Government to set up 300 rural clusters by 2019-20

NEW DELHI: With an aim of bridging rural-urban divide and reducing migration, the government will set up 300 rural clusters by 2019-20 across the country which will entail improving the quality of life of people there.

The proposal to be implemented under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) is under finalisation and details of the scheme are being worked out, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh said in Rajya Sabha while replying to questions.

In the Budget for 2014-15, government had announced the scheme proposing to develop rural clusters in the country with the objective of improving the quality of life of people in the cluster, bridging the rural-urban divide and reducing migration from rural to urban areas.

"We have decided to create 300 such clusters in all the states of the country, including Union teritories," he said.

There is no question of leaving any state, including North-Eastern states, out of the purview of SPMRM.

States will select the villages to be turned into clusters with 12 important facilities like road, electricity, water supply, public transport and others.

If a village does not have the stipulated population, 5,000-15,000 in hilly areas and 25,000-50,000 in plains, then more villages could be clubbed to form a cluster, he said.

The cost of developing a cluster may vary between Rs 65-67 crore in which the Centre would provide 30 per cent funding.