Kurukshetra Magazine July 2024 - 1 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


  July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Page 2


  July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
3 Kurukshetra       July  2024
A Journal on Rural Development 
Vol. 72 | No. 9 | Pages 52 | July 2024
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of 
Rural Development to all people. It serves as 
a forum for free, frank and serious discussion 
on the problems of Rural Development with 
special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the 
articles are their own. They do not necessarily 
reflect the views of the Government or the 
organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims 
in the advertisements regarding career 
guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra 
does not own responsibility. Maps used are 
for illustration & study purpose and may not 
strictly conform to the official map. Images, 
graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are 
mostly sourced from government channels 
and are indicative in nature. Final Editing 
rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 
(011-24365609); Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069 
(033-22482576) ?? Mumbai - 701, C-Wing, 7
th
 Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614 (022-27570686)  
? Chennai - ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673) ? Thiruvananthapuram - Press 
Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650) ? Hyderabad - Room No. 204, 2
nd
 Floor, C.G.O. 
Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383) ? Bengaluru - Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, 
Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244) ? Patna - Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 
(0612-2675823) ? Lucknow - Hall No. 1, 2
nd
 Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, Sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455) 
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4
th
 Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, 
Ashram Road, Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669), ? Guwahati – Assam Khadi & Village Industries Board 
Complex, PO.-Silpukhuri, Chandmari, Guwahati-781003 (0361-4083136)
CHIEF EDITOR 
Kulshrestha Kamal
SENIOR EDITOR 
Sukhchain Singh
SUB EDITOR 
Akshit Malik
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Pavanesh Kumar Bind
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,  
Publications Division,  
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,  
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 
Phone : 011-24362859  
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,  
Grievances, Renewals and Agency  
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit 
Publications Division, Room No. 779,  
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,  
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
Phone : 24367453, FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to  
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for  
e-books, please visit Google Play  
or Amazon.
Subscription 
1 Year : ` 230
Price   22 July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Contents
5 Making Lakhpati Didis
Multiple Livelihoods Show the Way
Charanjit Singh
Raman Wadhwa
11 Jugaad Innovations
Transforming Rural India
Dr. Riti Thapar Kapoor
19 Cultivating Progress
Enhancing Innovations in Rural India
Dr. Naman Agrawal
29 Adoption of Digital Technology
in Rural Areas of India
Rajiv Theodore
34 Innovations
Driver of Rural Growth and Development
Arvind Kumar Mishra
39 Rebooting Operation Flood
through Automation
Bhuwan Bhaskar
46 Rural India
Innovation for Inclusiveness
Arunlal K
Page 3


  July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
3 Kurukshetra       July  2024
A Journal on Rural Development 
Vol. 72 | No. 9 | Pages 52 | July 2024
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of 
Rural Development to all people. It serves as 
a forum for free, frank and serious discussion 
on the problems of Rural Development with 
special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the 
articles are their own. They do not necessarily 
reflect the views of the Government or the 
organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims 
in the advertisements regarding career 
guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra 
does not own responsibility. Maps used are 
for illustration & study purpose and may not 
strictly conform to the official map. Images, 
graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are 
mostly sourced from government channels 
and are indicative in nature. Final Editing 
rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 
(011-24365609); Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069 
(033-22482576) ?? Mumbai - 701, C-Wing, 7
th
 Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614 (022-27570686)  
? Chennai - ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673) ? Thiruvananthapuram - Press 
Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650) ? Hyderabad - Room No. 204, 2
nd
 Floor, C.G.O. 
Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383) ? Bengaluru - Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, 
Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244) ? Patna - Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 
(0612-2675823) ? Lucknow - Hall No. 1, 2
nd
 Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, Sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455) 
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4
th
 Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, 
Ashram Road, Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669), ? Guwahati – Assam Khadi & Village Industries Board 
Complex, PO.-Silpukhuri, Chandmari, Guwahati-781003 (0361-4083136)
CHIEF EDITOR 
Kulshrestha Kamal
SENIOR EDITOR 
Sukhchain Singh
SUB EDITOR 
Akshit Malik
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Pavanesh Kumar Bind
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,  
Publications Division,  
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,  
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 
Phone : 011-24362859  
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,  
Grievances, Renewals and Agency  
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit 
Publications Division, Room No. 779,  
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,  
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
Phone : 24367453, FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to  
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for  
e-books, please visit Google Play  
or Amazon.
