Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)

What is IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Program)?

The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) was implemented in 1980 to provide employment opportunities for impoverished individuals. The program offers them necessary subsidies and also helps improve their living standard.

Through IRDP, disadvantaged individuals are given opportunities to work and enhance their skill sets. This program is widely recognised as one of the most effective ways to address poverty-related concerns by offering crucial subsidies and job opportunities to people who are struggling financially. 

Overall, the IRDP is designed to provide necessary resources and assistance to help the underprivileged attain economic stability and improve their quality of life.
 

IRDP Scheme Overview – Objectives of IRDP

The features of IRDP are as follows.

●    To enhance the quality of life for the rural community by offering sustainable job opportunities.
●    Boosting the output of agriculture and small-scale rural industries.

These objectives are accomplished by providing the rural population with productive resources from the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. This support comes in the form of government subsidies or loans from IRDP and other financial institutions.

Beneficiaries Under Integrated Rural Development Program

While IRDP targets all impoverished rural regions within the block, its beneficiaries can be categorised into the following groups.

●    Artists from the rural areas
●    Labourers
●    Farmers on the margins
●    Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
●    Low-income classes whose yearly incomes are less than Rs 11,000
 

Subsidies Provided Under IRDP

To provide financial assistance, subsidies, loans, or credits are offered to the targeted population through various government-approved financial institutions. Subsidies are granted based on the specific requirements of each target group, and their allocation is carried out according to the following guidelines.

●    The initial target group of small farmers is entitled to a 25% subsidy from financial institutions.
●    The second target group, consisting of marginal farmers, rural craftsmen, and agricultural labourers, is eligible for a subsidy of 33.5 per cent.
●    Lastly, the SC/ST and physically handicapped groups receive a subsidy of 50% from these financial institutions.

The maximum subsidy limit for SC/ST and differently-abled groups has been set at Rs 6000. Currently, localities covered under Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP) areas will receive a subsidy of Rs 5000 while the non-DPAP and non-DDP get Rs 4000.

SC/ST, women, and differently-abled individuals are assured of receiving 50%, 40%, and 3% subsidies, respectively. Priority is given to those in the group with assigned ceiling surplus land, and Green card holders are categorised as free bonded labourers and participants in family welfare programs.
 

Implementation of IRDP

The following agencies are involved in implementing the Integrated Rural Development Program.

●    District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs)
●    State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) at the state level
●    Block staff at the grassroots level
●    Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment (who are accountable for disbursing funds, creating policies, assessing programs, overseeing progress, and providing direction)
 

Eligibility of Integrated Rural Development Program

The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) is co-supported equally by both central and state governments. The states receive funding from the central government based on the percentage of the rural poor population in their state compared to the total rural poor population across the country. This practice has been followed in all Indian states since 1980. 

Additionally, cooperatives, commercial banks, and regional rural banks provide productive financial assets and subsidies.
 

Applying for IRDP

The Housing Scheme and similar initiatives were usually launched in small sections and gradually expanded each year, resulting in inconsistent implementation and limited results. In contrast, when the IRDP was introduced in 1980, it covered the entire country, ensuring consistency and effectiveness in its operation.

This consistency enabled the identification of various sections of society needing support with greater accuracy. The precise targeting of specific groups ensured that the rural development programs implemented under the IRDP had a more focused impact. The government adopted a more cohesive approach to tackle these challenges nationally.

This involves selecting disadvantaged households and working with them to create a suitable plan based on their input. Two-thirds of the resources are gathered from cooperative and commercial banks, and the plan is submitted to the state government's SLCC for approval under the IRDP. After approval, a three-person committee is established to develop plans for each block, ensuring consistency across all plans.

How is the Funding for IRDP done?

The Integrated Rural Development Program receives equal financial support from the federal government and the states. It has been operational in all of the country's blocks since 1980. The program allocates central funds to states based on the proportion of rural poor in each state relative to the national rural poverty level. Government subsidies are given, while financial institutions like commercial banks, cooperatives, and regional rural banks provide term credit.