ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to understand how programmes for vulnerable groups, and inclusive policies have been delivered in practice. It assesses the impact of the interventions using the data from the 78th Round National Sample Survey and National Family Health Survey. Rural development holds the key to sustainable economic growth and human development. The reduction in poverty is fastest when rural economies are resurgent, providing opportunities for diversification of livelihoods in farm and non-farm sectors. Professional support for capacity building requires civil society partnerships and evidence-based approaches. The real challenge of rural development is to afford an opportunity to every rural household to develop their fullest human potential through an access to services for human development and economic growth. The performance of Aspirational Districts Programme was also assessed based on independent data and it does not appear that aspirational districts on average, are performing any better in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal targets than other districts on majority of the indicators.