Subscription 
1 Year : ` 230
Price   22 July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Contents
5 Making Lakhpati Didis
Multiple Livelihoods Show the Way
Charanjit Singh
Raman Wadhwa
11 Jugaad Innovations
Transforming Rural India
Dr. Riti Thapar Kapoor
19 Cultivating Progress
Enhancing Innovations in Rural India
Dr. Naman Agrawal
29 Adoption of Digital Technology
in Rural Areas of India
Rajiv Theodore
34 Innovations
Driver of Rural Growth and Development
Arvind Kumar Mishra
39 Rebooting Operation Flood
through Automation
Bhuwan Bhaskar
46 Rural India
Innovation for Inclusiveness
Arunlal K
4 Kurukshetra       July  2024
I
nnovation is central to the economic growth and development of any country. In the context of 
rural India, innovative approach provides new ways to solve the problems of rural people and 
create new opportunities for entrepreneurship development. 
Innovations in the form of Agri-Technology, Renewable Energy Initiatives, Digital Empowerment, 
Rural Entrepreneurship, Water Management Solutions, Education and Skill Development, 
Community-Based Tourism and Healthcare Access can alleviate the drudgery out of the lives of 
rural people and fulfill their need for a low-cost local solution to a widespread rural problem.
This issue of Kurukshetra includes articles deftly dealing with the innovations for rural India and 
how their adoption can contribute in economic growth and development of the rural population 
and the country as well. 
The Article ‘Jugaad Innovation- Transforming Rural India’ has adequately discussed about 
these frugal innovations in rural India which have really transformed the rural sectors specially 
the agriculture sector. Whereas the article ‘Adoption of digital technology in rural areas of India’ 
focuses on the role of digital India in enhancing Innovation in rural India thus making the most 
of technological progress and strengthening a number of factors including technological and civil 
infrastructure, quality education and skills training etc.
Innovative ideas in development have notably reduced the gap in equitable distribution of 
development potential between urban and rural populations. The article ‘Rural India: Innovation 
for Inclusiveness’ ponders over the impact of innovation in nurturing the Indian rural sector.
Dairy farms have undergone a radical change because of innovations in technology 
and automation in India. The article ‘Rebooting Operation Flood through Automation’ aptly 
discusses about the innovation and use of technology bringing tremendous changes in the 
Dairy sector. 
The Article ‘ Innovations: Driver of Rural Growth and Development’ explores some of the 
groundbreaking innovations in rural India which have unprecedented impact on agriculture sector 
leading to the development and growth of economy and livelihood of the rural population. 
Deviating slightly from the main theme, an article ‘Making Lakhpati Didis-Multiple livelihoods 
show the way’ focuses on successful implementation of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National 
Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) by creating Self Help Groups (SHG) and Integrated Farming 
Clusters for rural women. 
There are challenges to rural development including inadequate infrastructure, limited access 
to markets, environmental degradation, lack of education and healthcare facilities, and insufficient 
financial resources. Yet we can empower rural population, unlock their potential, and build more 
inclusive and sustainable societies by adopting technological innovation and investing in digital 
solutions.  ?
Price   22 July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Page 4


  July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
3 Kurukshetra       July  2024
A Journal on Rural Development 
Vol. 72 | No. 9 | Pages 52 | July 2024
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of 
Rural Development to all people. It serves as 
a forum for free, frank and serious discussion 
on the problems of Rural Development with 
special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the 
articles are their own. They do not necessarily 
reflect the views of the Government or the 
organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims 
in the advertisements regarding career 
guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra 
does not own responsibility. Maps used are 
for illustration & study purpose and may not 
strictly conform to the official map. Images, 
graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are 
mostly sourced from government channels 
and are indicative in nature. Final Editing 
rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 
(011-24365609); Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069 
(033-22482576) ?? Mumbai - 701, C-Wing, 7
th
 Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614 (022-27570686)  
? Chennai - ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673) ? Thiruvananthapuram - Press 
Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650) ? Hyderabad - Room No. 204, 2
nd
 Floor, C.G.O. 
Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383) ? Bengaluru - Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, 
Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244) ? Patna - Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 
(0612-2675823) ? Lucknow - Hall No. 1, 2
nd
 Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, Sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455) 
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4
th
 Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, 
Ashram Road, Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669), ? Guwahati – Assam Khadi & Village Industries Board 
Complex, PO.-Silpukhuri, Chandmari, Guwahati-781003 (0361-4083136)
CHIEF EDITOR 
Kulshrestha Kamal
SENIOR EDITOR 
Sukhchain Singh
SUB EDITOR 
Akshit Malik
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Pavanesh Kumar Bind
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,  
Publications Division,  
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,  
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 
Phone : 011-24362859  
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,  
Grievances, Renewals and Agency  
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit 
Publications Division, Room No. 779,  
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,  
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
Phone : 24367453, FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to  
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for  
e-books, please visit Google Play  
or Amazon.
Subscription 
1 Year : ` 230
Price   22 July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Contents
5 Making Lakhpati Didis
Multiple Livelihoods Show the Way
Charanjit Singh
Raman Wadhwa
11 Jugaad Innovations
Transforming Rural India
Dr. Riti Thapar Kapoor
19 Cultivating Progress
Enhancing Innovations in Rural India
Dr. Naman Agrawal
29 Adoption of Digital Technology
in Rural Areas of India
Rajiv Theodore
34 Innovations
Driver of Rural Growth and Development
Arvind Kumar Mishra
39 Rebooting Operation Flood
through Automation
Bhuwan Bhaskar
46 Rural India
Innovation for Inclusiveness
Arunlal K
4 Kurukshetra       July  2024
I
nnovation is central to the economic growth and development of any country. In the context of 
rural India, innovative approach provides new ways to solve the problems of rural people and 
create new opportunities for entrepreneurship development. 
Innovations in the form of Agri-Technology, Renewable Energy Initiatives, Digital Empowerment, 
Rural Entrepreneurship, Water Management Solutions, Education and Skill Development, 
Community-Based Tourism and Healthcare Access can alleviate the drudgery out of the lives of 
rural people and fulfill their need for a low-cost local solution to a widespread rural problem.
This issue of Kurukshetra includes articles deftly dealing with the innovations for rural India and 
how their adoption can contribute in economic growth and development of the rural population 
and the country as well. 
The Article ‘Jugaad Innovation- Transforming Rural India’ has adequately discussed about 
these frugal innovations in rural India which have really transformed the rural sectors specially 
the agriculture sector. Whereas the article ‘Adoption of digital technology in rural areas of India’ 
focuses on the role of digital India in enhancing Innovation in rural India thus making the most 
of technological progress and strengthening a number of factors including technological and civil 
infrastructure, quality education and skills training etc.
Innovative ideas in development have notably reduced the gap in equitable distribution of 
development potential between urban and rural populations. The article ‘Rural India: Innovation 
for Inclusiveness’ ponders over the impact of innovation in nurturing the Indian rural sector.
Dairy farms have undergone a radical change because of innovations in technology 
and automation in India. The article ‘Rebooting Operation Flood through Automation’ aptly 
discusses about the innovation and use of technology bringing tremendous changes in the 
Dairy sector. 
The Article ‘ Innovations: Driver of Rural Growth and Development’ explores some of the 
groundbreaking innovations in rural India which have unprecedented impact on agriculture sector 
leading to the development and growth of economy and livelihood of the rural population. 
Deviating slightly from the main theme, an article ‘Making Lakhpati Didis-Multiple livelihoods 
show the way’ focuses on successful implementation of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National 
Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) by creating Self Help Groups (SHG) and Integrated Farming 
Clusters for rural women. 
