What types of infrastructure facilities are used in economic and social development of rural India?

The prosperity of a Rural India depends directly upon the development of agriculture and industry.  Agricultural production, however, requires power, credit, transport facilities, etc.  Industrial production requires not only machinery & equipment but also skilled man-power, management, energy, banking facilities, marketing facilities, transport services which include railways, roads, shipping, communication facilities, etc. All these facilities and services constitute collectively the infrastructure of an economy and the development and expansion of these facilities are an essential pre-condition for increasing agricultural & industrial production in a rural area.

Types of Infrastructural facilities—often referred towards economic and social development of rural India:

1.  Energy: The most important single factor which can act constraint on economic growth of a country is the availability of energy.  There is a direct correlation between the degree of economic growth, the size of per capita income and per capita consumption of energy.  Since energy is an essential input of all productive economic activity, the process of economic development inevitably demands increasing higher levels of energy consumption.  There are broadly two sources of energy commercial energy & non-commercial energy.  Following are the various commercial energy:- coal & lignite, Oil & gas, Hydro-electric resource, Uranium.  & non-commercial energy are Fuelwood, Agricultural wastes, Animal dung.

2.   Power:  Electric power, which is one form of energy, is an essential ingredient of economic development and, it is required for commercial and non-commercial uses.  Commercial uses of power refer to the use of electric power in industries, agriculture and transport.  Non-commercial uses include electric power required for domestic lighting, cooking, use of mechanical gadgets like the refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.  With the growth of population and with the increase in the use of modern gadgets in daily life, it is quite natural that the demand for electricity for domestic use should grow at a fast rate.

3. Transport: If agriculture and industry are regarded as the body and the bones of the economy, which help the circulation of men and materials.  The transport system helps to broaden the market for goods and by doing so, it makes possible large-scale production through division of labour.  It is also essential for the movement of raw materials, fuel, machinery etc., to the places of production.  The more extensive and continuous the production in any branch of activity the greater will be the need for transport facilities.  Transport development helps to open up remote regions and resources for production.  Regions may have abundant agricultural, forest and mineral resources but they cannot be developed if they continue to be remote and inaccessible.

Modes of transport & communication facilities:

Indian Railways: The most important form of transport system in India is the

      Indian railways, which is also the country’s largest single undertaking with a capital investment of around Rs. 15,000 crores. In 1950-51, railway route length was 53,600 kms but by 1990-91 it had increased to nearly 62,400 kms-an increase at the rate of 0.4 percent per annum.

      Roads & Road Transport: Road transport plays an important role in rural economy of country, since it is most suitable for short distances. It has also the advantage of door-to-door service, flexibility, speed and reliability.  The utility of other modes of transport such as railways, internal waterways, ports, etc. increase when linked to the road transport system. Road construction and maintenance generate sizeable employment opportunities—factor of great importance in the context of growing population and growing unemployment in the country.  The rural road network now connects about 70 percent of our villages.

      Inland water transport:  Inland water transport is the cheapest mode of transport, for both long and short distances, so far as the points of origin and destination of traffic are concerned. It is cheap as energy consumption is low.  India has over 14,500 kms. Of navigable inland waterways comprising a variety of river systems, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.

4.   Communications: The communication system comprises posts and telegraphs, telecommunication system, broad casting, television and information services. By providing necessary information about the markets and also supplying necessary motivation, the communication system helps to bring buyers and sellers together effectively and helps to accelerate the growth of the economy.