Rurban Mission: A new mission to make villages smart
Rurban mission is initiative by ministry of Rural development for bridging the gap between villages and cities – Rurban Mission, or officially Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM). This is a government scheme that plans to develop rural areas with urban facilities, so that villagers can also live a modern life and migration to cities is reduced. This mission is an attempt to make villages smart while preserving their essence. So let’s understand about it in detail – what is it, how does it work, what are its benefits, and why is it important for India’s future?
What is Rurban Mission?
Rurban Mission is a Central Government scheme which was launched on 21 February 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Chhattisgarh. Its full name is Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission, which is named after freedom fighter and politician Shyama Prasad Mukherji. It runs under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and its idea is to bring urban facilities in rural areas – meaning “rural soul with urban amenities.”
This mission is the successor of the old Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA) scheme, which was started in 2003 during the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But the Rurban Mission is bigger and more ambitious than this. Its target is to develop 300 “Rurban Clusters” across India, where villagers get basic infrastructure, economic opportunities and services, without losing their rural identity.
What is a Rurban Cluster?
A Rurban Cluster means a group of villages which are geographically close to each other. In plain areas these are clusters with a population of 25,000-50,000 and in hilly, desert or tribal areas with a population of 5,000-15,000. These clusters are under a single block or tehsil so that administration is easy.
Idea and need of Rurban Mission
The rural population in India is still 68% of the total population – meaning 83 crore+ people live in villages (according to 2011 Census). But there is a huge gap in facilities between villages and cities:
The level of roads, electricity, healthcare and education in villages is low.
People flee to cities for jobs, which increases pressure on urban areas.
Poverty and unemployment are also a big problem in rural areas.
The idea of Rurban Mission is to develop villages so much that people do not need to go to cities. To stop this migration, it tries to bring economic growth along with basic services like water, electricity, roads, internet. The government wants villages to become “smart villages”, which along with the Smart City Mission, will take the country towards balanced development.
Objectives of Rurban Mission
Let’s understand its main goals:
Local Economic Development: Increasing jobs and business opportunities in villages.
Basic Services: Improving roads, sanitation, water supply, healthcare, and education.
Reducing Rural-Urban Divide: Eliminating the gap in technology, facilities, and services.
Attracting Investment: Encouraging private companies to invest in rural areas.
Poverty and Unemployment Reduction: Providing sustainable income sources to the people of villages.
This mission wants that the people of villages also enjoy urban lifestyle, but preserve their rural culture and traditions.
Design and working method of Rurban Mission
The work of Rurban Mission is done in a systematic and planned manner. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), in which a large part of the funding comes from the Center and some State governments. Let us see step-by-step how it works:
Cluster Selection:
States choose clusters according to their own based on criteria such as population growth, land value rise, and non-farm workforce participation.
Priority is given to tribal, hilly, and backward areas.
Integrated Cluster Action Plan (ICAP):
A detailed plan is prepared for each cluster, which focuses on local needs and potential.
This plan is prepared in collaboration with Gram Panchayats.
Funding:
70% of total funding is converged from existing government schemes (like MGNREGA, PMAY, NRLM).
The remaining 30% is given by the Center as Critical Gap Funding (CGF) – maximum Rs 30 crore per cluster in plain areas and Rs 15 crore in tribal/hillly areas.
Components:
This mission works on 14 key areas, such as:
Infrastructure: Roads, street lights, drainage, water supply.
Services: Mobile health units, schools upgrade, digital connectivity.
Economic Activities: Skill development, agro-processing units, tourism promotion.
Implementation:
State governments develop clusters, and the Centre monitors them.
Private sector can also be involved through the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model.
14 Components of Rurban Mission
Skill development training linked to jobs.
Agro-processing and storage facilities.
Digital literacy and internet connectivity.
Piped water supply.
Sanitation and solid waste management.
Village roads and public transport.
LPG gas connections.
Health facilities (mobile units, PHCs).
School and higher education upgrades.
Electricity supply (24×7).
Citizen service centers (e-governance).
Tourism and handicraft promotion.
Street lights and safety measures.
Inter-village road connectivity.
All these make a milky cluster self-sufficient and modern.
Rurban Mission Funding
Center Share: 70% or Rs 30 crore per cluster (plain areas) and Rs 15 crore (tribal/hilly areas).
State Share: 30% or matching contribution.
Convergence: Up to 70% of funds are used from existing schemes, like houses from PMAY, roads from MGNREGA.
The total budget was Rs 5,142 crore for 300 clusters, which was planned from 2016-2022. The development of each cluster was to be completed in 3-5 years.
