Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission

✦Key Features

• Development of 300 Rurban clusters across the country.
• Provision of Critical Gap Funding (CGF) for infrastructure and economic activities.
• Convergence of various Central and State government schemes for holistic development.
• Bottom-up, participatory planning approach through Cluster Development Plans (CDPs).
• Focus on 21 components, including skill development, digital literacy, and infrastructure.
• Preservation of local identity and culture of rural areas while providing urban facilities.

✓Eligibility Criteria

• Clusters of geographically contiguous villages with a population of about 25,000 to 50,000 in plain/coastal areas.
• Clusters with a population of 5,000 to 15,000 in desert, hilly, or tribal areas.
• Clusters identified by State Governments based on criteria like potential for growth and proximity to economic drivers.

★Benefits

• Improved quality of life and access to modern amenities for rural citizens.
• Creation of local economic opportunities and employment generation.
• Reduction in distress migration from rural to urban areas.
• Holistic and integrated development of rural regions.
• Enhanced infrastructure and services leading to sustainable rural growth.

▶Application Process

• State Governments identify potential Rurban clusters based on predefined criteria.
• Preparation of a comprehensive Cluster Development Plan (CDP) through a participatory approach.
• Approval of CDP by the State Level Empowered Committee.
• Submission of the CDP and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to the Ministry of Rural Development for approval.
• Release of Critical Gap Funding by the Central Government upon approval.
• Implementation of projects by State/District Rural Development Agencies.

₹ Budget Allocation

Significant central assistance for critical gap funding, supplemented by state share and convergence funds from other schemes.

Funding Ratio (Centre:State): 60:40 (Centre:State) for Plains; 90:10 for NE/Hilly states

Historical Context

Launched in 2016, inspired by the concept of PURA (envisioned by APJ Abdul Kalam) to provide urban facilities in rural settings.