Centre to set up 300 rural clusters to reduce migration

Aiming to reduce migration of rural people to urban areas, the Union Rural Development Ministry plans to create 300 clusters all over the country, where economic activity would be promoted.
Under the programme, named Rurban Mission, rural clusters with a population between 25,000 to 50,000 each would be identified by the state governments for promoting economic activity, Union Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh told reporters here.
The clusters would have urban facilities like 24-hour supply of water and electricity and connectivity, education and banking, he said.
Noting that the scheme would have the participation of the Centre, state governments and also private players, he said the provision of facilities and promotion of economic activity provide employment locally.

"This is a scheme of Rs 5,041 crore," Singh said. The scheme would be implemented in three years with 100 clusters taken up in the first year.
"This is only to keep in mind that migration from rural areas can be stopped. But it is only when the rural youth is convinced on this account that the way my cluster is being developed it is not less than any nearby town," he said.

The Rural Development Ministry has asked the Prime Minister to launch the Rurban Mission, he said. "Very shortly, in next few days, we may be able to launch it," he said.

Singh also said the Rural Development Ministry is "giving final touches" to a programme to provide housing to 2.95 crore families in the country by 2022.
"This would be without any BPL. Because, there is a survey which has already been conducted. That is socio-economic, caste, census survey, under which these two crore 95 lakh families have been identified...Those who are to be provided shelter," he said.
The government has decided to increase the size of the house from 20 sq metres to 25 sq metres, he said.
Earlier, an amount of Rs 70,000 (per unit) used to be provided under Indira Awas Yojana, but the amount has now been increased to more than Rs 1.50 lakh, he said.

"This would not only be providing shelter. But it would be a house or home in a way, where cooking facility would be there...There would be space of two rooms at least," he said.
The Rural Development Ministry is awaiting the approval of Union Cabinet for the programme to be launched, he said.