Infrastructure in Rural Areas

Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE in Rural Areas

Advance Infrastructure In Rural Areas

Good quality infrastructure is critical to sustainable Growth, especially for rural areas.
As over 60 per cent of the Population lives in rural areas, with low levels of per capital income, there is need to impart greater attention in improving rural infrastructure.
Currently the rural infrastructure is inadequate to support over 600,000 villages. Investment in rural transport infrastructure stimulates the rural economy and hence acts as a tool for POVERTY reduction.
The Services in the rural sector, like market access, Education, Health, and Communication depend on the availability of infrastructure.
A common observation has been that the rural areas with better connectivity also lead on the development scale. Inadequate transport infrastructures in rural areas cause lack of mobility and constraint to rural development.
However, providing infrastructure entails huge dose of capital investment. Rural infrastructure growth is thus dependent on financial Resources.
Improved transportation infrastructure and services undoubtedly contribute to reduced costs of transport, market expansion, improved productivity and competitiveness. Still, within the economic function of transport, the sector contributes to pro-poor growth patterns by targeting transport interventions to support the development of markets and businesses that serve and employ the poor.
To address the issue of rural infrastructure the government launched the Bharat Nirman programme and there are independent schemes to boost Road building, Irrigation, Housing, Water Supply, Electrification, and Telecommunication Connectivity. In this issue we focus on the relevance of rural infrastructure in raising Economic Development in rural areas.
There has been a virtual telecom revolution in the last ten years connecting all villages. In fact the growth of rural teledensity is remarkable and is growing at a much faster rate than urban teledensity.
Information Communication Technology, (ICTs) is known to be a facilitator of socio-economic development. Rural areas which lag behind facilities by way of health, education, financial services and EMPLOYMENT avenues are using the benefits of ICT.
Certainly, the growth of rural telephony, especially mobile telephony has brought improved connectivity and this has contributed significantly to socio-political and economic mainstreaming of rural India in the past decade.

The Importance of Infrastructure to economic development: an example from China

The fact that infrastructure provides critical support to the growth of an economy can be clearly seen when bottlenecks arise. One of the most striking examples is that of China’s intercity transport system, with its links to the supply of raw materials, coal, and electricity.
The coverage of China’s intercity transport networks is one of the thinnest in the world: the total route length per capita or per unit of arable landfor highways or railwaysis similar to, or lower than, that in Brazil, India, and Russia. This has resulted mainly from chronic underinvestment in China’s transport infrastructure. China’s transport investments amounted to only 1.3 percent of GNP annually during 1981-90, a period of rapid growth in transport demand.
Since the onset of China’s open door policy in 1979, economic growth averaging 9 percent a year has resulted in an unprecedented expansion in intercity traffic with growth averaging 8 percent a year for freight and 12 percent a year for passengers.
This traffic growth has imposed tremendous strains on the transport infrastructure, as manifested by the growth of bottlenecks in the railway Network, the severe rationing of transport capacity on railway lines, and the poor quality of service experienced by shippers and passengers.
Transport shortages have adversely affected the supply of coal in particular. Coal is the source of some 73 percent of China’s commercial energy and represents about 43 percent of the total tonnage of freight handled by the railways.
The shortage of coal has in turn adversely affected supplies of electricity, about 76 percent of which is generated by thermal Plants. In 1989, China was experiencing a shortfall in available power of about 20 percent of industrial electricity requirements. Central and local authorities established quotas for allocating electricity and rationed new connections, but power cuts have nevertheless been frequent.
A conservative estimate is that the annual economic costs of not having adequate transport infrastructure in China during the past several years amount to about 1 percent of China’s GNP.

RURAL Infrastructure Development-A TOOL FOR RURAL POVERTY

Rural infrastructure is not only a key component of rural development but also an important ingredient in ensuring any sustainable poverty reduction programme.
The proper development of infrastructure in rural areas improves rural economy and Quality Of Life. It promotes better productivity, increased agricultural incomes, adequate employment; etc. Development of rural areas is slow due to improper and inadequate provision of infrastructure with compare to urban areas. That’s why rural share in GDP is always less.
Infrastructure is important for the services it provides. It is an important input to the production process and raises the productivity of other sectors.
Infrastructure connects goods to the markets, workers to Industry, people to services and the poor in rural areas to urban growth centers. Infrastructure lowers costs, enlarges markets and facilitates trade.
Thus, infrastructure provides services that support economic growth by increasing the productivity of labor and capital thereby reducing the costs of production and raising profitability, production, income and employment.