There are challenges to rural development including inadequate infrastructure, limited access 
to markets, environmental degradation, lack of education and healthcare facilities, and insufficient 
financial resources. Yet we can empower rural population, unlock their potential, and build more 
inclusive and sustainable societies by adopting technological innovation and investing in digital 
solutions.  ?
Price   22 July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
As the mobilisation of poor households into SHGs and financial inclusion has reached 
saturation levels, the focus has shifted now to creating sustainable livelihoods for 
the members. Under the livelihood interventions, the stress is on creation of different 
livelihood models across the farm and non-farm sectors and combinations of them for 
enhancing the household income in a manner that each household earns at least one 
lakh rupees in year, i.e., it becomes Lakhpati. 
*Charanjit Singh
**Raman Wadhwa
*The author is Additional Secretary (Rural Livelihoods), MoRD, GoI
**The author is Deputy Director (Admin), NRLPS, GoI
eendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National 
Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-
NRLM) is one of the world’s largest 
poverty eradication programmes 
across the world, being run under 
the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development, 
Government of India. The Mission through its inclusion 
strategy has mobilised more than 10 crore households 
into 91 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their higher 
community institutions. These households through the 
above institutions are being provided capitalisation 
support to enable them inter-loaning and to connect 
them to formal financial institutions. 
As the mobilisation of poor households into SHGs 
and financial inclusion has reached saturation levels, the 
focus has shifted now to creating sustainable livelihoods 
for the members. Under the livelihood interventions, 
the stress is on creation of different livelihood models 
D
Making Lakhpati Didis
Multiple Livelihoods Show the Way
Page 5


  July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
3 Kurukshetra       July  2024
A Journal on Rural Development 
Vol. 72 | No. 9 | Pages 52 | July 2024
Kurukshetra seeks to carry the message of 
Rural Development to all people. It serves as 
a forum for free, frank and serious discussion 
on the problems of Rural Development with 
special focus on Rural Uplift.
The views expressed by the authors in the 
articles are their own. They do not necessarily 
reflect the views of the Government or the 
organisations they work for.
The readers are requested to verify the claims 
in the advertisements regarding career 
guidance books/institutions. Kurukshetra 
does not own responsibility. Maps used are 
for illustration & study purpose and may not 
strictly conform to the official map. Images, 
graphics and illustrations, wherever used, are 
mostly sourced from government channels 
and are indicative in nature. Final Editing 
rights will vest with Kurukshetra Team.
Sales Emporia : ? Delhi - BM (I/c), Publications Division, CGO Complex, Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 
(011-24365609); Hall No. 196, Old Secretariat, Delhi 110054 (011-23890205) ? Kolkata - 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069 
(033-22482576) ?? Mumbai - 701, C-Wing, 7
th
 Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614 (022-27570686)  
? Chennai - ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 (044-24917673) ? Thiruvananthapuram - Press 
Road, Near Govt. Press, Thiruvananthpuram - 6950001 (0471-2330650) ? Hyderabad - Room No. 204, 2
nd
 Floor, C.G.O. 
Towers, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 (040-27535383) ? Bengaluru - Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, 
Bengaluru - 560034 (080-25537244) ? Patna - Bihar State Co-operative, Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004 
(0612-2675823) ? Lucknow - Hall No. 1, 2
nd
 Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, Sector – H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 (0522-2325455) 
? Ahmedabad - Sales Unit, Publications Division, 4-C, Neptune Tower, 4
th
 Floor, Nr HP Petrol Pump, Nehru Bridge Corner, 
Ashram Road, Ahmedabad Gujarat -380009 (079-26588669), ? Guwahati – Assam Khadi & Village Industries Board 
Complex, PO.-Silpukhuri, Chandmari, Guwahati-781003 (0361-4083136)
CHIEF EDITOR 
Kulshrestha Kamal
SENIOR EDITOR 
Sukhchain Singh
SUB EDITOR 
Akshit Malik
JOINT DIRECTOR (PRODUCTION)
D.K.C. Hrudhainath
COVER DESIGN
Pavanesh Kumar Bind
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Room No. 653,  
Publications Division,  
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,  
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 
Phone : 011-24362859  
Email : kurukshetrajournal@gmail.com
For Subscription Enquiries,  
Grievances, Renewals and Agency  
Information, Please Contact:
Journals Unit 
Publications Division, Room No. 779,  
Soochna Bhawan, C.G.O. Complex,  
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
(Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM)
Phone : 24367453, FAX: 24365610
Email : pdjucir@gmail.com
Website : publicationsdivision.nic.in
@publicationsdivision
@DPD_India
@dpd_India
For Online Sale, please log on to  
bharatkosh.gov.in/product, and for  
e-books, please visit Google Play  
or Amazon.
