ABSTRACT

 India has around 80 percent (census 2011) of the population living in the rural areas, with low levels of per capita income, there is need to impart greater attention in improving rural infrastructure. Infrastructure is regarded as a major indicator of the growth of any nation as it provides the economic and sociological strength to the country. Infrastructure sector has a number of backward-forward linkages with the agricultural and the industrial sectors and therefore, the development of this sector is a prerequisite for the development of the economy. To address the issue of rural infrastructure, Bharat Nirman programme was launched by the Government during the year 2005-09 as a time bound programme to boost rural infrastructure in order to alleviate poverty and provide employment to people. The paper mainly focuses on progress of rural infrastructure under Bharat Nirman and puts forth suggestions for improvement and expedition of rural infrastructure to ensure inclusive growth.