Areas of Rural Infrastructure

A set of basic facts define the constraints within which the economic growth and development of India’s rural population must be addressed. Fundamentally, they relate to resource constraints, the nature of infrastructure, and the future trajectory of the geographical distribution of the population.
These services include, at a minimum market access, educational, health, financial, entertainment, transportation, and communications. Further, services depend on the availability of infrastructure.
Infrastructure investment is irregular and inadequate to support 600,000 villages and the Average cost of providing infrastructure is inversely related to the scale of the operation.
Limitations on the financial and other resources available for providing infrastructure made it impossible to provide infrastructure at every village in India. Even if they were provided at every village, it will not be commercially sustainable.
The basic geographical structure of population distribution will change once India shifts from being agriculture based country to industry based nation. The Government has launched “Bharat Nirman” for the development of rural infrastructure. Plans proposed for the development of India Rural Infrastructure are –

Irrigation,
Roads,
Housing,
Water Supply,
Electrification,
Telecommunication Connectivity.

Growth of financial infrastructure in rural India

Financial Infrastructure: It comprises the underlying foundation for a country’s financial system, including all institutions, information, technologies, rules and standards that enable financial intermediation.
Poor financial infrastructure in many developing countries poses a considerable constraint upon financial institutions in expanding their financial services to the underserved segments of the Society. It also creates risks to financial institutions and resultant lack of adequate credit facilities leads to financial crises.

Interventions for Achievement of Financial Inclusion

Goal of Financial Inclusion (F.I.) is difficult, but not unattainable:

State Driven Interventions by Central, State and Local Governments.
Voluntary Interventions by Banks, Micro-finance Institutions (MFI), Cooperatives, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and other social organizations.

Measures

Harnessing advances in the Information & Computer Technology (I.C.T.), like Smart Cards, Internet Kiosks and Cell Phone Messaging.
Developing, testing and implementing appropriate products and suitable delivery channels for financial services to be extended.
Attention to the 5 Ps of Marketing-Product, Price, Place, Process and Promotion.

Boosting Rural Development through Agri-infrastructure

Most of the perishable items are produced in the villages which remain confined to these due to the absence of road networks. The existing road and rail facilities are inadequate. Most of the areas which produce good quality fruits are still inaccessible. This coupled with the rough terrain of the area and lack of regulatory markets make the farming community to suffer a lot at the hands of the local traders.
Farmers have no information about the Market Price. There is an urgent need to establish suitable infrastructure like the use of information communication technology (ICT) for benefit of farming community.
The technology like e-kiosks and e-choupals of Indian Tobacco Company in Madhya Pradesh and other states of the country are doing a great job. Each electronic kiosk is connected to a number of villages.
The villagers can obtain any information easily from these kiosks regarding various aspects of crop production. Communication with different markets and among different stakeholders is also possible through the use of ICT.
Irrigation is another area which requires infrastructure upgradation. With suitable infrastructure the irrigation potential can be increased. The utilization of available water for agriculture too is far from efficient. Wastage of water is huge in surface irrigation systems.
The inability to conserve adequate water and curb its indiscriminate utilization, including rampant wasteful exploitation of water is also a cause of concern. The problem is more severe in dry land area of the country which accounts for more than 60 percent of the total cultivable area. Suitable water conserving infrastructure like the Drip Irrigation and Sprinkler Irrigation should be installed in these areas.
Water conservation techniques like water sheds, rainwater harvesting and other measures can bring additional area under irrigation in these water scarce regions. Similarly we can also invest in creating community grain storage Banks where the farmers can store their excessive food grains. This will also prevent them from distress selling as they can wait for the right time to sell their produce.
To meet the energy needs of farming sector Solar Energy can be used and for that solar panels should be set up jointly in the villages to cater to the energy requirements of the farmers.
There is a need to invest in developing infrastructure of agricultural supply chain. Moreover, the government has emphasized on increasing investments of private sector in marketing, transportation and Storage Facility of fast degradable agricultural products.
The private sector should also come forward and invest in creating agriculture assets. They can use it on a built operate transfer basis.
At the same time greater emphasis has to be laid on research infrastructure by establishing a number of new institutes, national research centers for several crops and Livestock to address the local problems and come out with site specific solutions.
To conclude, infrastructure potentially can influence rural economic performance through three ways. These are

Individual development by the increased use of existing resources-land, labor, capital, etc.
Bringing additional resources to rural areas and
Socio-economic development by creating assets and making rural economies more productive.

