New Delhi : the very first ambitious programme announced in the name of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Rurban Mission – to provide all urban amenities in the rural areas has been quietly put on hold after the realisation that it is only a copycat rehash of UPA government’s PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) programme that did not click.
The Rural Development Ministry has now constituted an internal panel headed by its additional secretary to study why PURA launched way back in 2004 failed to take off and recommend the correctives that should be incorporated before formally launching the Rurban Mission. The 11-member panel has been given two months” time to give its report. Sources said the panel will visit the pilot PURA projects launched at Chitrakoot, Warana, Loni and Periyar and interact with the state officials who were associated with these projects to understand the shortcomings. It will also travel to Gujarat to understand the success story of the state programme extending the urban facilities to some of the villages.
