The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) was launched by the Government of India in 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.
Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)
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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
- A 5-year development program was drawn up for each district.
- Eradicate poverty, hunger, and unemployment from rural India.
- Provide self-employment opportunities.
- Take up measures for poultry and livestock development.
- Promote cottage industries in the villages.
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Problems with IRDP
According to scholars, problems with IRDP lay in its implementation.
- There is a lack of coordination between the various departments.
- Few loans have been given for buying land.
- The average investment per family was too low. Therefore, the program was not able to generate an income of Rs. 2000 per family.
- The people in charge of managing the project were often illiterate and unskilled.
- 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.
Candidates can visit the linked article and get a detailed list of government schemes in India, important for general awareness and the current affairs section of various competitive exams.
Frequently Asked Questions about IRDP
How is IRDP implemented?
IRDP is implemented through District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) and Block-level agencies.
Who is the governing body of DRDAs?
The governing body of DRDAs includes local MPs, MLAs, the chairman of the Zila Parishad, women, representatives of scheduled castes and tribes, and heads of district development departments.
What are some of the latest schemes that have replaced IRDP?
A few of the latest schemes to have replaced IRDP are:
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
- NRLM – National Rural Livelihood Mission (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana)
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana(DDU GKY)
- Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana(PMAY-G)
- Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana(PMGSY)
- Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission
- National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
Apart from this, to get the latest exam updates, study material, notes, and other relevant information, candidates can turn to BYJU’S for help and get expert assistance.
For more information about upcoming Government Exams, visit the linked article. More exam-related preparation materials will be found through the links given below:
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