To reduce poverty and improve the socio-economic conditions of the poor people living in rural areas through rural development, cooperative based activities and conducting continuous research on rural development. Mandates of RDCD: 1. Formulation of rural development policy and laws, rules and policy relating to cooperatives; 2. Formulation and implementation of programmes/and projects to alleviate rural poverty; 3. Assist entrepreneurs through micro-credit, agricultural credit, co-operative based small and cottage industries, co-operative bank, co-operative insurance, co-operative based farming and marketing, milk and other cooperative enterprises; 4. Initiate human resource development programmes for members of the cooperatives, provide education, training and conduct research programmes on rural development and cooperatives; 5. Innovate new model/strategy on rural development through action research; 6. Assist in the socio-economic development and empowerment of rural women through formation of formal and informal groups under cooperative programmes.