Rural Development in Mizoram

Development of rural areas and population has been one of the most crucial policy issues in India since Independence. India has opted for multiple approaches to rural development keeping in view the multivariate needs of the people living here. However over a period of the last 50 years of rural development experience it has been noted by a number of scholars that such a model of rural development has been almost a failure. The rural poor have not experienced any significant change in their living conditions. Integrated Rural Development Programme, a major self-employment generating programme, was launched in 1980, to provide income generating assets and self-employment opportunities to rural families who live below the povertyline. But the perusal of this programme reveals that this programme could not deliver adequate results and had hardly any impact on rural poverty. It is in this context that the present book, Rural Development in Mizoram: A Study of IRDP, acquires much significance. Besides examining the IRDP and highlighting the state-sponsored rural development programmes, this book identifies the motivational factors of grassroots bureaucracy and deals with beneficiary participation and the NGOs’ participation in the achievement of the rural development goals. The discussion of the five case studies in the book unfolds the reality. The book not only discusses the problem of successful implementation of IRDP in the State, but has also suggested ways and means to fill the gap.