Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday hailed the Union Ministry of Rural Development’s decision of awarding the third rank to the state of Punjab (Dhapali cluster) in its latest nationwide survey for effectively implementing the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) — a unique program designed to ensure comprehensive growth in the rural areas — during the year 2018-19.
“This Mission, commonly kno wn as the cluster scheme, was implemented during the SAD-BJP Government under a Central Government scheme to thrust growth in the rural areas through self-directed living, learning, and problem-solving activities,” said the former minister and SAD Kisan wing president Sikandar Singh Maluka.
He said: “Village level clusters were made to carry out development works like the widening of roads, construction of school buildings, stadiums and yards in grain markets as well as cleaning of village ponds under this scheme.”
Appreciating the achievement of the Dhapali Cluster for securing the third position under the category of Rurbansoft-PFMS integration in implementing SPMRM, the SAD leader said that Punjab’s first cluster was started at Dhapali village while the second at Jalal village of Rampura Phul constituency of district Bathinda.
“We feel proud that despite State Government’s indifferent attitude towards this scheme, the Dhapali cluster has bagged the third position in implementation of SPMRM,” he said, adding that if the State Government had shown interest in the Mission and sought funds from the Centre to increase its ambit.