Lok Sabha Question No. 1333 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-27
Subject: SPMRM
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Soni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1333

ANSWERED ON 27/07/2021

## SPMRM

## 1333.   SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SONI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the criteria for cluster selection under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission-National Rurban Mission along with the details of the provision for increasing clusters; and
- (b) whether any scheme is proposed for setting up other clusters apart from Mandir Hasaud under Raipur Parliamentary Constituency of Chhattisgarh State?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a) Under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) a total of 300 Rurban clusters with thematic economic growth points are to be developed across the country. Out of 300 Rurban clusters, 100 clusters each were allocated to States/UTs in three phases in Financial Year (FY) 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-18 respectively.

As  per  the  provisions  of  Clause  12  of  Framework  of  Implementation  (FOI)  of  SPMRM,  the cluster  selection  process  is  done  by  the  Ministry  and  the  States.  There  are  two  categories  of clusters under SPMRM - (i) Non-Tribal and (ii) Tribal, and the process of selection varies for each of these categories.  The detailed criteria as per the provisions of FOI is given at AnnexureI .

- (b) No  Sir.  No  other  cluster  apart  from  Mandir  Hasaud  under  Raipur  Parliamentary Constituency of Chhattisgarh State is proposed.

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Non-Tribal Clusters: For selection of Non- Tribal clusters, the Ministry has provided a list of leading sub districts to each State, within which the clusters could be identified. The selection of these sub districts by the Ministry is based on parameters such as (i) Decadal Growth in Rural Population (ii) Decadal Growth in Non-Farm work force participation (iii) Presence of Economic Clusters  (iv)  Presence  of  places  of  Tourism  and  Pilgrimage  significance  and  (v)  Proximity  to Transport Corridors Appropriate weightage have been given for each parameter.

Thereafter, within these sub districts, so identified by the Ministry, the State Governments could select the clusters and while doing so, could include the following performance parameters:

- i. Decadal growth in Rural Population.
- ii. Rise in Land Values.
- iii. Decadal growth in Non- Farm Work force participation.
- iv. Percentage Enrollment of girls in secondary schools.
- v. Percentage Households with Bank accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.
- vi. Performance in Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
- vii. Good Governance Initiatives by Gram Panchayats.

Any other factor which the States may consider relevant may also be included. However, a total weightage of 80% would be given for the first 4 parameters and the States have the flexibility to choose the last three parameters, subject to a total weightage of 20%.

While selecting the Rurban cluster the State may identify a large village/gram panchayat that are growth  centers  with  resources  available  in  the  area  that  could  potentially  lead  the  economic transformation of the region. These growth centers could also be block headquarter villages or census  towns.  The  clusters  could  then  be  formed  by  identifying  geographically  contiguous villages/  gram panchayats within a radius of 5-10 km (or radius appropriate to the population density and geography of the region) around the identified growth center.

Tribal Clusters: For  identification  of  the  tribal  clusters,  the  Ministry  selected  the  leading  sub districts falling within the top 100 tribal districts of the country, based on the Scheduled Tribes population. The selection of these sub districts is based on parameters such as:

- (i) Decadal growth in Tribal Population (ii) Current Tribal Literacy Rate (iii) Decadal growth in Non- Farm Work force participation (iv) Decadal growth in Rural Population and (v) Presence of Economic Clusters.

Appropriate  weightages  have  been  given  for  each  of  these  parameters  while  selecting  the  sub districts. Thereafter, within these sub districts so identified by the Ministry, the State Governments selects the clusters and while doing so, could include the following performance parameters:

- i. Decadal growth in Tribal Population.
- ii. Growth in Tribal Literacy rates.
- iii. Decadal growth in Non- Farm Work force participation.

Any  other  factor  which  the  States  may  consider  relevant  may  be  included  in  addition  to  the above three parameters, provided the weightage for the above three parameters is not reduced below 80%.

While selecting the Rurban cluster, in addition to the quantitative aspects mentioned in section 12.2.2  above,  the  state  lays  special  emphasis  on  tribal  areas  and  villages  so  as  to  ensure development of tribal areas.

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