 "PM Narendra Modi being received at Raipur airport on Sunday, Feb 21, 2016 PTI")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the ambitious Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban (rural-urban) Mission from Chhattisgarh's Dongargarh block, which aims to draw an investment of over Rs 5,000 crore in three years to "transform rural areas to economically, socially and physically sustainable spaces."
The Rurban mission would replace the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (Pura) initiative. Rurban would create village clusters to minimise rural migration to cities through skill development programmes.
"If there can be smart cities, why can't there be smart villages," Modi said here, while addressing a mammoth gathering after the launch of the scheme on Sunday afternoon.
Rural migration was increasing but could be contained by providing quality of life in villages, he said. Development should ensure that the soul of a village remained intact but amenities were like those in cities.
The prime minister said till now national schemes and projects were launched from Delhi. But he decided to start the Rurban Mission from Dongargarh's Kurubhat village – about 110 km from Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur. The intention of launching national schemes from a small centre was to move the government out of Delhi and ensure it reached villagers, he said.
Under the scheme, 300 clusters would be developed with an investment of Rs 5,100 crore in three years. Four clusters would be developed in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, Kawardha and Bastar districts. This year, 100 clusters would be taken up under the project.
Modi said the country's economic growth should not be centric to 50 big cities. "For the development and growth of the country, the economy should grow at the village level also," he added.
The prime minister also laid the foundation stone for an electronic manufacturing cluster that would come up on 70 acres in Naya Raipur.
About 61 units would be set up in the cluster with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore. Modi also launched the Chief Minister Housing Scheme that would build low-cost houses.
The Rurban mission would replace the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (Pura) initiative. Rurban would create village clusters to minimise rural migration to cities through skill development programmes.
"If there can be smart cities, why can't there be smart villages," Modi said here, while addressing a mammoth gathering after the launch of the scheme on Sunday afternoon.
Rural migration was increasing but could be contained by providing quality of life in villages, he said. Development should ensure that the soul of a village remained intact but amenities were like those in cities.
The prime minister said till now national schemes and projects were launched from Delhi. But he decided to start the Rurban Mission from Dongargarh's Kurubhat village – about 110 km from Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur. The intention of launching national schemes from a small centre was to move the government out of Delhi and ensure it reached villagers, he said.
Under the scheme, 300 clusters would be developed with an investment of Rs 5,100 crore in three years. Four clusters would be developed in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, Kawardha and Bastar districts. This year, 100 clusters would be taken up under the project.
Modi said the country's economic growth should not be centric to 50 big cities. "For the development and growth of the country, the economy should grow at the village level also," he added.
The prime minister also laid the foundation stone for an electronic manufacturing cluster that would come up on 70 acres in Naya Raipur.
About 61 units would be set up in the cluster with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore. Modi also launched the Chief Minister Housing Scheme that would build low-cost houses.
