OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To examine the development problems of rural society.

2. To examine the development possibilities of rural society.

PROBLEMS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT:

(1) Drinking water:

As any animal or plant needs water, air and light to survive or germinate, water is also very important for crops. Water is the life of crops. Regular and adequate supply of water is essential to get the desired crop from the field. But 60 percent of arable land in India is rain-fed. 40 percent of arable land benefits from potable water. The main sources of drinking water in central Gujarat are wells and bore wells. Irrigation through lakes and canals is scanty. Deepening of the bottoms of wells and boreholes leads to reduction in water volume. Boreholes are expensive to construct, maintain, electricity etc. Which is difficult for small and marginal farmers. As a result drinking water becomes expensive. 50 percent of the yield of the farmers is spent on drinking water. Thus there is a shortage of potable water in the rural development of India. And due to this, the small and marginal farmers face financial crunch due to which the farmer is also becoming indebted. Which works to weaken the economic condition of the rural society.

(2) Electricity :

Thus, in Gujarat, electricity is available for 24 hours but if it is for agriculture, agricultural electricity is provided for 8 hours. The timing of which also changes every week. 50 percent of the drinking water system is attributed to Vidhut Shakti. The role of electrification is crucial in the process of rural development in India as compared to industrial and urban sectors. Total irrigated agriculture and rural areas in India are less electrified. Electricity supply is insufficient and irregular and electricity is provided exclusively at night, power connections and electricity rates become expensive, so that agricultural crops cannot be irrigated regularly and adequately, which adversely affects crop production. and due to which the crop production decreases and consequently the economic condition of the rural society is weakened.

(3) Unemployment :

Unemployment is high in rural areas of India due to the lack of other employment options other than agriculture and animal husbandry and the prevalence of capital-based production systems. In the modern and present era, the youth are running away from agricultural work. No sweaty labor. As a result white color is pushing towards cities and entertainment for jobs. Wasting human capital is a hindrance to the development of the country.

(4) Credit Difficulty :

Rural and agricultural sector is less covered by banks as compared to urban and industrial sector. Small and marginal farmers, agricultural laborers and small industries or artisans do not benefit from credit facilities. In rural areas even today, moneylenders or the rich class exploit by taking high interest rates in return for loans. The rural class cannot invest in their own business due to the difficulty of credit.

(5) Political Immaturity :

Representatives elected from rural areas make permanent residence in cities. So it becomes unable to understand the problems of rural development. They are also unaware of the plans made for rural development. Settlement of rural development plans is also done on paper. The representatives take advantage of the lack of political awareness of the people in the villages. Rural development stalls due to political partisanship.

(6) Economic Backwardness :

Income and wealth inequality is observed in rural areas due to inheritance system, property system, inflationary conditions. On the one hand the landlords and productive class are getting richer and on the other hand 30 percent to 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. A balanced meal of two can be considered a luxury for them. No air-conditioned accommodation. Deteriorating health, lack of medical treatment and education, etc. are attributed to their poor economic status. which results in reduction of social welfare.

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY:

(1) The present study has been done with reference to Virpur taluka of Mahisagar district. In which 10 different villages were selected as examples, out of which the above-mentioned problems were seen in 9 villages.

(2) Lack of water and electricity for irrigation or credit and political immaturity were seen in rural areas.

(3) Agriculture and animal husbandry were the main means of livelihood in the villages of the study. But due to lack of land and agricultural facilities, their lifestyle was found to be very low.

(4) Due to the poor economic condition in the present rural areas, backwardness in other matters such as education, housing or necessities of life, etc. was clearly visible.

Possibilities of Rural Development:

The more successfully the above problems can be solved, the more favorable results can be achieved. Some of the possibilities or suggestions for the scope for development in rural areas are briefly presented as follows.

(1) If the Chinese model is implemented in India, there is unemployment in rural areas due to overpopulation. To avoid this, if industries are developed in India like in China, suitable for rural areas, the problem of migration can be solved by increasing employment and income.

(2) There is a need to form women's cooperative societies in rural areas of India and to make women aware of social laws. It will change the attitude of women, women will become aware. Women's employment will be boosted. will be financially well off and will automatically opt for a small family and a higher standard of living.

(3) Desertification is advancing in many parts of the country. To prevent desertification by undertaking programs like afforestation nurseries, afforestation of mad acacia, piludi etc., fodder farms, soil embankments, irrigation facilities, soil fertility can be sustained and arable land turning into desert can be stopped.

(4) Farm productivity can be encouraged in rural areas of the country by providing reasonable compensation for crops by providing storage facilities, price stabilization through buffer stocks, transport facilities, developing cooperative societies etc. as in communist countries.

(5) Rainwater should be collected by recharging dams, wells, ponds, dunki etc. Power generation should be increased through off-grid sources such as ocean waves, wind, solar, moburg gas etc.

(6) The prestige and dignity of labor is declining among the youth of rural areas of the country. Gandhiji recognized labor as divine law and natural gift. If the youth wakes up and works hard to produce the essentials of life, some social problems can be solved automatically along with the current economic problems.

(7) Farmers are surrounded by frustration of work power and performance, ignorance, show-off etc. As much as can be extracted from it, productivity can be increased. The farmer has been considered the king of the world. Agricultural waste can be turned into population by increasing the physical and mental strength of farmers. If the farmer is provided with investment opportunities and program incentives, the farmer can produce gold from the soil.

(8) Business and employment oriented education facilities should be created in the rural areas of the country to keep hands and feet, body active and efficient. Population education should be made effective.

(9) Rural people need to adopt Gandhiji's idea of "simple living and high thinking" to celebrate the future.

(10) To increase farm production, Nagadarshan, Sai, improved seeds, Ramapi fertilizers, pesticides etc. should be made available at cheap rates.

CONCLUSION:

For viable and sustainable rural development of the country, along with the progress of agriculture and milk production, the creation of basic facilities such as ancillary activities of agriculture, rural roads, transport services, health facilities, electricity and water facilities, complete system of education, cooperative activities etc. will help the rural poor or disabled people. Affordable employment can be provided and the people of the villages will be freed from poverty. Sustainable rural development will be possible after all the problems of rural economy are effectively solved, indigenous and foreign agriculture, cities and villages, big industries and small and rural industries, systematic and new industries should be developed. By all this a modern rural economy can be created.

REFERENCES:

1. A study of economics and scheme figures Economy of Gujarat - Bharat Parikh National Honoree Dr. Shailesh Shaile India's

2. Economic Reforms - Prof. Manhar Parikh A Study of Gram Swaraj Numerology Census2011.co.in Worldwidejournal.com

3. Sociological Terminology, - Publisher: Kanchanlal C. Parikh (1959) Problems of Economic Development in India – Best Publications

4. Economic Survey – 2011-12, 2012-13

5. https://mahisagar.nic.in/

6. https://mahisagar.nic.in/tehsil/

Received on 28.04.2023 Modified on 10.05.2023

Int. J. Rev. and Res. Social Sci. 2023; 11(2):133-135.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2687.2023.00020