Tamil Nadu being a welfare State, the purposeful endeavours of the Government are aimed at the Social, Economic and Political upliftment of the people in the rural areas. Rural Development aims at improving the rural lives with the participation of the rural masses. The concept of Rural Development targets the Social and Economic development of the rural areas. Rural Development in Tamil Nadu is concerned with the Economic Growth, Social Justice and Improvement in the living standards of the rural people, by deploying an efficient delivery mechanism to provide adequate quality services and essential minimum needs.The primary objective of the Government is the provision of basic infrastructure facilities and social services in the rural areas and assistance to the individual families and Self Help Groups, living below the poverty line. Elimination of poverty and delivery of high quality services are the basic premises upon which the planning of Rural Development is based and concerted efforts of this Government have improved the living standards and set the benchmark for the quality of rural lives.
The Government of Tamil Nadu is committed to the Socio-Economic development of the people living in rural areas. As per the 2011 Census, in Tamil Nadu about 51.55 percent of the people, numbering 3.72 crores are living in rural areas. Since majority of the State population live in rural areas, and Tamil Nadu being a welfare state, more thrust is given to the development of rural areas, directly impacting its economic growth, deliverance of social justice and improvement in standard of living of the people, focusing on poverty alleviation, provision of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities as its stated objectives and goals. These goals will be achieved through effective implementation of various well conceived development programmes with the active participation of Panchayat Raj Institutions.
The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj is responsible for the implementation of various rural development and welfare schemes and facilitates Panchayat Raj Institutions to discharge their duties and functions effectively so as to achieve the objectives of Local Self Governance. This Government is committed to provide all the basic amenities in the rural areas at the habitation level, promote sanitation, reduce poverty, conserve the natural resources, minimize the urban-rural divide and ensure improvement in the quality of life of the rural people of Tamil Nadu.
