Rakesh Kaul

Gramonnati

India is among the youngest countries in the world with a median age of 29 years by 2020 (50% Indians are less than 25 years in age). This is potentially an enormous demographic dividend in a world that is rapidly aging. To this, we could add the fact that 68% of India lives in its villages, and that they need to develop at a much faster rate for India to be truly and sustainably developed in coming decades. Rural development, with an aim of boosting rural economy and generation of employment locally in villages is already one of the most critical areas identified by the Government at all levels. Numerous policies and programs are being implemented with varying degrees of success.