The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) was launched in 1978 with the aim of providing employment opportunities and improving living conditions for rural families below the poverty line. It provides subsidies and loans to target groups for self-employment opportunities. Beneficiaries include small farmers, laborers, artisans, and scheduled castes/tribes with annual income below Rs. 11,000. Implementation is done through District Rural Development Agencies at the district level and block staff at local levels, with oversight from state and central government bodies. The program funds projects in key areas like basic services, behavior change communication, safe drinking water, and building capacity of local governments.

1. Integrated Rural Development
Program:- Integrated Rural Development Programme
(IRDP)!
IRDP is described officially as a major mechanism for the
alleviation of rural poverty. The main objective of IRDP is to raise
families of identified target group below poverty line by creation of
sustainable opportunities for self-employment in the rural sector.
Assistance is given in the form of subsidy by the government and
term credit advanced by financial institutions (commercial banks,
cooperatives and regional rural banks.) The programme is
implemented in all blocks of the country as centrally sponsored
scheme funded on 50:50 basis by the centre and the states.
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The target group under IRDP consists of small and marginal
farmers, agricultural labourers and rural artisans having annual in-
come below Rs. 11,000 defined as poverty line in the Eighth Plan. In
order to ensure that benefits under the programme reach the more
vulnerable sectors of the society, it is stipulated that at least 50 per
cent of assisted families should be from scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes with corresponding flow of resources to them.
Furthermore, 40 per cent of the coverage should be of women
beneficiaries and 3 per cent of handicapped persons.
The programme is implemented through District Rural Develop-
ment Agencies (DRDAs). The governing body of DRDA includes
local MP, MLA, Chairman of Zila Parishad, and heads of district
development departments, representatives of SCs, STs and women.

2. At the grassroot level, the block staff is responsible for
implementation of the programme. The State Level Coordination
Committee (SLCC) monitors the programme at state level whereas
the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment is responsible for the
release of central share of funds, policy formation, overall guidance,
monitoring and evaluation of the programme.
For providing employment opportunities to the poor the Integrated Rural
Development Program had been launched. Besides providing the necessary
subsidies to people below poverty line, this scheme also helps them to enhance their
living standards.
The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) was launched by the
Government of India during 1978 and implemented during 1980. The aim of the
program is to provide employment opportunities to the poor as well as opportunities
to develop their skill sets so as to improve their living conditions. The program is
considered one of the best yojanas to do away with poverty related problems by
offering those who fell below the poverty line the necessary subsidies in tandem with
employment opportunities.
Objective of IRDP
The objective of Integrated Rural Development Program is to help families who live
below the poverty line to enhance their state of living and to empower the poor by
helping them develop at every level. The program’s objectives are met by providing
productive assets and inputs to its target groups. The assets, which could be in the
primary, secondary or tertiary sector are provided as financial assistance to these
families in the form of government subsidies as well as loans or credit from financial
institutions.
Beneficiaries of the Integrated Rural Development
Program
The beneficiaries of this program are as follows:
 Rural artisans
 Labourers

3.  Marginal Farmers
 Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
 Economically backward classes with an annual income of less that Rs 11,000
Subsidies provided under IRDP
Subsidies are provided to the following people as follows:
 Small farmers (25%)
 Marginal farmers and Agricultural labourers (33.33%)
 SC/ST families and differently abled people (50%)
The maximum amount of subsidy amount has been fixed at Rs 6,000 for SC/ST
families and differently abled people, Rs 4,000 for non DPAP and non DDP localities
and Rs 5,000 for DPAP and DDP localities.
From this group SC/ST candidates, women and differently abled people are
guaranteed subsidies of 50%, 40% and 30% respectively. First priority is also given
to those among this group who have been assigned the ceiling surplus land while the
Green card holders who fall under the category of free bonded labourers and family
welfare programmes are also given first priority.
Implementation of IRDP
The Integrated Rural Development Program is implemented through the
following agencies:
 District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs)
 Block staff at the grassroot level
 State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) at state level
 Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment (who are responsible for the release
of funds, formation of policies, programme evaluation, monitoring and
guidance)
Integrated Rural Development Program Funding
The Integrated Rural Development Program is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
funded on a 50:50 basis by the centre and the states. The scheme has been in
operation in all the blocks of the country since the year 1980. Under this scheme

