Talk:Integrated Rural Development Programme

message: IRDA
INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Integrated Rural Development (IRD)
IRD is evolved based on the assumption-
“Rural Development is a system of interdependent and interacting element”
It is the integrated development of different rural sub-systems. Sub-systems are-
         - production pattern
         - rural settlement
         - infrastructure network
         - employment pattern
         - rural organization & institutional system 
These sub-system will affect each other. So, the   coordinated development of rural sub-systems is treated as ‘integrated rural development.’
Again, each sub-system has a number of development components. As for example-
         If agriculture production can be treated as a sub-system, then it must have some development components-
              - land & water for cultivation
              - land tenure practices
              - agriculture production techniques
              - credit
              - processing & marketing
              - institutional arrangements
As this sub-system, every sub-system has some development components and lack of attention to any of the critical components within the sub-system can seriously jeopardize the expected results of the development initiative; So, it requires to develop a coordinated approach. That’s why, integrated approach is evolved 
An integrated rural development approach tries to -----a) identify the development components within each sub-system, 
         b) analyze their interdependencies within the sub-system in relation to the actual conditions obtaining in the area, 
c) establish their connections with other development components in other sub-systems making up the rural development system 
         d) determine on the basis of certain principles and criteria what mix of the development components will have the maximum effect in achieving a particular objective
         13th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America defined integrated rural development as
         “an integrated set of planned and coordinated actions carried out at different levels by the government agencies and the population itself to bring about the progressive and sustained development of a rural area.”
e) The design of an IRD programme is determined by existing local conditions and policies followed by the governments    
         UN Economic & Social Council developed IRD concept for developing countries.
Goal/Broad Objective-
To raise the whole pattern of living of the rural population to a markedly high level and create in the process a society which would thereafter be dynamic economically and socially
Specific Objectives-
Integration of the rural communities with the main stream of the national economic life  
Decentralization of political & administrative structures to enable concrete participation of the rural communities in decision making processes affecting local and national development 
Expediting the process of acceptance of modernization ideals by a systematic effort at institution building
Some important sectoral components-
Agricultural development
Rural industrialization
Employment
Youth development 
Urbanization
Social services
Institution Building   
I) Agricultural development
- Input factors, extension services, incentive measures, organizational aspect and training & education
Steps are required to follow-
Land settlement scheme should be implemented
Need for zoning of agricultural production
A special training course in agriculture planning techniques
II) Rural industrialization
Existing indigenous handicraft industries
Promotion of agro-based industries
III) Employment
Special efforts should be made to provide venues of employment
Readjusting the outlays on different development projects To improve the existing skills of the labour force
IV) Youth development
Institutional programme of youth camps
Assistance for different economic ventures 
General education classes
Need for restructuring of school curriculam
V) Provision of social services-
Education, health, housing, electricity and recreational outlets on a planned basis
VI) Urbanization
Gradual urbanization is the essential element of the strategy for integrated rural development
                             
VII) Institution Building-
Promotion of development aiding institutions
Strengthen them functionally & financially   
(Recent time)
         IRD includes a successful strategy incorporating the key elements described above will thus include:
A vision of the growth process in rural areas;
A mechanism for integrating existing programs;
Design for new programmes if needed;
A defined locus of decision making;
A meaningful role for local government.
Clarification of financial flows and channels
Key performance indicators or a process for generating them internally to the strategy;
Procedures to monitor the indicators;
Sequencing of actions that should take place in the short, medium, and long term
Framework for IRD 
Environmental and Agri-environmental actions
 Extension of existing A-E actions 
 Piloting of new/innovative A-E actions out
 Exploitation of access/interpretation opportunities
 Enhanced/broadened Rural Stewardship programmes
 Examination/extension of agri-tourism potential
 Promoting the natural heritage of the local countryside
 Developing sustainable energy options including renewable 
Economic development actions
Developing rural entrepreneurship
Developing business and communities infrastructure
Funding opportunities
Promotion of greater inter-agency co-operation/planning
Evaluation/mapping of local development potential (say on a market- town or Strategic theme basis)
 Development of cross-sector, cross-industry solutions/opportunities
Diversification actions and new ways of working for agriculture, fishing and forestry
 Promoting local added Value, processing and direct and regional marketing options
 Tourism related farming food and environmental opportunities
 Identifying and removing barriers to diversification through capacity building and effective business planning.
 Encouraging co-operative action between businesses at the input, production, process and marketing levels
 See Environmental Actions menu
 Developing niche markets (e.g. organics, special breaks etc)
Community development and social inclusion
 Community capacity building
 Community Development infrastructure support
 An increase in local/regional partnership working which draws on the skills of small businesses, communities, agriculture, the third sector and public agencies (Community Planning)
 Overcoming problems of accessibility for actors in local development (e.g.
Transportation, ICT, etc)
 Using local identity, character and culture and encouraging and supporting
 Innovation and community regeneration actions
 Developing ICT based solutions  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.168.235.220 (talk) 21:49, 21 May 2008 (UTC)