Subscription 
1 Year : ` 230
Price   22 July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Contents
5 Making Lakhpati Didis
Multiple Livelihoods Show the Way
Charanjit Singh
Raman Wadhwa
11 Jugaad Innovations
Transforming Rural India
Dr. Riti Thapar Kapoor
19 Cultivating Progress
Enhancing Innovations in Rural India
Dr. Naman Agrawal
29 Adoption of Digital Technology
in Rural Areas of India
Rajiv Theodore
34 Innovations
Driver of Rural Growth and Development
Arvind Kumar Mishra
39 Rebooting Operation Flood
through Automation
Bhuwan Bhaskar
46 Rural India
Innovation for Inclusiveness
Arunlal K
4 Kurukshetra       July  2024
I
nnovation is central to the economic growth and development of any country. In the context of 
rural India, innovative approach provides new ways to solve the problems of rural people and 
create new opportunities for entrepreneurship development. 
Innovations in the form of Agri-Technology, Renewable Energy Initiatives, Digital Empowerment, 
Rural Entrepreneurship, Water Management Solutions, Education and Skill Development, 
Community-Based Tourism and Healthcare Access can alleviate the drudgery out of the lives of 
rural people and fulfill their need for a low-cost local solution to a widespread rural problem.
This issue of Kurukshetra includes articles deftly dealing with the innovations for rural India and 
how their adoption can contribute in economic growth and development of the rural population 
and the country as well. 
The Article ‘Jugaad Innovation- Transforming Rural India’ has adequately discussed about 
these frugal innovations in rural India which have really transformed the rural sectors specially 
the agriculture sector. Whereas the article ‘Adoption of digital technology in rural areas of India’ 
focuses on the role of digital India in enhancing Innovation in rural India thus making the most 
of technological progress and strengthening a number of factors including technological and civil 
infrastructure, quality education and skills training etc.
Innovative ideas in development have notably reduced the gap in equitable distribution of 
development potential between urban and rural populations. The article ‘Rural India: Innovation 
for Inclusiveness’ ponders over the impact of innovation in nurturing the Indian rural sector.
Dairy farms have undergone a radical change because of innovations in technology 
and automation in India. The article ‘Rebooting Operation Flood through Automation’ aptly 
discusses about the innovation and use of technology bringing tremendous changes in the 
Dairy sector. 
The Article ‘ Innovations: Driver of Rural Growth and Development’ explores some of the 
groundbreaking innovations in rural India which have unprecedented impact on agriculture sector 
leading to the development and growth of economy and livelihood of the rural population. 
Deviating slightly from the main theme, an article ‘Making Lakhpati Didis-Multiple livelihoods 
show the way’ focuses on successful implementation of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National 
Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) by creating Self Help Groups (SHG) and Integrated Farming 
Clusters for rural women. 
There are challenges to rural development including inadequate infrastructure, limited access 
to markets, environmental degradation, lack of education and healthcare facilities, and insufficient 
financial resources. Yet we can empower rural population, unlock their potential, and build more 
inclusive and sustainable societies by adopting technological innovation and investing in digital 
solutions.  ?
Price   22 July 2024
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
Enhancing Innovation
in Rural India
As the mobilisation of poor households into SHGs and financial inclusion has reached 
saturation levels, the focus has shifted now to creating sustainable livelihoods for 
the members. Under the livelihood interventions, the stress is on creation of different 
livelihood models across the farm and non-farm sectors and combinations of them for 
enhancing the household income in a manner that each household earns at least one 
lakh rupees in year, i.e., it becomes Lakhpati. 
