Rural India is undergoing a sweeping transformation. The narratives vary from rural resurgence and expanding consumption to conflicts, poverty and distress. In this complex and multi-layered context, the India Rural Development Report 2013| 13 delves into various aspects of rural development. The Report is unique in that it provides a comprehensive current picture of rural India and brings together into a single compilation a review and analysis of the:

• evolving rural economy and its implications on social relations;
• contours of regional inequality, social and economic deprivation;
• inequalities in access to education, healthcare and physical infrastructure;
• changing nature of livelihoods with commercialisation and smallholder farms and growing non-farm opportunities;
• sustainability of natural resources, so critical to rural livelihoods, and the conflicts over resources; and
• changing role of the state and local self-governance.

The Report also reviews all major central government rural programmes and schemes and, in particular, provides an in-depth assessment of the flagship rural employment guarantee programme, MGNREGA.

The Report will be of interest because it:

• covers debates on topical issues;
• provides empirical analyses;
• synthesises literature across a spectrum of issues;
• presents inspiring stories and innovative models to show what works and what does not;
• suggests policy directions; and
• provides a comprehensive rural database.

This Report has been prepared by IDFC Foundation, in collaboration with network partners CESS, IRMA, IGIDR, and with contributions from other researchers, experts and civil society organisations working on the ground. It will be an invaluable resource for policymakers, state and local bodies, researchers and the private sector.

IDFC Rural Development Network