Which of the following scheme is an attempt to make rural areas socially, economically and physically sustainable regions ?

Correct — option (1), Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM).

Rajasthan's Economic Review 2022-23 describes this mission in the stem's terms: "The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) is an attempt to make our rural areas socially, economically and physically sustainable regions."

It adds that the mission strengthens rural areas by providing economic, social and infrastructure amenities, leading to sustainable and balanced regional development.

The Ministry of Rural Development's mission website gives the idea behind it: many rural areas are clusters of nearby settlements with potential for growth, and once developed such clusters can be classed as Rurban. The scheme is Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM).

The idea to remember: SPMRM develops clusters of villages into Rurban clusters, with urban-type facilities and rural community life kept intact.

Why the others are wrong

• (2)
  Mahatma Gandhi Jan-bhagidari Vikas Yojana (MGJVY) — MGJVY is a Rajasthan scheme for public participation in rural development. The Review says Guru Golwalkar Jan-bhagidari Vikas Yojana was renamed MGJVY in February 2020; it aims at development, employment generation, and building and maintaining community assets.

  The state pays 90 per cent for cremation ground and graveyard boundary walls and 70 per cent (80 per cent in TSP areas) for other community assets; the public contributes the rest.

• (3)
  Dang Area Development Programme — This is a Rajasthan programme for the "Dang Area", which the Review describes as ravine- and gorge-affected, dacoit-infested backward areas needing investment in infrastructure.

  The Government of Rajasthan re-launched it in 2005-06. The Review 2022-23 says it covers 26 panchayat samitis of 8 districts: Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Dholpur, Baran, Jhalawar, Bharatpur, Kota and Bundi.

• (4)
  Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) — SAGY's main objective, per the Review, is to trigger a process leading to holistic development of identified gram panchayats, and to improve the standard of living so that these villages become models for others.

  Its unit is the individual gram panchayat selected by a Member of Parliament. SPMRM's unit is a cluster of villages.

A Rurban cluster is a group of nearby villages that shows potential for growth and is developed with facilities perceived as essentially urban, while keeping rural community life. The Ministry of Rural Development states SPMRM's objective as stimulating local economic development, enhancing basic services and creating well planned Rurban clusters.

The Mission does not build everything from its own budget. Resources come through convergence of existing government schemes, with Critical Gap Funding from the Mission on top.

Its intended outcomes include bridging the rural-urban divide and attracting investment to rural areas.

Key facts

• Economic Review 2022-23: SPMRM "is an attempt to make our rural areas socially, economically and physically sustainable regions."
• Target of 300 Rurban clusters: the MoRD mission website says "in the next five years", while the Economic Review 2022-23 says "over the following three years".
• SPMRM resources come through convergence of government schemes, supplemented by Critical Gap Funding under the Mission.
• Rajasthan: ₹179.28 crore utilised against ₹196.97 crore available and 1,454 works completed under SPMRM up to December 2022.
• MGJVY was named Guru Golwalkar Jan-bhagidari Vikas Yojana until February 2020.

Common traps

• Unit of development: SPMRM works on clusters of villages, while SAGY works on individual gram panchayats chosen by MPs.
• Central and state schemes side by side: SPMRM and SAGY are Government of India schemes, while MGJVY and the Dang Area Development Programme are Rajasthan's own.
• Renamed schemes: a stem may use MGJVY's old name, Guru Golwalkar Jan-bhagidari Vikas Yojana, changed in February 2020.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2021 here once that paper is published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  According to Rajasthan's Economic Review 2022-23, the Mahatma Gandhi Jan-bhagidari Vikas Yojana was earlier known as

  • (a)Guru Golwalkar Jan-bhagidari Vikas Yojana
  • (b)Swa-Vivek Zila Vikas Yojana
  • (c)Magra Area Development Programme
  • (d)Mukhyamantri Zila Nawachar Nidhi Yojana
  Answer(1) — The Review says Guru Golwalkar Jan-bhagidari Vikas Yojana was renamed MGJVY in February 2020. Options (2), (3) and (4) are separate schemes the Review lists under their own names.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  Under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission, resources mobilised through convergence of various government schemes are supplemented by

  • (a)Critical Gap Funding
  • (b)Viability Gap Funding
  • (c)Rural Infrastructure Development Fund
  • (d)State Road Fund
  Answer(1) — The Ministry of Rural Development says Critical Gap Funding is provided under the Mission on top of convergence. Option (2) supports public-private partnership projects, option (3) is NABARD's fund, and option (4) is a Rajasthan road fund; none is SPMRM's own component.