The Drought Prone Area Programme was initiated during the Fourth Five Year Plan with the primary objectives of providing employment to the people in drought-prone areas and creating productive assets.

Initially, this programme laid emphasis on the construction of labour-intensive civil works. However, later on, it shifted focus towards irrigation projects, land development programmes, afforestation, grassland development and creation of basic rural infrastructure such as electricity, roads, market, credit and services.

The programme is largely confined to the development of agriculture and allied sectors with a major focus on restoration of ecological balance. The strategies of development include adoption of integrated watershed development approach at the micro-level. The restoration of ecological balance between water, soil, plants, and human and animal population is a basic consideration in the development strategy.

This programme helps in the development of dryland agriculture by promoting irrigation projects and land development in semi-arid and arid tracts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Western Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada region of Maharashtra, Rayalseema and Telangana plateaus of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka plateau and interior parts of Tamil Nadu. The creation of alternative employment opportunities reduces pressure on marginal lands, thereby preventing ecological degradation caused by growing population pressure.