I Suvrathan, Secretary in the ministry of Food Processing has rightly said, “ Opportunities given to farmers to run post harvest facilities all by themselves in a professional way will empower them, as farmers can hold on to their harvest more than 24 hours and have a say in fixing price for their produce.

BharatNet Programme of India for Rural Connectivity

BharatNet focuses on bringing high-speed broadband connectivity to rural India. In collaboration with Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), the Government has taken a step forward to connect nearly 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats.
BharatNet for various e-Government services like tele-medicine, tele-education, e-Health, and e-Entertainment, etc. the project is meant to create local employment opportunities and drive socio-economic growth in the area.

SERVICES THROUGHT BHARATNET

Connectivity of Gram Panchayat level offices like schools, panchayat offices, post offices etc
Services like certificates, telehealth, e-Education, agriculture information etc. to rural population
Help in reducing the digital divide across socio-economic strata
Learning & employment opportunities for rural youth

Benefits: Majority of Indians live in rural areas and therefor the initiative will serve as a backbone for transforming India into a digitally empowered knowledge economy, by ensuring internet service to one and all

Government Programmes towards Rural Infrastructure

Government of India continued to implement specific infrastructure strengthening programmes in sectors like irrigation, rural electrification, rural connectivity and rural drinking water supply.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA):

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, aiming at ensuring 100 days’ guaranteed employment for every rural household in a financial year – has put a major emphasis on creation of durable community assets as well as social and economic infrastructure in rural areas.
Since its inception, in September 2005, the program has been instrumental in enhancement of rural livelihood opportunities on a sustained basis, by developing need-based rural infrastructures

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and Rural Roads

Rural Road Connectivity is not only a key component of Rural Development by promoting access to economic and social services and thereby generating increased agricultural incomes and productive employment opportunities in India, it is also as a result, a key ingredient in ensuring sustainable poverty reduction. Notwithstanding the efforts made, over the years, at the State and Central levels, through different Programmes, about 40% of the Habitations in the country are still not connected by All-weather roads.
It is well known that even where connectivity has been provided, the roads constructed are of such quality (due to poor construction or maintenance) that they cannot always be categorised as All-weather roads.
With a view to redressing the situation, Government have launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana on 25th December, 2000 to provide all-weather access to unconnected habitations.
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme. 50% of the Cess on High Speed Diesel (HSD) is earmarked for this Programme.

PMGSY Programme Objectives

The primary objective of the PMGSY is to provide Connectivity, by way of an All-weather Road (with necessary culverts and cross-drainage structures, which is operable throughout the year), to the eligible unconnected Habitations in the rural areas, in such a way that all Unconnected Habitations with a population of 1000 persons and above are covered in three years (2000-2003) and all Unconnected Habitations with a population of 500 persons and above by the end of the Tenth Plan Period (2007).
In respect of the Hill States (North-East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal) and the Desert Areas (as identified in the Desert Development Programme) as well as the Tribal (Schedule V) areas, the objective would be to connect Habitations with a population of 250 persons and above.
The PMGSY will permit the Upgradation (to prescribed standards) of the existing roads in those Districts where all the eligible Habitations of the designated population size have been provided all-weather road connectivity.

Rural infrastructure key to Inclusive Growth

The recurrent theme of public discourse during the last one decade has been ‘inclusive growth.’ Inclusive growth is essential for social and economic Equity. Since India’s majority of people live in villages, it is easily seen that rural infrastructure is a major component for ensuring inclusive growth.
Development of Infrastructure envisages creation of values through engineering consultancy.
Rural development entails structural changes in the socio-economic situation to achieve improved living standard of low-income population and making the process of their development self sustained. It includes economic development with close integration among various sections and sectors; and economic growth, specifically of the rural poor.
In fact, it requires area based development as well as beneficiary oriented programmes. No wonder, rural development is one of the main and important tasks of development Planning in India.
Development of rural areas is slow due to improper and inadequate provision of infrastructure with compare to urban areas. That’s why rural share in GDP is always less. The planning and development of human settlements and provision of required infrastructure are much better in urban areas.
Rural population migrates to urban cities for employment opportunities and better facilities. Besides, the limited capacity of rural economy to accommodate the increasing population sends the labour force as surplus to migrate large cities.
There is then a need to encourage reverse Migration to rural areas through proper development of rural infrastructure and basic amenities by creation of income generation avenues and improving the quality of life Rural infrastructure is not only a key component of rural development but also an important ingredient in ensuring any sustainable poverty reduction programme.
The proper development of infrastructure in rural areas improves rural economy and quality of life. It promotes better productivity, increased agricultural income.

Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, such as roads, bridges, buildings, Airports, Dams, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

Infrastructure is essential for the development and growth of rural areas. It provides the foundation for economic activity, transportation, communication, and other essential services. Without adequate infrastructure, rural areas will struggle to attract businesses and residents, and their residents will face challenges in accessing basic necessities.

There are a number of challenges to developing and maintaining infrastructure in rural areas. One challenge is the low population density in rural areas. This makes it difficult to justify the cost of infrastructure projects, which can be expensive to build and maintain. Another challenge is the lack of access to capital. Rural areas often have fewer banks and other financial institutions, which makes it difficult for businesses and residents to obtain loans for infrastructure projects.

Despite these challenges, there are a number of things that can be done to improve infrastructure in rural areas. One important step is to invest in public-private partnerships. These partnerships can help to leverage private sector resources to finance and build infrastructure projects. Another important step is to improve access to capital. This can be done by working with banks and other financial institutions to develop programs that make it easier for businesses and residents in rural areas to obtain loans.

Investing in infrastructure is essential for the development and growth of rural areas. By addressing the challenges of low population density and lack of access to capital, we can improve the quality of life for rural residents and attract businesses to rural areas.

Here are some specific examples of how infrastructure can improve the quality of life in rural areas:

Transportation: Adequate transportation infrastructure can help to connect rural areas to urban centers and other markets. This can improve access to jobs, education, and healthcare.
Water and sanitation: Access to clean water and sanitation is essential for public health. Adequate water and sanitation infrastructure can help to prevent the spread of disease and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Energy: Reliable energy infrastructure is essential for businesses and residents in rural areas. Adequate energy infrastructure can help to attract businesses to rural areas and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Housing: Affordable housing is essential for rural residents. Adequate housing infrastructure can help to attract businesses to rural areas and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Education: Access to quality education is essential for rural residents. Adequate education infrastructure can help to improve the quality of life for rural residents and attract businesses to rural areas.
Healthcare: Access to quality healthcare is essential for rural residents. Adequate healthcare infrastructure can help to improve the quality of life for rural residents and attract businesses to rural areas.
Public safety: Adequate public safety infrastructure is essential for rural residents. Adequate public safety infrastructure can help to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Libraries: Libraries provide access to information and resources that can help rural residents improve their lives. Adequate library infrastructure can help to improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Parks and recreation: Parks and recreation facilities provide opportunities for rural residents to enjoy the outdoors and connect with their community. Adequate parks and recreation infrastructure can help to improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Government: Adequate government infrastructure can help to provide essential services to rural residents. Adequate government infrastructure can help to improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Business: Adequate business infrastructure can help to attract businesses to rural areas and create jobs. Adequate business infrastructure can help to improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Environment: Adequate environmental infrastructure can help to protect the environment and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Adequate environmental infrastructure can help to attract businesses to rural areas and create jobs.
Social services: Adequate social services can help to meet the needs of rural residents. Adequate social services can help to improve the quality of life for rural residents.

In conclusion, infrastructure is essential for the development and growth of rural areas. By addressing the challenges of low population density and lack of access to capital, we can improve the quality of life for rural residents and attract businesses to rural areas.

What is infrastructure?

Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, such as roads, bridges, water supply, sewers, electrical grids, telecommunications, and transportation systems.

What are the different types of infrastructure?

There are many different types of infrastructure, but some of the most common include:

Transportation infrastructure: This includes roads, bridges, airports, and railways.
Energy infrastructure: This includes power plants, pipelines, and transmission lines.
Water infrastructure: This includes dams, reservoirs, and water treatment plants.
Sewerage infrastructure: This includes wastewater treatment plants and sewer lines.
Telecommunications infrastructure: This includes telephone lines, cable television lines, and fiber optic cables.
Information technology infrastructure: This includes computers, servers, and networks.

What are the benefits of good infrastructure?

Good infrastructure can provide many benefits, including:

Increased economic growth: Infrastructure can help to attract businesses and create jobs.
Improved quality of life: Infrastructure can provide access to essential services such as water, electricity, and transportation.
Reduced risk of natural disasters: Infrastructure can help to protect communities from natural disasters such as floods, Earthquakes, and hurricanes.
Increased national security: Infrastructure can help to protect a country from attack.

