Around 75% of the district population is living in rural areas. People in rural areas should have the same quality of life as is enjoyed by people living in sub urban and urban areas. Further there are cascading effects of poverty, unemployment, poor and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas on urban centers causing slums and consequential social and economic tensions manifesting in economic deprivation and urban poverty. Hence 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. The above goals will be achieved by various rural programmes support being implemented creating partnership with communities, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, institutions, etc.

Ramanagara (known as Closepet, after Sir Barry Close (1756–1813), in pre-Independence times and retained in geology) is a town and a city municipal council in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also the headquarters of Ramanagaram district. Ramanagaram is approximately 50 km southwest of Bangalore. It has an average elevation of 747 metres (2450 feet). Ramanagaram is also famous for the huge rocky outcrops. Those that are popular for rock climbing are; Ramadevarabetta, SRS betta and Thenginkalbetta.

Ramanagara’s geographical area is 3,599 sq.km, it has bifurcated 4 revenue talukas, 18 hoblis, 130 village panchayath, 2 municipalities, 2 town agglomeration and 823 villages.

Ramanagara is situated in the south of the SouthKarnataka. It is positioned between 12˚ 54’ to 13˚ 53’ North latitude 75˚ 04’ and 76˚ 21’ East longitude., Ramanagara district borders with Bangalore Rural in the north, Mandya in the west, Tumkur in the northwest, Bangalore Urban in northeast, Chamarajnagar in the south and Tamil Nadu in the East.

To Examine the socio-economic status of the people before and after implementation of rural development programmes in selected villages.

The present study completely depends on secondary data. For the secondary source, published and unpublished data and data collected from the government and semi-government offices or department will be used. The present research work is being carried out with the help of survey of India topographical maps and maps supplied by district planning.

The district had 22.60% of income from primary sector in 2001, but in 2011 there was gradual increase up to 32.4% due to implementation of several rural development programmes.

Due to the implementation of MGNERGA & Stree shakthi rural development programme the infrastructure facilities in rural areas have been improved. By introducing MGNERGA & Stree shakthi rural development programmes the economic & social condition of the rural Ramanagara has been changed in different ways.

Ramanagara rural people depend more on primary occupation, and they are facing investment problem. But after the implementation of Stree shakthi, rural people are getting loan whenever they want without any difficulties. It helps rural people increase production and improve themselves like having better savings. Stree shakthi also helps for women empowerment. Throughout Ramanagara district 75546 members are saved 695.66 lakh in 4635 stree shakthi sanga, they are received 792.36 lakh loan from the different bank and the SHS members are received 650000 financial aid. (till 2010-11).

MGNERGA programme helps rural people to earn extra income with 100 days guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled and manual work. 372095 mebers are registered but where 133098 job cards are issued in Ramanagara district. 2554 families are availing 100 days of employment under the scheme (till 2010-11).

92 Micro and minor irrigation works, 2480 km renovation and maintenance of irrigation canals and 197 Renovation of traditional water bodies including desilting of irrigation carried out in Ramanagara district under the MGNERGA scheme.

600 farm ponds and other water harvesting structures are constructed. 4500 tresses are planted, 4000 hectare fallow land developed for cultivation, 2000 toilets are constructed under the MGNERGA scheme.

26917 beneficiaries benefited under Bhagyalakshmi yojane in the Ramanagara distirct. Beneficiaries status was increased due to the fixed amount or bond. The scheme helps in the higher education time and marriage time of the girls.

48,880 houses are constructed under different housing schemes in Ramanagara district. Especially housing schemes are helped SC, ST people to have better house.

In the selected villages sex ratio increased in 2011 as compared to 2001. Because of the Bhagya lakshmi scheme (Opinion collected from the village people through questionnaire).

In the selected villages female population is dominant in Hosadoddi model village where other villages have less female population than male population. Adanakuppe village have very low sex ratio in the selected village due to the backward level of socio-economic conditions. And the Hosadoddi model village have highest sex ratio in the selected villages due to Hosadoddi model village male population migrate to Bangalore city for to do work as astrologers.

In the selected villages literacy rate increased from 1991-2011 specially female literacy is increasing because of Stree shakthi programme and MGNERGA. Implementation of these two programmes resulted in better income than the previous ones. Hence, the rate of poverty reduced and the rate of literacy enhanced.

Table 3

Name of the taluk	Selected villages	1991	2001	2011
Channapatna	Srirampura	58	62	63
Kanakapura	Adanakuppe	67	68	69
Magadi	Hosadoddi	68	60	66
Ramanagara	Hosadoddi (Model village)	65	71	74

Source: Selected gramapanchayaths

Above table depicts the life expectancy in selected villages. Through rural development programmes the life expectancy in selected villages increased from 1991 to 2011 substantially due to better job opportunity, food supply, infrastructure facility, health facilities etc.,