Bangladesh is a country comprised primarily of villages. In our country, there are around 87,000 communities. In our country, villages are home to more than 85 percent of the population. In this way, it is abundantly evident to us that the development of Bangladesh is entirely dependent on the wealth of the villages and the villagers themselves.
In its most basic definition, rural development refers to a deliberate effort to improve the economic and social well-being of the rural poor through planned change. Increased productivity, equitable distribution of resources, and empowerment are some of the methods used to accomplish this.
Different aspects of rural development: There are different dimensions to rural development. Agriculture, education, communication, health and sanitation, employment, and empowerment, among other things, are the most significant considerations in developing countries.
Agriculture: Agriculture is a topic that is unique to the rural environment and should not be discussed here. It accounts for the lion's portion of our national income. However, in the majority of cases, the farmers and their farming equipment are out of date. As a result, farmers should receive adequate training, and modern farming equipment and seeds should be made available in rural areas. Aside from that, the irrigation system, fertilizer supply, pest management, agricultural loan, and other factors should be carefully reviewed and updated when appropriate.
The majority of our people (about 85 percent) lives in villages. As previously said, almost 85 percent of our rural population is illiterate. In our rural areas, there is a severe scarcity of schools and institutions to accommodate the growing population. As a result, sufficient educational institutions must be established in order to educate our rural population. In addition, every effort should be made to encourage education among the rural poor in every way feasible. This is because, absent the eradication of illiteracy, rural development will remain little more than a pipe dream.
Communication: Many roads, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure projects have been completed in Bangladesh's rural areas in recent years. As a result, these communities have been integrated into a moderately developed communication system. Nonetheless, in the majority of circumstances, a communication mechanism must be built. New infrastructure should be constructed, and the old infrastructure should be managed effectively or repaired as needed.
Bangladesh's rural communities continue to suffer from poor health and sanitation, which has become a widespread problem. Water pollution, a lack of information, a lack of nourishment, and other issues are producing hardships for rural residents. As a result, appropriate measures must be made to ensure progress in this subject.
Employment: The farming community is unable to generate income for over half of the year. Furthermore, there are a large number of people who are landless and without employment. Employment options for this type of person should therefore be made available in adequate numbers.
It is essential to provide the rural people with greater economic and political power in order for them to be able to manage the usage and distribution of their resources.
Steps taken by the government: The government of Bangladesh has implemented a number of programs aimed at promoting rural development in the country. Despite the budgetary constraints, the administration, with its limited resources and the assistance of foreign donors, is doing everything it can to improve the living conditions in our villages. The government is playing an extremely important role in the overall development of all of the country's communities. The vulnerable group development project, the Thana Resource Development and Employment project, the Rural Social Service Program, the Community Development Program, the Self-Reliance Program for Rural Women, and the Technology for Rural Employment are some of the major government-sponsored rural development projects currently underway. The current rural development policies of the government place a strong emphasis on employment-oriented growth, increased citizen participation in development activities, increased cooperation between the public and private sectors, and specialized programs for rural poor women, ethnic minorities, children, and the elderly.
A wide range of rural development activities are carried out by voluntary and private organizations, more commonly known as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). These activities include those aimed at increasing income and employment, improving health and sanitation, developing agriculture and rural craft skills, providing vocational education, providing disaster relief and rehabilitation, as well as providing care for children, mothers, and other vulnerable groups in rural areas A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have established national and worldwide reputations through the use of the "micro credit model," including Grameen Bank, Proshike, and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee. Manobik Unnayan Kendra, Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service, and Gono Mukti Kendra are some of the organizations that provide services. As a result, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play critical roles in the development of all villages.
Conclusion: Rural development is a requirement for the development of our country's economy. This vision can be realized if the government, as well as the intelligentsia, step up and work together for the improvement of the villagers' living conditions.