With the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a nationwide programme for rural road connectivity, racing ahead of time, other projects on the floor and many more in the pipeline, the Government plans to provide shelter, road connectivity and livelihood to the rural populace.

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“Till now we have covered 63 per cent of the eligible rural habitations by connecting them with all-weather roads. We would be achieving the target in March 2019 well before the March 2022 deadline. Of the 5,46,000 kms of rural roads, which have been sanctioned under PMGSY, we have completed 4,54,000 kms, that is 83.15 percent coverage as on date under the connectivity programme,” Singh added.

The minister stated that the funds are in place for the project.

“In the last year of the UPA government, the fund allocation was Rs.9,000 crore, but when we took over, our first year funding was Rs.13,291 crore. This year we have been given Rs.19,291 crore and the Finance Ministry has assured us that minimum funding would be maintained for the next three years. The large number of youth, who had no opportunity for higher or professional education and employment have been able to access facilities, on account of rural road connectivity,” he said.

“Providing shelter is another challenge in improving the quality of life of the rural population,” said the seasoned politician with a political career spanning over four decades.

“The poorest of the poor should have a house.  According to the latest survey report on Socio-Economic status (SECC), 2 crore 95 lakh families are either houseless or live in dilapidated buildings. They have to be provided a safe pucca house with basic amenities,” Singh said, adding that ‘Housing for all’ – a seven year programme will be completed by 2022. Under the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), the total size for a house was fixed at 20 square meters, but we have increased it to 25 square metres. Every house must have a toilet and space for cooking,” Singh said.

“Under IAY the fund allocated for the construction of a house was Rs.70,000 in plain areas and Rs.75,000 for difficult areas. We intend to increase this substantially. The proposed unit assistance of Rs.1,20,000 in plains and Rs.1,30,000 in hilly areas with 90 days of unskilled labour being provided under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme would enable the beneficiary to construct a quality house.

“We will ensure quality of construction materials and masonry so that the house would last for 30 to 35 years. To achieve this we will soon commence training of masons. Cost of this programme runs into Rs. 2 lakh 40 thousand odd crore,” he said.

The large migration of population from rural areas to cities is another area of concern and Singh, who hails from a socially and politically influential family, said that in the past many schemes have been launched by different governments to curb the migration.

“Take the case of the Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) scheme and other livelihood schemes launched at different times in various parts of the country. This is still an area where a lot of innovations and new ways are to be found to ensure livelihood opportunities in rural areas to regulate migration,” he said.

Singh classified migration into two categories, saying that there are those who migrate to nearby towns and cities in search of livelihood and those who are in a better economic condition but move out to provide better education for their children.

He said: “Before the advent of industrialization and the technological revolution, carpenters, blacksmiths, etc. had scope for livelihood in the village and they were the main service providers. However, after the technological boom, they are deprived of their livelihood opportunities and have started migrating to cities.”

The government has approved the Rurban Mission. Under the programme, the government would develop 300 clusters of villages with a population ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 in one cluster, depending upon the size of the villages.