Study of Desert Development Programme

The desert areas of the country had remained backward in many respects due to difficult physiography varying agro-climatic conditions and distinct socio cultural features. Since the people living in these areas were facing hardships owing to geo-climatic conditions, the desert development programme was introduced as a centrally sponsored scheme in 1977-78.

The objective of the programme is to control the desertification and restoration of ecological balance in the desert areas for development. The Evaluation study on Desert Development Programme was taken up by the Programme Evaluation Organisation at the instance of Planning Commission in 1988.