Corporates to chip in for Jharkhand’s only tribal rurban cluster

JAMSHEDPUR: City-based corporates and the East Singhbhum district administration will jointly develop Jharkhand’s only tribal cluster of villages under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) in Dharambahal and Kahsida area, covering eight villages under Ghatsila sub-division. The administration has envisaged an initial spending of `52 crore on this rurban cluster.

Prime minister Narendra Modi had launched the National Rural Urban Mission (NRuM) on February 21, with an aim to develop 300 such rurban clusters in next five years. In the first phase 100 clusters are being taken up.

“The idea is to develop a cluster of villages with mixed facilities of rural and urban areas, thus producing a model of mixed development that preserves and nurtures the rural community life with focus on the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature. Our state has got three such rurban clusters of which Dharambahal-Kashida has been approved as the only tribal rurban cluster,” East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amit Kumar told HT.

The two panchayats selected for the ambitious scheme – Dharambahal and Kashida – covers a population of over 10,000.

“Companies like Hindustan Copper Limited and Jamshedpur Utility and Services Company (Jusco) are being roped in while NGOs like PAN-IIT, Paratham and Kalamanadir will also be engaged,” Kumar said.

The DC said the administration has planned to spend `52 crore in developing rural roads, rural electrification, cooking gas connections, quality health and education services, promote cleanliness and hygiene and skill development.

“The funds will be arranged through various government schemes, untied funds, MP-MLA local area development funds, corporate social responsibility and other sources. We will also focus on improving irrigation facilities and agriculture technology so as to develop agro-based local enterprises,” said Kumar.