The Ministry of Rural Development has announced that the Aibawk cluster in Aizawl district of Mizoram has become the first cluster to be completed under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM).
The Aibawk ‘Rurban’ cluster spreads over an area of 522 sq. km across 11 villages and covers a population of 10,963. The Ministry informed that the cluster completed all the 48 projects planned under SPMRM which included works to improve the value chain and develop market access such as agri-link road, pedestrian footpaths, and inter-village road connectivity. Other interventions included the promotion of agriculture and allied activities and eco-tourism.
The infrastructure created in the Rurban cluster included roads, footpaths, drains, water supply, and car parking, a conference centre, sports infrastructure and upgradation of facilities at educational institutions.
Phase-I Aibawk Cluster & Phase- II Thingsulthliah Cluster Works under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) in Mizoram. pic.twitter.com/lxJKUBODTl
— RD Dept., Govt. of Mizoram (@RD_Mizoram) July 4, 2022
It was mentioned that special efforts were made to conserve the local environment and sites of historical importance to encourage tourism when executing the development works.
According to the MoRD, the interventions undertaken to improve livelihood are making an impact on the economic well-being of the local populace. Some of these include Dragon fruit cultivation, piggery and poultry activities, nature trail projects, Rurban Eco Estate Phulpui and Nature Park.
The Wholesale Market Sateek project has helped the local population within and around the cluster to market their Agri -products, it stated.
Moreover, sports infrastructure like the Badminton court and Futsal Ground has helped economically poor players to represent District and the State Level tournaments.
SPMRM is an attempt to make rural areas socially, economically and physically sustainable regions. The Mission strives to strengthen rural areas by providing economic, social and infrastructure amenities, thus leading to sustainable and balanced regional development in the country. The Scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2016.
Rurban clusters are identified across the country’s rural areas showing increasing signs of urbanization – i.e. increase in population density, high levels of non-farm employment, presence of growing economic activities and other socioeconomic parameters.
