Question

What is the state of rural infrastructure in India?

Answer 1

During the colonial rule,the British aimed at developing infrastructure to facilitate their trade affairs. At the time of independence, Indian government found lack of sound infrastructure to realise their dream of economic development and growth. Most of the infrastructural development concentrated in the urban areas. The infrastructural development in the rural areas is still very meagre as compared to the size of the rural population. The women in the rural areas are still making use of bio fuels like cow-dung and fuel wood to meet their energy needs. The census of 2001 states that only 56% of the households has electricity connection, whereas, 43% still use kerosene. About 90% of the rural households use bio fuels for cooking. Tap water is used by only 24% of the rural households and improved sanitation is available to only 20%. As the infrastructure is an essential element of economic growth, so, it becomes a need of the hour to address the problem of infrastructure. The government of India invested only small proportion of GDP on infrastructure i.e. only 5% that is lesser than that of China and Indonesia. The economists see India as the third biggest economy in the world. For that to happen, India will have to boost its infrastructure, especially rural infrastructure. This will not only promote economic development of our country but also enhance economic welfare.