“Aibawk cluster” in Mizoram becomes the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission

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According to the Government of India, Aibawk cluster in the Aizawl district of Mizoram has become the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM). 

SPMRM was launched by the Government of India with a vision to provide amenities to rural areas which are perceived to be urban and have the potential to stimulate local economic development. 

300 clusters has been selected under the mission for well-planned and holistic development.

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM)

The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) scheme was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kurubhat, in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh on February 21, 2016.  The mission is of five years duration.

The mission follows a cluster based approach for rural development instead of focusing on a single village unit.

Aim of the Scheme 

The Aim of the Mission are: 

• Bridging the rural-urban divide in the economic, technological and those related to facilities and services. 
• Stimulating local economic development with emphasis on reduction of poverty and unemployment in rural areas. 
• Spreading development in the region. 
•  Attracting investment in rural areas.

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. 

Under the Mission, presently, out of 300 selected clusters spread across the country, 109 are tribal clusters and 191 non-tribal clusters. 

Nodal ministry for the SPMRM scheme 

The Union Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal ministry for the implementation of the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission.

Who identify the Rurban Clusters?

The Union Rural Development Ministry proposes a suggestive list of sub districts to the State. The State Governments then select the clusters following a set of indicated principles included in the Framework for Implementation of the scheme.

Funding pattern of the scheme 

Various rural development schemes of the Central and the State government are converged in the clusters. The funding meant for those schemes are spent into the cluster.

The SPMRM also provides an additional funding support of upto 30 percent of the project cost per cluster as Critical Gap Funding (CGF) as Central Share to enable development of such Rurban clusters.

Union Minister for Rural Development: Giriraj Singh