Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM):
- Telangana stood first in the implementation of the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM).
- Tamil Nadu and Gujarat took the second and third positions respectively.
About Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission:
- Launched in 2016, the programme is designed to deliver catalytic interventions to rural areas on the threshold of growth.
- It is now a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Funding: Shared between the Centre and the State in a ratio of 60:40 for Plain area States and 90:10 for Himalayan and NE States.
- Main objective of the scheme is bridging the rural-urban divide-viz: economic, technological and those related to facilities and services
- Under the mission, the Central government in coordination with the district administration has taken measures to bring about multi-layered phased development of the rural gram panchayats and villages on the lines of urban cities with proper civic amenities keeping the soul of villages intact.
- A ‘Rurban cluster’, would be 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.
- These clusters typically illustrate potential for growth, have economic drivers and derive locational and competitive advantages.
- According to the 2011 Census, India has more than 6 lakh villages while there are around 7,000 towns and urban centres. Out of a total population the rural population accounts for 69% and urban population 31%.
- About 70% of the population lives in rural areas and about 50% of the overall labour force is still dependent on agriculture that is not productive enough.
- 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’.
