Odisha to include 5 more Cluster under Rurban Mission
The number of areas taken up under Rurban Mission in Odisha increased to 10 with 5 more areas recommended for inclusion by the State Level Empowerment Committee (SLEC) held under the chairmanship of Chief secretary Sri Aditya Prasad Padhi in secretariat conference hall on Tuesday.
The Panchyati Raj Secretary Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh presented the proposals and outlined the procedures to be adopted in planning and execution of developmental activities in these rurban villages.
Chief Secretary Sri Aditya Prasad Padhi directed to finalize the Integrated Cluster Development Plan (ICAP) for each cluster within this week. Sri Padhi also directed to focus on income generating and sustainable livelihood supporting activities in each cluster. Development Commissioner Sri R. Balakrishnan advised to have GIS based planning of each cluster.
Replying to a media query after the meeting, Secretary Panchyati Raj Sri Singh said that earlier 5 clusters were included in the rurban mission. Today the SLEC recommended for inclusion of 5 more clusters.
The newly recommend areas include Khalikot of Ganjam district, Bhedan of Bargarh district Umorkote of Nabrangpur district, Kothgarh of Kandhamal district and Tusura of Bolangir district. Earlier 5 areas namely Samasingha of Jharsuguda district, Banapur of Khorda district Talabasta of Cuttack district, Thakurmunda of Mayurbhanj district and Utkela of Kalahandi district were included under the Rurban Mission.
Sri Singh added that the committee today considered the draft Integrated Cluster Development Plan (ICAP) prepared for earlier included areas. The ICAP envisaged projects of worth around Rs.500 cr for these five areas. 70% of the estimated expenditure would be arranged from the convergence of ongoing plans and schemes at the State level and around 30% would be provided by Govt of India as grant. The projects like road connectivity, piped water supply, irrigation, solid waste management, digital connectivity, street lights, sanitation projects, income generating livelihood activities, health services, LPG connections etc have been seen as common felt needs in these areas. These clusters would be developed as rurban villages preserving the nature and essence of rural community life with urban living facilities. Each cluster will be developed and managed as one planning area.
Smt Swayam Prava Mohanty Deputy Secretary, Panhayati Raj is presently acting as nodal officer for preparation of ICAP. Available data show, Thakurmunda will be developed as a cluster with multiple sustainable livelihood opportunities, Utkela will be developed as a commerce cluster, Talabasta as a agro cluster, Banapur as a tourism cluster and Samasingha will be developed as a village handicraft cluster. Chief Secretary directed to create facilities for promotion of livelihood and income generating activities in each of the focus sectors in identified clusters.
Principal Secretary Water Resources Sri Pradip Kumar Jena, Principal Secretary Agriculture Sri Monoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary Energy Sri Rajesh Kumar Verma, Secretary SC & ST development Sri Surendra Kumar, Project Ditrector Odisha Livelihood Mission Sri Pranab Jyoti Nath along with senior officers from concerned departments partcicipated in deliberations.