Bharat has always been an Agro Based nation. Agriculture flourished here long before, while most of the world was hunting and gathering. The civilization here flourished on the banks of the rivers due to the agriculture. Agricultural activity and ancillary industry was the major occupation for the people of Bharat.
More than 80% of Bharat lived in rural areas in the pre Independence era. When the British rule came to an end after 150+ years, the foreign rule had changed the ecosystem of Bharatiya culture. For Britishers, Bharat with its rich resources, was a source for raw material as well as a market for their finished goods. Imported goods not only had hit the traditional Bharatiya businesses hard, but also the river based economy and culture.
Introduction of Western education and dilapidated state of Bharat’s conventional industries increased the flow of unemployed people towards the urban areas. Enormous flow of migratory rural population towards cities in search of employment generated a chaotic situation in the urban areas. The trend continued post independence too.
The newly appointed Government of independent Bharat was lacking in vision and inclination with regards to the strategies and planning. They failed to build the amenities required to support the growing population in the cities. As a result, urban areas degenerated due to lack of hygienic amenities and turned into living hell for citizens.
Unfortunately, for Six long decades, the situation continuously worsened. Of course the affluent class grabbed the facilities for comfortable living but the underprivileged class led unhygienic life.
It was only in the Vajpayee era (when late AB Vajpayee was the Hon. Prime Minister) that the first line of Delhi Metro, which is the capital city’s lifeline was inaugurated. Delhi Metro today is a beacon of the country’s urban mobility.
The Golden Quadrilateral Scheme, connecting four Metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai Chennai and Kolkata was his dream. The other grand vision of A B Vajpayee was PradhanMantri Gram Sadak Yojna, a network of all weather roads that criss-cross villages across Bharat, helping movement of farm produce and improved access for the healthcare and education.
During UPA rule, the velocity of work had lessened and the ambitious projects that could have brought the Infrastructural revolution in the growth story of urban areas almost came to a halt.
People voted for change in the 2014 general elections. Narendra Modiji led Government started working with dedicated determination to fulfil the exigencies of the nation. To bring back the momentum of rejuvenating the Urban Infrastructure, Narendra Modiji led Government launched AMRUT mission.
AMRUT Mission implies Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. It was launched by Hon. Prime Minister of Bharat, Shri. Narendrabhai Modi on 24th June 2015 with the focus on establishing the infrastructure that could ensure adequate and robust sewage networks, and water supply.
The purpose of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban transformation (AMRUT) is to ensure that
1) Every household has an access to a water pipeline till home and a sewerage connection.
2) Increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (eg Parks),
3) Reduce pollution by switching to Public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorised transport (eg. walking and cycling).
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) aims in covering around 500 cities with the population of over one Lakh and has notified municipalities.
The scheme also includes all the capital cities or towns of states/UTs , the cities or towns classified as Heritage cities by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the HRIDAY Scheme, Thirteen cities and towns that fall on the stem of the main rivers having a population of more than 75,000 and Ten cities belonging from the hill states, islands and tourist destination.
Digital and smart facilities like weather predictions, Internet and wifi facilities, pollution reduction etc will be brought to these cities and towns.
About 1 Lakh Crore (US $14 Billion) of investment on urban development under the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation of 500 cities has been approved and implemented.
In the first phase, 90 cities in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajesthan have been allocated funds.
A huge allocation of fund has been done for them by the Apex committee of AMRUT under the State Annual Action Plans (SAAP) for these states and at each city level, a City Mission Management units (CMMUs) has been set up to assist the Urban local Body (ULB) in terms of staff and technology.
To facilitate the growing population of the urban areas, Modi ji led Government had designed a plan to provide basic comforts to citizens.
Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh has been included under the AMRUT scheme. The work for planning in different criteria like Sewerage systems, 135 Litres per capita per day has been implemented under this scheme.
In Haryana, the state government under the AMRUT Mission has announced to provide 18 ULBs facilities including water supply, sewerage connection and development of greenery in the cities included under Mission.
In Maharashtra, the state government has announced 43 cities in the state which have been aimed at Urban Transformation in coming five years.
In the state of Telangana, the state government has proposed a plan to enhance water supply in 12 AMRUT cities.
Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been working with professionals sent from the Center under the AMRUT mission and workshops are being organised regarding the management and funding of the scheme.
Agartala, the state capital of Tripura, which lacked in Water supply infrastructure, is today covered up to 62%. The AMRUT scheme has contributed 31% while Tripura state government has made the equal share.
All the cities in Odisha have Water supply through AMRUT scheme.
The central Government designated fund of 77,640 Crores pan Bharat and till now, has already approved the DPR of 71,435 Crores and 607 Pariyojnas worth 777 Crores have already been completed.
Work on 2,645 Yojna worth 45,234 Crores are in progress and 1369 Yojna worth 25,525 Crore are in pipeline.
The Pariyojna worth 9184 Crores are at a designing and development stage.
Energy efficiency is another important element under the scheme. About 79 Lakh Street lights are to be replaced with LEDs and out of which 47 Lakh have already been replaced. This has reduced the Carbon emission of 12 million tons so far.
As many as 420 cities are implementing automated building permissions.
Water is the scarce resource and a key issue in democracyTraditional Water pumps have been replaced by more efficient water pumps.
Credit rating of 412 towns and cities have been done. Out of them 159 cities have been identified as investment worthy whereas 34 cities are in A - rating on investment worthiness.
Ease of living and ease of doing business is introduced through AMRUT.
The design of the mission has brought out exemplary energy into the scheme. It has attracted mammoth participation and colossal contribution from the states.
The Center, on behalf of AMRUT scheme has invested around Rs.50,000 Crores into the mission while the state governments have mobilized more than 3,00,000 Crores.
The AMRUT Mission (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, named in the memory of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is a sincere tribute to him.
Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has envisioned the significance of providing necessary utility systems for comfortable existence of citizens in urban areas. Provision of such resources have been instrumental in building the smaller towns into the Two and Three tier cities. This has resulted in decreasing the load on Metro cities.
Above all, AMRUT Yojna has been a key factor in generating equilibrium in growth of various regions.
Narendra Modiji led Government has brought huge upliftment in the lives of commonest of common man residing in small cities and towns.