Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas. According to 2011 Census 68.84% of population lives in villages. The backwardness of the rural sector would be a major impediment to the overall progress of the economy. India is predominately an agricultural country and farming is their main occupation. According to 2011 Agricultural Census of India, an estimated 61.5% dependent on agriculture. Technical developments in field of agriculture have increased the gap between the rich and poor, as the better off farmers adopted modern farm technology to a greater extent than the small farmers. The all India Rural Credit Review Committee in its report warned “If the fruits of development continue to be denied to the large sections of rural community, while prosperity accrues to some, the tensions social and economic may not only upset the process of orderly and peaceful change in the rural economy but even frustrate the national affords to set up agricultural production. ’’ Report of the All India Rural Credit Committee, New Delhi, 2003 has rightly pointed out that a purely agricultural country remains backward even in respect of agriculture. Most of the labour force in India depends on agriculture, not because it is remunerative but because there are no alternative employment opportunities. This is a major cause for the backwardness of Indian agriculture. A part of the labour force now engaged in agriculture needs to be shifted to non-agricultural occupations. Until the 1970s, rural development was synonymous with agricultural development and hence focused on increasing agricultural production. Today, Inclusive rural development is more specific concept than the concept of rural development of earlier, in broader terms, inclusive rural development is about improving the quality of life of all rural people.

Which of the following is true in the context of rural development in India?

1. Rural development essentially focuses on action for the development of areas that are lagging behind in the overall development of the village economy.
2. Development of human resources is a challenging area in the context of rural development.
   
3. Rural development also means that people engaged in farm and non-farm activities in rural areas have to be provided with various means that help them increase the productivity.
   

A, B and C

Rural development is a comprehensive term. It essentially focuses on action for the development of areas that are lagging behind in the overall development of the village economy. Some of the areas which are challenging and need fresh initiatives for development in rural India include- development of human resources, land reforms etc. All this means that people engaged in farm and non-farm activities in rural areas have to be provided with various means that help them increase the productivity. They also need to be given opportunities to diversify into various non-farm productive activities such as food processing. Enabling them better and more affordable access to healthcare, sanitation facilities at workplaces and homes and education for all would also need to be given top priority for rapid rural development.