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Abstract
India is a country of villages and about 50% of the villages have very poor socio-economic conditions. Since the dawn of independence constant efforts have been made to emancipate the living standard of rural masses. The five-year plans of the central government also largely aim at Rural Development. The Ministry of Rural Development in India is the apex body for formulating policies, regulations and acts pertaining to the development of the rural sector. Agriculture, handicrafts, fisheries, poultry, and diary are the primary contributors to the rural business and economy. Rural Development which is concerned with economic growth and social justice, improvement in the living standard of the rural people by providing adequate and quality social services and minimum basic needs becomes essential. The present strategy of rural development mainly focuses on poverty alleviation, better livelihood opportunities, provision of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities through innovative programmes of wage and self-employment. ICT is the new tool for rural development. Information and Communication Technology, if used properly can be of great advantage for the development at grass root levels. At the same time challenge remains with the administration to capture the minds of the rural masses, mostly illiterate, to make them adapt the new technology which is completely alien to them. There are various Rural development schemes run by the government of India and also organizations are present to look after the implementations of these programmes.