*Charanjit Singh
**Raman Wadhwa
*The author is Additional Secretary (Rural Livelihoods), MoRD, GoI
**The author is Deputy Director (Admin), NRLPS, GoI
eendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National 
Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-
NRLM) is one of the world’s largest 
poverty eradication programmes 
across the world, being run under 
the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development, 
Government of India. The Mission through its inclusion 
strategy has mobilised more than 10 crore households 
into 91 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their higher 
community institutions. These households through the 
above institutions are being provided capitalisation 
support to enable them inter-loaning and to connect 
them to formal financial institutions. 
As the mobilisation of poor households into SHGs 
and financial inclusion has reached saturation levels, the 
focus has shifted now to creating sustainable livelihoods 
for the members. Under the livelihood interventions, 
the stress is on creation of different livelihood models 
D
Making Lakhpati Didis
Multiple Livelihoods Show the Way
6 Kurukshetra       July  2024
across the farm and non-farm sectors and combinations 
of them for enhancing the household income in a 
manner that each household earns at least one lakh 
rupees in year, i.e., it becomes Lakhpati. In this initiative 
of Lakhpati Didis, the sub-scheme of Integrated Farming 
Clusters (IFCs) is playing a critical role. 
An Integrated Farming Cluster (IFC) comprises two 
to three (this may change depending on the State) 
adjoining intervention villages covering about 250-300 
households. These households are supported with 
improvement in two to three livelihood options (farm 
and non-farm) with strong backward and forward 
linkages. The IFC strategy lays focus on landless, leased-
in-land farmers, rain-fed farmers and introduces a more 
comprehensive approach to provide an end-to-end 
solution to the livelihoods of the poorest for income 
enhancement. The approach ensures each targeted 
household has a basket of income sources to provide 
regular income stream throughout the year. The process 
comprises production and processing/value addition 
within the cluster through asset creation, skilling the 
producers to enhance productivity, and importantly, 
ensuring access to credit at affordable rates. The access 
to market and access to improved technologies are a 
few critical challenges that are being addressed in this 
approach.
Strategy
The IFC focuses in those areas of Mission where 
the social mobilisation and financial inclusion processes 
have reached saturation and initial livelihood initiatives 
related to production and productivity are well 
grounded. The approach is to ensure that each targeted 
household has a basket of regular income sources 
throughout the year. It aims to create output consistency 
and high profitability to protect farmers from the whims 
of the monsoon and fluctuation in market prices.
An end-to-end strategy is the value chain approach. 
The objective is to identify and address the critical 
constraints in a coordinated way, thereby unlocking 
the potential of the value chain. The process comprises 
of: (i) Asset Creation for enhancing production and 
processing/value addition, (ii) honing skills of producers 
to augment their productivity, (iii) ensuring access to 
credit at affordable rates and (iv) facilitating access 
to market and improved technologies. In addition, 
wherever, a sizable population exists, focus is also 
placed on small ruminant productivity enhancement, 
horticultural diversification, and climate-resilient 
agriculture. 
On the front end (value addition and market 
linkage), the cluster collectivises and aggregates 
individual produce at the village and/or cluster level 
through small Producers’ Collectives like Producers 
Groups (PGs). These PGs are informal institution that 
aggregate the individual produce, thus reducing the 
transaction cost of primary value addition and market 
linkages. In more extensive geography, these small 
producers’ collectives may be federated into Producers 
Enterprises for larger aggregation, secondary value 
addition/processing, packaging, labelling, and market 
linkage/marketing directly and/or through partnership.
To create enabling environment a tripartite MoU 
was signed between Indian Council of Agricultural 
Research (ICAR), RCRC (Conglomerate of Civil Society 
Organizations), and DAY-NRLM in 2021 whereas the ICAR 
is the technical partner, and RCRC through its multiple 
partners facilitates implementation. The program was 
launched in December 2021 at Ranchi, Jharkhand. In 
the 1
st
 phase, 400 such IFCs were allocated to 13 States 
supported under World Bank funded National Rural 
Economic Transformation Project (NRETP) with a total