Abstract

Rural development programmes in India play a vital role in improving the quality of life and livelihoods of the rural population. This research undertakes a comprehensive evaluation of various rural development initiatives implemented in District Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Through a combination of field surveys, stakeholder interviews, and secondary data analysis, this study assesses programme performance across multiple domains—including income enhancement, infrastructure improvement, health outcomes, education access, and governance. Key interventions under scrutiny include the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), and local self-help group (SHG) schemes. Findings indicate that while employment and housing schemes have generated measurable benefits, challenges such as inadequate awareness, delays in fund disbursement, and limited community participation have impeded effectiveness. Notably, the success of sanitation and SHG initiatives is more pronounced in villages with proactive local governance and active women’s engagement. The study highlights significant heterogeneity in outcomes: villages with stronger institutional capacities demonstrate higher levels of programme uptake and satisfaction. The research concludes with practical recommendations—enhancing social mobilization, fostering transparent implementation monitoring, streamlining financial flows, and strengthening capacity-building efforts for local institutions—to ensure more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable rural development in Siddharthnagar and similar contexts.