Lok Sabha Question No. 911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-03
Subject: Smart Villages
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: BIRENDRA KUMAR CHOUDHARY, GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY, SRIRAM MALYADRI, YOGI ADITYANATH, VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL), VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 911

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12 .2015

## SMART VILLAGES

## 911. SHRI BIRENDRA KUMAR CHOUDHARY :

SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM:

SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH:

SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI PATIL:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce any scheme for creating 'smart villages' for providing better basic facilities in rural areas especially in backward areas and such areas on lines of cities with the use of modern techniques, if so, the deta salient features thereof;
- (b) the time by which the smart village scheme is likely to be implemented and the exp likely to be incurred thereon, State/UT - wise;
- (c) the manner and extent to which the said scheme is likely to mitigate the problems o and unemployment along with improvement in the living standard and economic welfare the rural people; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to publicise uch initiatives among the rural people and the role of panchayats therein with special emphasis on flood - prone areas of the country?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a): The  Government  proposes  to  develop  rural  clusters  in  the  country  under  Shyam Prasad Mukherji Rurban  Mission(SPMRM ) .  The  Mission  aims  at  development  of  3 00 clusters in  all  States  and  UTs . These  clusters  would  be  developed  by  provisioning  of economic activi ties, developing skills& local entrepreneurship and providing infrastruc amenities  The  Rurban  Mission  will  thus  develop  a  cluster  of  Smart  Villages.The  S Governments  will  select  Gram  Panchayats/cluster  of  geographically  contiguous  Gra Panchayats  w ith  a  population  of  about  25000  to  50000  in  plain  and  coastal  areas  an population  of  5000  to  15000  in  desert,  hilly  or  tribal  areas as  a  SPMRM  cluster  and implement the Scheme in Mission Mode. It is desirable that the State Government ident Gram Panchayats that are potential

growth  centers  with  resources  available  in  the  area  and  could  lead  to  the  eco transformation  of  the  region.  There  would  be  two  categories  of  clusters, Tribal  and  Non -Tribal .

(b): An outlay of Rs 5142.08 crores has been provided for the scheme for the period 2015 -16 to 2019 - 20.

(c): Under  the  SPMRM, t he State  Governments shallidentify  existing Centrally Sponsored,Central Sector or State Government schemes relevant for the development of the cluster and converge their implementation in an integrated and time bound manner. Fourteen components have been suggested as desirable for inclusion in the development of Rur Cluster.

- i. Piped water su pply
- ii. Agro Processing, Agri Services, Storage and Warehousing.
- iii. Sanitation
- iv. Solid and liquid waste management
- v. Village streets and drains
- vi. Street lights
- vii. Health care connectivity
- viii. Upgrading school education facilities
- ix. Skill development training linked to  economi c activities
- x. Inter - village road connectivity
- xi. Citizen Service Centres -for electronic delivery of citizen centric services/ -gram connectivity
- xii. Public transport
- xiii. LPG Gas Connections
- xiv. Full Digital Literacy

Further the State Government may at its own discretion additionally converge any other State or  Central  Government  scheme  not  falling  under  the  above  components.  These  could  b finalized after due consultation with the Gram Panchayats and should aim at addressin unique needs of the 'Rurban Cluster' and e nable it to leverage its full economic potential.

(d): The  Mission  should  be  adopted  by  the  Gram  Sabha  of  all  the  participating  Gra Panchayats through Gram Sabha and PanchayatSamiti resolutions. PRI members areto be consulted at all stages of the project cycle from planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and maintenance of assets created during the project period. The Clusters selected by the State/UTs can be in the flood prone area also.

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