Sustainable development of rural society under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna: An appraisal study in Himachal Pradesh

The sustainable development strategy should be compatible with the local resources and socio-economic aspirations of rural people. Keeping this in view, the present investigation was undertaken during 2016–17 in Dehlan (Una), the largest village in Himachal Pradesh that has also been adopted under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna. The study is based on the data collected from 60 farm households According to census 2011, total population of this village was more than 10,000, with literacy rate of 92%. About 78% of the workers were cultivators and rest were employed in public/private services and small scale village industries. In the village about 82 per cent of the cultivated area was irrigated. Number of welfare and developmental schemes have been implemented from time to time. After the adoption under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna, this village received more attention resulting into sustainable development, more social welfare, sanitation and cleanliness. Our study shows that the interventions under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yoana have further increased the crop and livestock productivity, which consequently increased household income of the resident and brought transformation in the village economy. Therefore, there is a need to replicate the concept of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna for development of rural economy and improving the quality of life of rural people in the country.