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

Source: The post is based on the article “Aibawk cluster in the Aizwal, Mizoram becomes the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission” published in PIB on 4th November 2022. 

What is the News? 

Aibawk cluster in the Aizwal district of Mizoram has become the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission(SPMRM). 

What is Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission(SPMRM)? 

Launched in: 2016 by the Ministry of Rural Development 

Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme 

Aim: To preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with a focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of ‘Rurban villages’. 

Objective: To stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well-planned Rurban clusters. 

Target: To develop 300 clusters in the country holistically by provisioning economic, social and physical infrastructure facilities. 

Identification of Rurban Clusters: Rurban Clusters are identified across the country’s rural areas showing increasing signs of urbanization – i.e. increase in population density, high levels of non-farm employment, presence of growing economic activities and other socioeconomic parameters. 

– For the purposes of SPMRM, Rurban areas refer to a cluster of 15-20 villages having about 30 to 40 lakh population. 

– The clusters will be geographically contiguous Gram Panchayats with a population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and a population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas. 

Role of States: The State Government identifies the clusters in accordance with the Framework for Implementation prepared by the MoRD. 

Funding: The mission has two fund streams: (1) Convergence through various Central sector schemes, centrally sponsored schemes, State sector/ sponsored schemes/ programmes, CSR funds, and (2) Critical Gap Funds (CGF): It provides for CGF upto Rs. 30 crores per cluster for Non-tribal clusters and upto Rs. 15 crores per cluster for Tribal and Hilly State clusters.