Question : RURAL BUSINESS HUB SCHEME



(a) the total employment generation by the Rural Business Hubs set up/being set up in selected districts in the country, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh;

(b) whether the Government has identified resources to augment the limited availability of funds which restrict the scheme to Backward Regions Grant Fund and North-Eastern Region districts only;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) the plan of the Government to expand the scheme to every district in the country and the estimated funds required for the purpose along with the time by which the plan is likely to be implemented; and

(e) the list of products identified having potential in international markets and the steps being taken or proposed to be taken to create awareness about their demands among people and train them in their production? 

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI V. KISHORE CHANDRA DEO)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN PART (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 396 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2012 REGARDING RURAL BUSINESS HUB SCHEME.

(a): Details of total employment generated by the Rural Business Hubs that have been set up are not maintained by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. However, the number of beneficiaries of various RBH projects is given State-wise in Annex-I.

(b) to (d): The budget allocation for the RBH scheme introduced during the Eleventh Five Year Plan w.e.f. 2007, has been fairly small, as a result of which the scheme has been restricted to the BRGF districts and districts of the North Eastern States. The implementation of the scheme has not taken off as anticipated and due to the lack of response by various partners, it has been decided to taper off the scheme during the 12th Plan.

(e): RBH projects have been sanctioned for various products including metal work, carpets, embroidery, biofuels, horticultural products etc. However, as the scheme is not being continued in 12th Five Year Plan, no further steps are proposed to be taken for creating awareness or training people in the production of these items.