Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious ‘Rurban Mission‘ for developing 300 villages across the country as urban growth centres amid his assertion that his government is for the poor, dalits and other oppressed. The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban (rural-urban) project will focus on improving infrastructural facilities such as power lines, shelters, roads, drinking water connections and drainage, and creating community assets such as schools, colleges and health centres.

Announced by the BJP government at the Centre last year, the Rurban project replaces the UPA government’s Pura (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) initiative. The other goals of the scheme include ensuring the development of a given area by creating clusters of villages with a population count of 25,000-60,000 and minimising rural migration to cities through skill development programmes.

Under the ‘Rurban Mission’, the PM said 300 rural centres, catering to at least four adjoining villages each, will be developed as urban clusters with modern facilities. 100 such centres are targeted to be developed this year itself.

On the occasion, the PM also launched a ‘Jan Aushadi Bandaar‘ campaign for providing cheap medication to people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “This government is for the poor, dalits, adhivasis, oppressed and deprived sections of the society. It is for the person standing in the last row”.