What are the challenges of infrastructure development?

Infrastructure development can be challenging for a number of reasons, including:

Cost: Infrastructure projects can be very expensive to build and maintain.
Complexity: Infrastructure projects can be complex and require a lot of planning and coordination.
Regulation: Infrastructure projects are often subject to a lot of regulation, which can slow down the development process.
Public opposition: Infrastructure projects can sometimes face public opposition, which can make it difficult to get them approved.

What are some examples of successful infrastructure projects?

Some examples of successful infrastructure projects include:

The Hoover Dam: The Hoover Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Colorado River that was completed in 1936. It is one of the largest dams in the world and provides water and electricity to millions of people.
The Panama Canal: The Panama Canal is a canal that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It was completed in 1914 and is one of the most important shipping routes in the world.
The Channel Tunnel: The Channel Tunnel is a railway tunnel that connects England and France. It was completed in 1994 and is the longest underwater tunnel in the world.
The Great Wall of China: The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications that was built over many centuries to protect China from invaders. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.

What are some examples of failed infrastructure projects?

Some examples of failed infrastructure projects include:

The Big Dig: The Big Dig was a highway project in Boston that was completed in 2007. It was one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in history and was plagued by delays and cost overruns.
The Eurotunnel: The Eurotunnel is a railway tunnel that connects England and France. It was completed in 1994 and was the first underwater tunnel to connect two continents. However, it has been plagued by financial problems and has not been as successful as expected.
The Millennium Dome: The Millennium Dome was a large dome that was built in London for the Millennium celebrations in 2000. It was supposed to be a major tourist attraction, but it was a financial failure and closed in 2003.
The Concorde: The Concorde was a supersonic passenger jet that was in service from 1976 to 2003. It was the fastest commercial aircraft in the world, but it was also very expensive to operate and was not profitable.

What are the future trends in infrastructure development?

The future of infrastructure development is likely to be shaped by a number of trends, including:

The increasing demand for infrastructure: The world’s population is growing and Urbanization is increasing, which is putting a strain on infrastructure.
The need for sustainable infrastructure: Infrastructure needs to be built in a way that is sustainable and does not damage the environment.
The use of new technologies: New technologies such as 3D printing and Artificial Intelligence are being used to build infrastructure more efficiently and effectively.
The need for public-private partnerships: Public-private partnerships are becoming more common as governments look for ways to finance infrastructure projects.

Question 1

Which of the following is not a type of infrastructure?

(A) Transportation
(B) Education
(C) Healthcare
(D) Agriculture

Answer
(D) Agriculture is not a type of infrastructure. Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. Transportation, education, and healthcare are all types of infrastructure.

Question 2

Which of the following is the most important type of infrastructure?

(A) Transportation
(B) Education
(C) Healthcare
(D) All of the above

Answer
(D) All of the above are important types of infrastructure. Transportation is important for moving people and goods around. Education is important for developing the skills of the workforce. Healthcare is important for keeping people healthy.

Question 3

Which of the following is the best way to improve infrastructure?

(A) Increase taxes
(B) Borrow Money
(C) Cut spending in other areas
(D) All of the above

Answer
(D) All of the above are ways to improve infrastructure. Increasing taxes can raise revenue that can be used to fund infrastructure projects. Borrowing money can also be used to fund infrastructure projects, but it is important to make sure that the debt is manageable. Cutting spending in other areas can free up money that can be used to fund infrastructure projects.

Question 4

What are the benefits of having good infrastructure?

(A) Increased economic growth
(B) Improved quality of life
(C) Reduced crime rates
(D) All of the above

Answer
(D) All of the above are benefits of having good infrastructure. Increased economic growth is possible because businesses can operate more efficiently when they have access to good infrastructure. Improved quality of life is possible because people have access to better transportation, education, and healthcare. Reduced crime rates are possible because people are less likely to commit crimes when they have access to good jobs and opportunities.

Question 5

What are the challenges of improving infrastructure?

(A) Cost
(B) Corruption
(C) Lack of political will
(D) All of the above

Answer
(D) All of the above are challenges of improving infrastructure. Cost is a major challenge because infrastructure projects can be very expensive. Corruption can be a challenge because it can lead to waste and inefficiency in infrastructure projects. Lack of political will can be a challenge because politicians may not be willing to invest in infrastructure projects.