Progress of Rurban Mission (Till 2025)
Till now (March 2025), Rurban Mission has done a lot of work:
Clusters Approved: 300 clusters have been approved across 29 states and 6 UTs.
Funds Released: Rs 4,500 crore+ has been released.
Completed Clusters: 100+ clusters fully developed, rest are ongoing.
Tribal Focus: 100 clusters have been built in tribal areas.
Projects: 20,000+ projects started – roads, water supply, schools, etc.
Example:
Thirunelly (Wayanad, Kerala): Roads, health units, and skill centres were built in tribal clusters.
Dasna Dehat (Ghaziabad, UP): Digital connectivity and sanitation improved.
Benefits of Rurban Mission
Economic Growth: Jobs and businesses grew in villages – for example, farmers benefit from agro-processing units.
Better Living Standards: Water, electricity, roads, and healthcare improve the quality of life.
Migration Reduced: Pressure from cities is reduced when facilities are available in villages.
Smart Villages: Rural charm remains intact with urban amenities.
Women Empowerment: Skill training provides employment to women.
Sustainability: Local resources are used, load on environment is reduced.
Rurban Mission Vs Smart City Mission
Let us compare the two missions:
Focus: Smart City on cities, Rurban on villages.
Goal: Both provide modern facilities, but Rurban preserves rural identity.
Complementary: Rurban supports Smart City – if villages develop, migration load on cities will be reduced.
Scale: Smart City on 100 cities, Rurban on 300 clusters.
Together, both take India towards balanced development.
Success Stories
Punnayurkulam (Thrissur, Kerala):
Water supply and sanitation projects solved the problem of water.
500+ people got jobs from skill centres.
Singhana (Rajasthan):
Solar street lights and roads were built.
Tourism was boosted by local handicrafts.
Thirunelly (Wayanad):
Tribal youth were taught digital literacy.
Maternal care was improved by health units.
Challenges and Problems
But this mission is not perfect, there are some challenges:
Funding Issues: States lack matching funds.
Implementation Slow: Bureaucracy and coordination cause delays.
Low Awareness: Village people do not know about the scheme.
Urban Bias: Urban model dominates too much in planning, rural needs may be ignored.
Sustainability: Maintenance plan of projects is not clear.
Land Disputes: Land acquisition is a problem in cluster development.
Critics’ Opinion
Some experts say that:
This mission foists urbanisation on villages, ignores rural strengths (such as agriculture).
Structural issues such as size of landholdings, caste divisions, and policy gaps are not addressed.
The concept of “Smart Village” is vague – deeper reforms are needed for real rural development.
Solutions and Suggestions
The following ideas can work to solve these problems:
Local Participation: Give more power to Gram Panchayats in planning.
Awareness Campaigns: Explain the scheme to people through radio, TV, and camps.
Sustainable Funding: Use PPP model and CSR funds.
Rural Focus: Pay more attention to agriculture and local crafts.
Monitoring: Check progress through real-time tracking and audits.
Global Context of Rurban Mission
The world also has such missions:
China: Rural Revitalization Strategy modernizes villages.
Europe: Smart Villages Initiative brings technology to rural areas.
Africa: Rural development programs focus on infrastructure.
India’s Rurban Mission can take inspiration from these, but will have to keep its unique rural challenges – population, diversity – in mind.
Government’s Vision
The government wants India to become a $5 trillion economy by 2030, and the Rurban Mission will play a major role in this. It plans to make rural areas economic hubs, so that:
Migration is reduced by 20-30%.
Rural GDP contribution goes up to 40%.
1 crore+ jobs are created.
Future of Rurban Mission
After 300 clusters are completed by 2025, the government can expand it. In the next phase:
500+ clusters can be targeted.
Tech integration (AI, IoT) can make smart villages even smarter.
Focus on climate-friendly projects (solar, rainwater harvesting) can increase.
Conclusion: New look of villages
Friends, Rurban Mission is a dream that is giving a new identity to villages. It not only brings facilities, but also gives opportunities to the people of the village in their homes. It is a way to stop migration, reduce poverty, and empower rural India. But it will be successful only when the implementation is strong, and attention is paid to local needs.
So if you are from a village or work there, know about the Rurban Mission – ask your Gram Panchayat, take advantage of the schemes, and take part in developing your area. This will not only make your future, but that of the country too. If you liked this blog, do share it with your friends, and share your thoughts in the comments. This mission of making villages smart is everyone’s mission – come, join us in this!
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