Identifying barriers that hinder sustainable development is essential for enhancing sustainability in rural communities. This study investigates the challenges in Devarnagar village, situated at Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu, India. To investigate the impediments to sustainable development, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Human-Centred Design (HCD) methodologies were employed. By utilizing the data compiled through the said methodologies, the study presents the complex obstacles hindering sustainable development. Based on the present study, potable water and waste management were identified as the critical challenges hindering sustainability in the study village. Additionally, the study recommends innovative sustainable solutions to address the challenges of sustainable development. The case study offers essential insights for addressing future challenges, particularly the scarcity of potable water and the improvement of waste management in areas similar to the study location.