Introduction

The Ministry of Rural Development operates a number of development programs for eradicating rural poverty through the seamless efforts of the Government of India and the State Government. In addition to programs funded by the Government of India in Uttarakhand, the State Government has launched several innovative public welfare programs from its financial resources to eradicate poverty. Rural Development Department implement several programs in the area of self-employment, employment, rural housing, rural connectivity, village developments, etc. for rural economy and infrastructure development.

The vision and mission of the Rural Development Department is sustainable and inclusive growth of rural State through a multipronged strategy for eradication of poverty by increasing livelihoods opportunities, providing social safety net and developing infrastructure for growth. This is expected to improve quality of life in rural State and to correct the developmental imbalances, aiming in the process, to reach out to most disadvantaged sections of the society.

Broadly, the aims of the Department are:
• Providing livelihood opportunities to those in need including women and other vulnerable sections with focus on Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
• Providing for the enhancement of livelihood security of households in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household demanding it.
• Provision of all weather rural connectivity to unconnected rural habitations and upgradation of existing roads to provide market access.
• Providing basic housing and homestead to BPL household in rural areas.
• Providing urban amenities in rural areas for improvement of quality of rural life.
• Capacity development and training of rural development functionaries.
Rural development implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation. Increased participation of people in the rural development programmes, decentralization of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit are envisaged for providing the rural people with better prospects.