Lucknow: Marking World Rural Development Day, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya extended his greetings to the people of the state, particularly rural residents, farmers, women, youth, and officials associated with rural development, emphasizing that prosperous, empowered, and self-reliant villages form the foundation of a developed India and a developed Uttar Pradesh.
In his message, Maurya said that the comprehensive development of rural India is the strongest pillar for achieving the vision of a developed nation. He noted that World Rural Development Day serves as an opportunity to reinforce the commitment to inclusive, balanced, and sustainable growth in rural areas.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the primary objective of the observance is to eliminate rural poverty and hunger, ensure a dignified life for every citizen, and contribute towards achieving the global goal of Zero Hunger. He stressed that development can truly become inclusive only when its benefits reach the last person in society, helping reduce social and economic inequalities.
Highlighting the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted for 2030, Maurya said their success depends on effective implementation at the grassroots level. He underlined the need to strengthen quality education, healthcare, clean drinking water, sanitation, employment opportunities, women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, and economic progress across rural communities.
Maurya said the economic and social empowerment of rural communities—especially women, youth, and disadvantaged groups—remains central to rural development. He advocated expanding self-help groups, skill development initiatives, self-employment schemes, and rural entrepreneurship to create sustainable livelihoods for millions of families.
Describing agriculture as the backbone of the Indian economy, he emphasized the need to provide farmers with modern technology, high-quality seeds, irrigation facilities, farm mechanization, scientific farming practices, and improved marketing systems. Such measures, he said, would strengthen food security while steadily increasing farmers’ incomes.
The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of rural infrastructure, including all-weather roads, uninterrupted electricity, safe drinking water, quality education, modern healthcare facilities, and digital connectivity. He said the Uttar Pradesh Government is continuously investing in strengthening rural infrastructure so that citizens living in villages can access amenities comparable to those available in urban areas.
Maurya further stressed the growing importance of financial and digital inclusion in transforming rural economies. Expanding digital literacy, ensuring banking access for every household, promoting digital payments, and delivering government services online have made governance more transparent and efficient while enabling beneficiaries to receive welfare schemes directly and on time.
He added that self-reliant villages are better equipped to face challenges posed by climate change and that a strong rural economy not only generates employment and production locally but also enhances India’s competitiveness in national and global markets.
Referring to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maurya said rural development has been accorded the highest priority by the Central Government. He added that the Uttar Pradesh Government is working consistently to strengthen rural infrastructure, generate employment, promote agricultural development, empower women, reinforce self-help groups, expand digital services, and improve rural livelihoods.
Concluding his message, the Deputy Chief Minister urged citizens to pledge their commitment to building prosperous, self-reliant, clean, educated, and developed villages on the occasion of World Rural Development Day.
“Prosperous and empowered villages are the strongest foundation of a developed nation. As our villages progress, Uttar Pradesh and India will strengthen their position among the world’s leading nations,” Maurya said.
