Policy initiatives for strengthening rural economic development in India: Case studies from Madhya Pradesh and Orissa

摘要

The purpose of this publication is to present the findings of research concerned with improved understanding and appropriate policy development for the rural non-farm economy (RNFE) in India. The research was undertaken by the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) in collaboration with local partners1; with funding from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) under a collaborative agreement with the World Bank. The two Indian states selected for analysis were Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. Research objectives of this study sought to inform policy on two interrelated topics: 1) sources of farm and non-farm income in rural households; barriers to uptake of non-farm employment; and opportunities which can be translated into policy recommendations; 2) the effect of local governance on the development of the RNFE in particular and rural development in general; and the opportunities for making local governments more responsive to local needs.