Synopsis India is the country of villages and majority of its population lives in villages. Though development oriented programmes for uplifting the standard of rural life are launched, yet no significant changes could be brought in so far. Rural areas are suffering almost on all fronts of life. Housing, health, employment, education and nutrition communication, environment, water, land and agriculture etc. are the major sectors where rural population suffers most. This work in five volumes, is a modest attempt to highlight all salient features, problems and prospects of rural development in India. Instances and experiences of many other countries are also corroborated. Encyclopaedic in nature, this work consists of well researched articles, papers substantially derived from various authoritative sources. This work will delight and enlighten one and all concerned be they students, researchers, social activists, policy planners or administrators.