Original Passage (CSS 1983): Rural development lies at the heart of any meaningful development strategy. This is the only mechanism to carry the message to the majority of the people and to obtain their involvement in measures designed to improve productivity levels. Rural population exceeds 70 percent of the total population of the country, despite a rapid rate of urbanization. Average rural income is 34 percent less than per capita urban income. A large part of under employment is still concealed in various rural activities particularly in the less developed parts of the country. For centuries, the true magnitude of poverty has been concealed from view by pushing a large part of it to the rural areas. This set in motion a self-perpetuating mechanism. The more enterprising and talented in the rural society migrated to the cities in search of dreams which were seldom realized. Such migrants added to urban squalor. The relatively more prosperous in the rural society opted for urban residence for different reasons. The rural society itself has in this way systematically been denuded of its more enterprising elements, as rural areas developed the character of a huge and sprawling slum. Development in the past has touched rural scene mainly via agricultural development programmes. These are essential and would have to be intensified. Much more important is a large scale expansion of physical and social infrastructure on the village scene. These included rural roads, rural water supply and village electrification as a part of the change in the physical environment and primary education and primary health care as the agents of social change. The task is to provide modern amenities as an aid for bringing into motion the internal dynamics of the rural society on a path leading to increase in productivity and self-help, changing the overall surrounding, while preserving coherence, integrated structure and the rich cultural heritage of the rural society.

Precis: To increase overall productivity, rural development must be the top priority of every development initiative. It is necessary because, despite housing the 70 percent of the population, the contribution of rural areas to the economy is very less. Due to the underemployment, the talented villagers migrated to cities; however, it didn’t bring fruitful results. Similarly, the affluent villagers settled in cities but it resulted in further deterioration of rural areas. Therefore, rural development is imperative for increasing productivity and overall prosperity of the country. And instead of focusing only on the agricultural sector, the rural areas must be equipped with modern facilities for better results.

Title: Importance of rural development