1. New Initiative for Rural Area: PURA 2 (Provision of
Urban Amenities for Rural Areas)
A concept given by the former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, PURA was initially aimed
at providing urban amenities to the villagers. Now in recently launched PURA - 2
scheme the government is focusing on certain census towns in order to provide urban
infrastructure to these areas.
A census town is an area having a population of more than 5000, population density of
more than 400/km2 and 3/4 of its male workforce involved in non-farming activities. And
as per the 2011 census, the number of census towns in India have been identified as
almost closer to 4000.
Therefore, the growing urbanization in these areas have brought about the need for
certain government initiatives to provide them with basic urban amenities. Looking into
the matter the Planning Commission has granted Rs.1500 cr in the 12th Five Year Plan to
provide these areas with basic amenities like adequate water supply, drainage, sewerage,
solid waste management & street light in six states initially.
These states are:
• Uttar Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu
• West Bengal
• Andhra Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Kerala
It would be based on Public-Private Partnership Model wherein Gram Panchayat will
sign agreements with private partners to construct and maintain the infrastructure initially
for a period of 10 Years.
Importance from examination point of view:
i) Short Note - PURA
ii) Census Town?
iii) Growing Urbanisation & Government Initiative for Infrastructure Development.
iv) 2009 - Paper I (Q. 3-e): Status of Urbanisation among Indian states & bring out
Spatial inequalities.
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