While many senior executives continue to talk about the "voice of the customer," few demonstrate their commitment to this concept by spending time with customers. Many continue to use their intuition or `golden gut' in their attempt to provide superior customer value. Unfortunately, `senior executive intuition' is rarely attuned to the needs of their customers. While the competitive environment continues to intensify, executives have cut back on the time devoted to customers just when it should be increasing. This article discusses the need for senior executives to spend time with customers and provides examples of the benefits that this approach will provide.

The article discusses about rural infrastructure such as road, water, sanitation, power, telecommunication, education, health, and information and communication technology. It also talks about the initiatives taken by the government both in the past and in recent times. In sum, the picture is not so rosy and there is an urgent need to upgrade rural infrastructure in the near future.India `lives' in villages and its networking with neighboring cities is the need of the hour. The development of rural India is possible by creating more employment opportunity and better infrastructure facilities such as road, education, sanitation, health, housing, drinking water facilities, irrigation, etc.

Since Independence, several government initiatives have taken place like IRDP, Indira Awas Yojana, etc. The policymakers have tried to upgrade the rural infrastructure over the last few decades. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has also played a significant role in education and healthcare sector by disseminating the right information and better health delivery process. At the bottom level, e - Panchayats have also played a vital role in implementing effective governance.

The development of only urban areas will lead to catastrophic consequences in the long run. It will also lead to very serious political consequences for the major political parties. Therefore, in a democracy, they are under pressure to cater to the rural communities. The government has, therefore, felt the need to implement various polices/programs in rural India. Consequently, the likes of the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Bharat Nirman, Mission 2007 have emerged with specified goals to be achieved. Developing the infrastructure has to be one of the priorities in rural India. Social development is impossible without providing basic amenities and developing infrastructure in rural areas. As government cannot reach every nook and corner, they have always encouraged NGOs/SHGs/private parties to participate in the development process and in implementing the rural infrastructure projects.

Rural Infrastructure in India: An Overview, power, telecommunication, education, health, and information and communication technology, rural infrastructure, Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Social development, development process, political consequences.