sets and
expertise. This collective knowledge can lead to more innovative and
effective marketing strategies, benefiting all involved.

Wider Reach: Cooperative marketing allows access to a broader audience

base. Each participant contributes their customer base, potentially
expanding the overall reach and exposure of the product or service.

Risk Mitigation: Sharing risks among multiple parties can reduce the impact
of a campaign's failure. If one strategy doesn't work, the shared
responsibility lessens the blow on individual businesses.

Disadvantages:

Dependency: The success of a cooperative marketing effort relies on the

commitment and collaboration of all parties involved. If one partner doesn't
hold up their end, it can jeopardize the entire campaign.

Conflict of Interest: Differing priorities and strategies among partners may

lead to conflicts or disagreements on how the marketing campaign should
proceed. This can hinder progress and create friction.

Resource Inequality: Disparities in resources or contributions among

partners can cause dissatisfaction or imbalance in decision-making, leading
to potential disagreements or strained relationships.

Complex Coordination: Coordinating a cooperative marketing campaign

involving multiple entities can be challenging. It requires effective
communication, organization, and consensus-building, which might be
time-consuming and difficult to manage.
Land Development Banks (LDBs) or Cooperative Agricultural and
Rural Development Banks (CARDBs)

Agriculturists require long-term financing in addition to short-term finance

for Land improvement projects, debt repayment, and the purchase of
agricultural equipment and other tools. Traditionally, financial institutions
and other organisations tended to handle the long-term needs of farmers.
However, this credit source was revealed to be flawed and was the cause of
the exploitation of farmers. Due to the majority of their deposits being
demand (short-term) deposits, cooperative and commercial Banks are by
definition unable to offer long-term loans. As a result, there was a huge need
for a specialised organisation to give farmers long-term financing. An
initiative in this regard was the founding of Land Development Banks, often
known as cooperative and Rural Development Banks (CARDBs). The Land
Development Banks have limited liability but are registered as cooperative
societies. These Banks are organised in two tiers:

(a) There are State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks
(SCARDBs), or state or central Land Development Banks, at the state level,
usually one for each state. Prior to this, they were known as Central Land
Mortgage Banks,

(b) State Land Development Banks, also known as SCARDBs, have local
branches, as do primary Land Development Banks, which are now known
as primary cooperative agricultural and Rural Development Banks
(PCARDBs).

The state Land Development bank's branches serve as the major Land
Development Banks in several states. The state cooperative bank serves as
the state Land Development bank in Madhya Pradesh. There are multiple
state Land Development Banks in various states including Andhra Pradesh,
Kerala, and Maharashtra. Similar to this, each state has its own
organisational structure for the main Land Development Banks. The All-
India Land Development Banks' Union is a federation of Land Development
Banks that has been established at the national level.
Capital - Share capital, reserves, deposits, loans and advances, and
debentures are some of the sources of funding for Land Development Banks.
The largest source of funding is through debentures. The state Land
Development Banks are the ones who issue the debentures. They have a
fixed interest rate, a 20 to 25 year maturity, and the state government
guarantees them. Cooperative Banks, commercial Banks, the State Bank of
India, and the Reserve Bank of India have all subscribed to these debentures.
The Land Development Banks also offer rural debentures for up to 7 years
in addition to the regular debentures. Farmers, panchayats, and the Reserve
Bank all put money down on these debt obligations. By providing money to
state governments so they can contribute to the share capital of these Banks
and by investing in regular and rural debentures, the Reserve Bank
significantly aids in the financing of Land Development Banks.