The government of India is deeply concerned about meeting the fundamental needs and necessities of the citizens. In order to guarantee everything that is necessary for survival, the government keeps on launching new initiatives to help the most vulnerable sections of the society. One such program is the Integrated Rural Development Program that aims at the self-employment of the rural poor section.
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What is Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP)?
Integrated Rural Development Program was an initiative by the government of India, launched in 1978 and implemented in 1980. This scheme aims to provide rural people the opportunity to upskill and expand employment opportunities for them to enhance their standard of living. It is a comprehensive strategy for rural development. Basic necessities such as clean drinking water, education, healthcare etc are covered under this program. Through methods like subsidies and loans, all these targets were aimed to achieve.
Central and state governments with the ratio of 50:50 invest their funds to make this scheme valuable for the targeted section. Approximately more than 50 million people are covered under the IRDP scheme and per person spending of the government stands at 13,700.
Earlier in 1999, this scheme was discontinued and merged with 5 other rural development programs in India to collectively establish one program “swarnJayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana”.
Objectives of IRDP
- By offering sustainable job opportunities this scheme aims to enhance the living standard of below poverty line population.
- To uplift the scale of rural industry and improve agricultural production.
- Make income generating assets available for the beneficiaries.
- Provides long-run employment opportunities to help groups cross the poverty line and establish a stable livelihood like MGNREGA scheme
Subsidies provided under IRDP
IRDP provides subsidies to various targeted sections and groups in the society depending on the needs. Providing subsidy is amongst the most prominent methods in order to facilitate financial aid to the deprived sections. Following are the conditions under which subsidies are provided to groups.
| No. of targeted groups | Beneficiaries | Max subsidy limit | Subsidy percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| First target group | Small Farmers- Financial institutions such as banks provide subsidies to farmers who fall under the first group. | ₹4000 | 25% |
| Second target group | Marginal farmers, agricultural laborers and artisans can avail subsidy. | ₹4000 | 33.5% |
| Third target group | SCs, STs, women and differently abled people can avail subsidy under this group | ₹6000 | 50% |
Who is eligible for IRDP?
For rural development in India, the central and state government made a joint initiative to accumulate funds in a 50:50 funding arrangement. The central government allocates funds to all the states depending on the rural population in their state compared to the total rural population in India.
To be eligible for the same, one must:
- Be below the poverty line (BPL)
- Should be pursuing studies, at least in class 9 or in any university, both being aided to government.
How to apply for IRDP?
Following is a detailed list of step-by-step instructions on how to apply for Integrated Rural Development scheme:
Documents required
- Certificate from the Competent Authority for Belonging to IRDP/BPL Families.
- Passport Size Photograph.
- Aadhaar Card
- Previous Year Result Card.
- Latest Bank Statement of the Student.
Steps to apply for IRDP
- Go to the official website: Visit the official website of IRDP.
- Register yourself: By clicking on the “New Registration” register yourself on the website to start the process
- Fill in details: Cautiously fill in all the required details such as applicant’s name, date of birth, mobile number, email ID, state of domicile, scholarship category and gender, scheme type.
- Bank details: Enter all the asked bank details and then select either your Aadhaar card number or else your bank number as an identification proof.
- Verification: By entering the OTP delivered on the registered number, verify your mobile number.
- Fill the form: Fill in the entire form with relevant details, make sure to recheck the same before submitting.
- Generate unique ID and password: after completion of the form, you will receive an unique ID and password for further processing.
- Upload documents: In the next step, you will be asked to upload documents such as proof of identity, address, income, caste, and land records. After uploading all the documents, submit your application.
- Tracking: Once submitted, you can track the progress of your application through the same website.
