(a) whether the Government has opened up rural business centres in various States;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(c) number of employment opportunities generated by these centres in various States of
the country including Rajasthan?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a)&(b) : Rural Business Hub ( RBH) is a participatory development model for the rural
areas of the country that is built on the platform of 4 Ps i.e., Public-Private-Panchayat-
Partnership. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj had been implementing this as a Central Sector
Scheme for promoting businesses using raw materials / skills available in the rural areas. The
scheme targeted all sections in the rural areas to reap the benefits of rapid economic growth
unleashed by the economic reforms by harnessing the resources/ skills in the rural areas and
leveraging the technology/ marketing skills of the industry. The entire process was mediated
/facilitated by the empowered Panchayati Raj Institutions. This scheme was applicable to all
the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and North-Eastern Region districts. Under the
scheme, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj extended token financial support ( not exceeding
Rs.25 lakh) for viable RBH projects and the balance project cost had to be converged through
flows from other Central/ State Government Schemes/ Financial Institutions/implementing
Organizations etc. Mostly, funds had been provided for the income generating activities
related to embroidery units zari craft, handloom weaving, vegetable &vermi-compost
production, etc to utilize the locally available resources and skills for producing marketable
goods. On the recommendations of the Working Group of the Planning Commission, this
Scheme is not being continued during the 12th Five Year Plan.
(c) While, the details of total employment generated by the Rural Business Hubs that had
been set up are not maintained by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the number of beneficiaries
of various RBH projects is given State-wise (including Rajasthan) in Annexure-I.