MCDS and Rural Development
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About eighty percent of the Indian population lives in rural areas and many of them, below poverty line.

Only about fifteen percent of the benefits of the developmental programmes of the Government manage to percolate to the rural masses. As an NGO in the development sector, MCDS is concerned about this hard reality and focuses its efforts towards development of various rural communities.

Priority areas include:

	Agricultural development and livelihood system
	Dairy development and animal husbandry
	Education
	Primary Health
	Community organization
	Ecology and environment
	Savings and credit societies
	MCDS through FIDES India, reaches out to 45 villages in Uthiramerur, Chengai MGR District, Tamil Nadu

Programmes Include:

	Promotion of indigenous medicines
	Formation of model dairy farm
	Agricultural development programmes
	Training of women community leaders
	Night school for children
	Awareness programmes on health and social problems
	Involvement of women in various community oriented programmes

MCDS hopes to identify more areas to replicate development programmes.