Previous Year Question

Various programmes were introduced in India to promote rural development, employment generation, development of drought-affected areas, and self-employment. The correct chronological order of these programmes is Community Development Programme (1952) → Drought Prone Areas Programme (1973–74) → Food for Work Programme (1977) → TRYSEM (1979).

1. Community Development Programme (CDP), 1952: This programme was launched on 2 October 1952 during the First Five Year Plan (1951–56). Its objective was the overall development of rural areas and the expansion of agriculture, irrigation, healthcare, education, sanitation, and rural infrastructure through local community participation. Initially, it was implemented through 55 Community Development Projects.

2. Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), 1973–74: This programme aimed to conserve natural resources, improve agricultural productivity, and make rural livelihoods more stable in areas frequently affected by drought. It promoted activities such as water conservation, Soil Conservation, Afforestation, pasture development, and Watershed Management.

3. Food for Work Programme (FFWP), 1977: This programme was introduced to provide employment to unemployed and underemployed rural people and improve food security. Under the programme, rural workers received foodgrains in exchange for public construction work. These activities included road construction, development of irrigation facilities, and creation of other community assets. In 1980, it was restructured as the National Rural Employment Programme (NREP).

4. Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM), 1979: This programme was launched on 15 August 1979 to provide technical and vocational training to young people from poor rural households. Its objective was to develop skills that would enable young people to undertake self-employment-based economic activities. It was implemented as a supporting scheme of the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP).

Correct chronology of the programmes:

There were important differences in the objectives of these programmes. The Community Development Programme focused on comprehensive rural development, the Drought Prone Areas Programme dealt with natural resources and the development of drought-affected regions, the Food for Work Programme emphasised wage employment and food security, while TRYSEM primarily aimed to prepare rural youth for self-employment through training.