As many as 300 rural clusters in the country will be developed by provisioning of economic activities and providing infrastructure, lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. The Government proposes to develop rural clusters in the country under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission which aims to develop 300 clusters in all states and union territories, of which 100 clusters will be taken up in the first phase, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh said.
These clusters would be developed by provisioning of economic activities, developing skills and local entrepreneurship and providing infrastructure amenities. The Rurban Mission will thus develop a cluster of Smart Villages, he said during Question Hour. Singh said under the SPMRM, the State Govts would identify centrally sponsored, central sector or State Govt schemes relevant for the development of the cluster and converge their implementation in an integrated and time- bound manner. 14 items have been suggested as desirable for inclusion in the development of Rurban Cluster. They are piped water supply, agro processing, agri-services, storage and warehousing, sanitation, solid and liquid waster management, health care connectivity, skill development, public transport, among others.