PURA-Provision Of Urban Amenities In Rural Areas

Lack of livelihood opportunities, modern amenities and services for decent living in rural areas lead to migration of people to urban areas. There are wide gaps in the availability of physical and social infrastructure between rural and urban areas. To address these issues, in the year 2003 the then President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had enunciated the idea of integrated development of villages leading to urbanization through a mission for Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA). Dr. Kalam visualized providing four connectivities: physical connectivity, electronic connectivity, knowledge connectivity leading to economic connectivity of rural areas.

Subsequently, PURA was implemented as a pilot scheme during the 10th Five Year Plan in Basmath (Maharashtra), Bharthana (Uttar Pradesh), Gohpur (Assam), Kujanga (Orissa), Motipur (Bihar), Rayadurg (Andhra Pradesh) and Shahpura (Rajasthan). An evaluation study of these pilot projects by National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) revealed that the scheme was open-ended without specific guidelines and had no in-built business plan. Besides, it was largely infrastructure-centric without factoring lead economic activities and the site selection was not based on growth potential. It did not allow for convergence with other schemes of rural development or other Departments, hence having limited impact on holistic development of rural areas.

Based on the findings of the evaluation study by NIRD, comments of various Ministries/Departments, feedback received during consultations with private sector representatives and officials of State Governments, and the recommendations of the consulting team of Asian Development Bank (ADB), the scheme was totally restructured as PURA for implementation on pilot basis during 11th Five Year Plan as a Central Sector scheme.

Some of the salient features of the restructured PURA include:

1. Convergence of Central and State Government schemes
2. Implementation in project mode and based on lifecycle cost approach that allows bundling of construction and O&M of infrastructure and amenities
3. Implementation through a single private partner to ensure simultaneous delivery of key infrastructure required in villages leading to optimal use of resources
4. Site selection by private partner on basis of socio-economic growth considerations
5. Agreement between Gram Panchayat and the private partner that makes the restructured PURA a model for empowerment of Gram Panchayats and public accountability

Planning Commission provided an initial budget of Rs. 248 crore for implementing a batch of pilots under PURA For the first batch of projects, MoRD invited Expression of Interest for 6-10 projects for which there were 93 applications from reputed private sector players, 45 applicants were qualified for submitting their detailed proposal and concept plans. Finally, 9 project proposals were approved for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). These projects are scheduled to be located in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.

During the process of rolling out these projects, there have been extensive stakeholder consultations and learnings. On the basis of the same, the scheme guidelines are modified and a second batch of 10-15 pilot projects is proposed for which the Planning Commission has made available an additional Rs. 560 crore.

The Working Group for PURA constituted by Planning Commission has recommended that PURA be upscaled as a full-fledged scheme during the 12th Five Year Plan and implemented all over the country.

Mission And Objectives Of The PURA Scheme

Mission: Holistic and accelerated development of compact areas around a potential growth centre in a Gram Panchayat (or a group of Gram Panchayats) through Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework for providing livelihood opportunities and urban amenities to improve the quality of life in rural areas.

Objectives: The primary objectives of the scheme are the provision of livelihood opportunities and urban amenities in rural areas to bridge the rural – urban divide.