Centre to develop 300 rural clusters with economic activities, good infrastructure

New Delhi: As many as 300 rural clusters in the country will be developed by provisioning of economic activities and providing infrastructure, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday. The government proposes to develop rural clusters in the country under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM), which aims to develop 300 clusters in all states and union territories, of which 100 clusters will be taken up in the first phase, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh said. [caption id=“attachment_2642600” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational Image[/caption] These clusters would be developed by provisioning of economic activities, developing skills and local entrepreneurship and providing infrastructure amenities. The Rurban Mission will thus develop a cluster of Smart Villages, he said during Question Hour. Singh said under the SPMRM, the state governments would identify 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 ‘Rurban’ cluster. They are piped water supply, agro-processing, agri-services, storage and warehousing, sanitation, solid and liquid waster management, health care connectivity, skill development, public transport, LPG connection and full digital connections, among others. The minister said the state governments may at its own discretion additionally converge any other state or central government scheme not falling under the above components. These could be finalised after due consultation with the Gram Panchayats and should aim at addressing the unique needs of the Rurban Cluster and enable it to leverage its full economic potential, he said. PTI