NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during his visit to Rajasthan, participated in the state-level program of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin in Baran along with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. On the occasion, Chouhan handed over to the Chief Minister the approval letter for 2,89,355 houses under PMAY-G, involving a project outlay of Rs. 3,473 crore. He also handed over an approval letter for Rs. 340.59 crore under agricultural development initiatives and the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The program was attended by Members of Parliament, MLAs, ministers in charge, and a large number of local residents.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to providing pucca houses to poor families in Rajasthan is being fulfilled. “Today, approval is being given for 2,89,355 houses at a cost of Rs. 3,473 crore and this gift is being dedicated to Rajasthan. It will bring a positive transformation in the lives of families who have so far been living in kutcha houses,” he said. He added that Rs. 340.59 crore under various agriculture-related schemes has also been released for the development of the state.

Chouhan informed that a survey of 29,13,749 new beneficiaries has been completed. After physical verification, houses will also be sanctioned for the remaining eligible beneficiaries. He directed that transparent beneficiary lists be displayed at the district and panchayat levels, objections be heard, and wrongful exclusion of eligible beneficiaries be prevented so that deserving families do not lose their benefits due to errors.

Chouhan announced three major changes in the eligibility criteria for housing assistance. Families owning a two-wheeler will now also be eligible for a pucca house, removing the earlier restriction. Women earning up to Rs. 15,000 per month will also be eligible for the benefit. The earlier income ceiling was Rs. 10,000 per month. Small farmers owning up to 5 acres of unirrigated land or 2.5 acres of irrigated land will also be eligible for housing assistance.

The Union Minister said that women’s empowerment is one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s key priorities. He announced that 16 lakh women in Rajasthan have so far become Lakhpati Didis, and the target will now be doubled to 32 lakh Lakhpati Didis. Chouhan further said that Rs. 13,400 crore has so far been disbursed to women through various banks to support their entrepreneurial activities.

Referring to the newly introduced Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana, Chouhan said that Rajasthan has been given a target of Rs. 12,000 crore in investment over the next nine months. He said the impact of the initiative would reach every gram panchayat, with a target of providing approximately Rs. 80 lakh annually to each panchayat. The Union Minister made it clear that development priorities in villages would not be decided in Delhi or Jaipur. “The people themselves will decide development plans at the panchayat level,” he said.

On the availability of urea, Chouhan said the government was ensuring that farmers were not burdened by international prices. He said that although a bag of urea costs around Rs. 3,000, arrangements have been made to ensure that farmers receive it for only Rs. 266. He also assured farmers of strict action against black marketing of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.

Chouhan said that the existing legal framework is not adequate to deal with the menace of fake pesticides and substandard seeds. He announced that stronger legislation relating to pesticides and seeds would be brought in the next session of Parliament, with provisions for stringent punishment for those involved in such malpractice and stronger protection for farmers.

Chouhan said that he would work with scientists and local farmers to prepare a comprehensive agricultural roadmap for the Kota-Jhalawar region. The roadmap, he said, would focus on the entire value chain, including new crops, processing, marketing and exports, with the objective of increasing farmers’ incomes from the farm gate to global markets.

The Union Minister praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government and called upon citizens to contribute to social causes, including serving society, planting trees, educating daughters and promoting a drug-free society. He also administered a pledge to those present and called upon everyone to work together towards building a Viksit Rajasthan and Viksit Gaon.

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