The Rural Health Statistics 2009 that captures information on health infrastructure and human resources in the government facilities up to the Community Health Centre level, has just been finalized. Comparing the situation in 2005 and in 2009, there is a remarkable addition of human resources of all categories and improvement in the physical infrastructure of the Health Sub Centres, Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres. Since NRHM has been a major source of financing health infrastructure development and human resource deployment during this period, the gains reflect the impact of NRHM. The RHS 2009 also recognizes the long way to go before provision of human resources as per the Indian Public Health Standards. Nevertheless, the gains confirm the NRHM thrust on human resources for health. The Tables below capture the gains in infrastructure and human resources between 2005 and 2009.

About 72 per cent of the households belonged to rural India and accounted for nearly 74 per cent of the total population. Average household size in India was 4.5. The rural household size (4.7) was slightly higher than urban household size (4.2). According to the usual status (ps+ss), 41 per cent of population belonged to the labour force. This proportion was 43 per cent for rural and 37 per cent for urban areas. The labour force participation rate (LFPR) was about 56 per cent of rural males and 29 per cent of rural females. The corresponding proportions in the urban areas were 58 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.

The estimates of employment and unemployment are obtained on the basis of quinquennial surveys conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation . As per two most recent quinquennial rounds of surveys, the employment opportunities were estimated at 338.19 million in 1999-2000 (55th round) and 384.91 million in 2004-05 (61st round).

Government of India introduced a centrally sponsored scheme entitled ‘Panchayat Yuva Krida Khel Abhyan’, in 2008-09, for creation of basic sports infrastructure in all village and block panchayats and for conducing sports competitions at blocks, districts, states and national level of the country.