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Description

Description: Discover the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission's vision and objectives in creating well-planned Rurban clusters. Learn about its progress and impact in stimulating local economic development and enhancing basic services for rural communities in India.

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission

Introduction

As per Census of India statistics, the rural population in India stands at 833 million, constituting almost 68% of the total population. Further, the rural population has shown a growth of 12% and an increase in the absolute number of villages by 2279 units during the 2001-2011 periods.

Large parts of rural areas in the country are not stand-alone settlements but part of a cluster of settlements, which are relatively proximate to each other. These clusters typically illustrate potential for growth, have economic drivers and derive locational and competitive advantages. These clusters once developed can then be classified as 'Rurban'.

Taking cognizance of this, Union Cabinet approved the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) on September 16, 2015, with an outlay of Rs. 5142.08 crores. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Rurban Mission from Kurubhat, in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh on February 21, 2016.

Vision

The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) follows the vision of "Development of a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of "Rurban Villages".

Objective

The objective of the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) is to stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well planned Rurban clusters.

What is a ‘Rurban Cluster’

A ‘Rurban cluster’ is a cluster of geographically contiguous villages with a population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and with a population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas

Mission outcomes

Scheme Components

Under the National Rurban Mission (NRuM), the State Government shall identify existing Centrally Sponsored, Central Sector or State Government schemes relevant for the development of the cluster and converge their implementation in an integrated and time bound manner. Fourteen components have been suggested as desirable for inclusion in the development of the Rurban cluster.

Selection of the ‘Rurban Clusters’

There are two categories of clusters under SPMRM: Non-Tribal and Tribal.

The process of selection varies for each of these categories. While selecting the Rurban cluster, the State may identify a large village/gram panchayat that are growth centers with resources available in the area that could potentially lead the economic transformation of the region. These growth centres could also be block headquarter, villages or census towns.

The clusters could then be formed by identifying geographically contiguous villages/gram panchayats within a radius of 5–10 km (or radius appropriate to the population density and geography of the region) around the identified growth centre.

Non-Tribal Clusters

For selection of non-tribal clusters, the government provided a list of leading sub districts to each State, within which the clusters could be identified. The selection of these sub districts by the government would be based on parameters depicted in the graphic. Appropriate weightages have been given for each parameter. Thereafter, within these sub districts, so identified, the State Governments could select the clusters and while doing so, could include the following performance parameters:

Any other factor which the States may consider relevant may also be included. However, a total weightage of 80% would be given for the first four parameters and the States will have the flexibility to choose the last three parameters, subject to a total weightage of 20%.

Tribal

For identification of the tribal clusters, the government selects the leading sub districts falling within the top 100 tribal districts of the country, based on the Scheduled Tribes population. The selection of these sub districts would be based on parameters depicted in the graphic. Appropriate weightages have been given for each of these parameters while selecting the sub districts. Thereafter, within these sub districts so identified, the State Governments would select the clusters and while doing so, could include the following performance parameters:

Any other factor which the States may consider relevant may be included in addition to the above three parameters, provided the weightage for the above three parameters is not reduced below 80%.

Progress of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission

 ● Out of 300 Rurban clusters, 298 clusters have been approved, 291 Integrated Cluster Action Plans (ICAPs) and 282 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been developed by States /UTs with a total approved investment of Rs. 27716.19 crore (Critical Gap Fund + Convergence Fund).

● Out of total 75,999 projected works under the Mission, a total of 39,554 works have been completed and a total of 13932 works are ongoing (as on Feb 20, 2023)