In India, out of total population of 121 crores, 83.3 crores live in rural areas (Census of India,
2011). Thus, nearly 70 per cent of the India’s population lives in rural areas. These rural
populations can be characterised by mass poverty, low levels of literacy and income, high level
of unemployment, and poor nutrition and health status. In order to tackle these specific problems,
a number of rural development programmes are being implemented to create opportunities for
improvement of the quality of life of these rural people.