Minister for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq on Saturday said the government is contemplating to develop a group of habitations as clusters in rural areas by provisioning of economic, social and physical infrastructure facilities.He said the rural areas in the state are not stand-alone settlements but part of cluster of habitations which are closely linked to each other and government will take a group of such habitations as a cluster and develop these clusters on the pattern of model village with all modern facilities with an aim to reduce the rural-urban divide.Minister said this while laying foundation stone of First Rurban Model village in Khumriyal area of Kupwara district. Revealing the developmental plan for the Khumriyal cluster including Khumriyal,-Cheroot-Gundjahangir villages and its adjoining areas, Minister said about Rs 60.62 crores will be spend to develop the cluster in such a way that it will preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of "Rurban Villages".
Giving details, Minister said that in the first phase, Rs 35 Crore are being spent in three villages to avail the basic facilities within the development activities under the scheme. He said that the Existing High School of Khaumriyal would be up graded as Higher Secondary School being a centrally located place and gateway of Lolab constituency and directed RDD and other executing agencies to utilize the funds judiciously and take the local population into confidence before starting the project.Minister said the objective of the National Rurban Mission (NRuM) is to stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well planned Rurban clusters. He said the aim of the Rurban Mission is to bridge rural-urban divide-viz: economic, technological and those related to facilities and services besides stimulating local economic development with emphasis on reduction of poverty and unemployment in rural areas.
Minister said the development the mission will bring winds of change and will attract investment in rural areas thus checking the rural to urban migration.Addressing an impressive gathering after laying the foundation, Minister said the present government headed by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is striving its best to provide all facilities to the rural areas in shape of developing the existing villages as Cluster Model Villages so that all the basic facilities be made available to the people in these villages.Responding to public demands, minister announced that drinking water facilities will be provide through Dug wells and the services of Dug well shall be resumed during current month. He also announced construction of community Hall at Panchayat Ghar Khumriyal for multipurpose activities beside a public park, computer Lab for High School Khumriyal while fencing of school will be constructed at earliest and the required funds would be made available for these activities soon.