As the Indian economy enjoys a sustained positive momentum, rural India continues to be the heart of the country, accounting for 67 per cent of the total population and 37 per cent of its GDP.
Agriculture is the primary occupation of rural households and mainstay of their socio-economic structure. While the overall Indian economy is expected to grow in excess of 7 per cent – the fastest amongst large global economies – rural India still lags behind substantially.
The primary hindrance to growth in rural productivity and subsequent economic growth, is the lack of basic infrastructure such as electricity, clean water and sanitation.