4. Central funds are allocated to states on the basis of proportion of rural poor in a state
to the total rural poor in the country.
Assistance is given in the form of subsidies by the government and term credit
advanced by financial institutions, such as commercial banks, cooperatives and
regional rural banks.
Mewat region is one of the most backward areas of the country. It lags behind in almost all socio-economic
and development parametres. It has low levels of literacy, employment, population control, infant and
maternal mortality, maternal health and malnutrition. Women suffer from discrimination and are not given
enough opportunity to assert themselves.
The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) run by Sukarya, contributes to creating a model or
ideal village that has refined socio-economic conditions and then, replicating the success in other far-
reaching areas.
The adage, “India lives in its villages” guides this integrated intervention that aims to improve maternal
and child health, nutrition of infants and children and overall hygiene and sanitation. It reaches out to rural
women with a view to empower them by enhancing their livelihood options. Building capacities of youth
and community members, it links them to government schemes and services such as NRHM, JSY, NRLM,
PMJDY, SJGSY, IRDP, PMAGY, SBA, health and ICDS. Regular training, IEC and BCC activities and
other campaigns help improve knowledge and awareness levels while promoting healthy behaviours and
practices.
With a focus on women, children and youth, the first project was implemented in Mangar village,
Faridabad district, with the help of the Bird Group in the year 2011. The success of this project (design and
model) was replicated in the three remote and underdeveloped villages of Neemli, Palasli and Lapala of
Tijara block in district Alwar of Rajasthan in December 2015 for a period of three years. The total
population covered under the IRDP programme was approximately 15,000. During this period, several
activities were rolled out. While some were one-off events, most were regular and ongoing interventions.
Health clinics were organised with few coinciding with the government Routine Immunization camps.
Health awareness sessions were held with different groups, commemorating special days. Home visits and
patient follow-up by Community Health Workers helped take up issues related to nutrition, sanitation,
hygiene and immunization. Village level committees were set up to drive home key messages. Women
self help groups were formed and strengthened with guidance on skill-based trainings and income
generation /livelihood activities. Youth were reached out through vocational centres (Computer and
English classes), training on life skills and personality development, setting up of youth clubs and
developing the cadre of youth volunteers. Training and capacity building sessions for PRIs and
government frontline workers was also taken up.
Broadly, the IRDP intervention is categorised into four thematic areas:
Focus area 1: Basic primary services
These basic primary services are being provided through health clinics and setting up of vocational training
centres that impart computer and English classes along with life skills for the youth. It also entails forming
and strengthening SHGs, providing skill-based training to rural women and promoting income generation
activities for them.
Focus area 2: Behaviour Change Communication
Awareness and sensitisation of the community is an ongoing process that creates greater awareness and
proactive action towards maternal and child health, preventive measures for health, nutrition, hygiene and

5. sanitation. Regular campaigns against open defecation, taking up of gender related issues and
environmental concerns are other domains where continuous advocacy is undertaken.
Focus area 3: Safe drinking water
Helping communities make the connect between safe drinking water and health, Sukarya has dedicated
itself to providing safe drinking water in Government schools, ensuring regular water supply to girl’s
toilets and for the purpose of community drinking in the village.
Focus area 4: Capacity building of PRIs
Efforts are being made to link government schemes such as the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),
Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY), Swarna Jayanti Gram SwarozgarYojna (SJGSY), Pradhan Mantri Aadarsh
Gram Yojna (PMAGY), School Based Assessment (SBA) and Integrated Child Development Scheme
(ICDS), amongst others to the community. Formation and activation of village level committees like the
Village Health and Sanitation committee, Village Education committee and Village Environment
committee are also a step in this direction.
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