Jaipur, Aug 17 (IANS) Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during his visit to Rajasthan on Monday, participated in a state‑level programme of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana‑Gramin (PMAY‑G) in Baran along with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
Chouhan handed over an approval letter to the Chief Minister for 2,89,355 pucca houses under PMAY‑G, involving an outlay of Rs 3,473 crore. He also handed over an approval letter for Rs 340.59 crore for agricultural development initiatives and the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM‑RKVY).
Members of Parliament, MLAs, ministers, and many residents attended the programme. Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to providing pucca houses to low-income families in Rajasthan was being fulfilled. “Today, approval is being given for 2,89,355 houses for Rs 3,473 crore,” he said, adding that the initiative would bring positive changes to families still living in kutcha houses.
He also said Rs 340.59 crore had been approved under various agriculture‑related schemes for the development of Rajasthan. Chouhan said a survey of 29,13,749 new beneficiaries had been completed under PMAY‑G. Following physical verification, houses would also be sanctioned for eligible beneficiaries. He directed authorities to display transparent beneficiary lists at district and panchayat levels, hear objections and ensure that eligible families were not wrongly excluded.
Chouhan announced three significant changes to the eligibility criteria for housing assistance: families owning a two‑wheeler will now be eligible, women earning up to Rs 15,000 per month will qualify (earlier Rs 10,000), and small farmers owning up to 5 acres of unirrigated land or 2.5 acres of irrigated land will also be eligible.
He said women’s empowerment remains a key government priority. According to him, 16 lakh women in Rajasthan have so far become Lakhpati Didis, and the state’s target has now been doubled to 32 lakh. He added that banks have so far disbursed Rs 13,400 crore to women to support entrepreneurial activities.
Referring to the newly introduced Viksit Bharat‑GRAM G Yojana, Chouhan said Rajasthan had been given a target of Rs 12,000 crore in investment over the next nine months. He said the programme would reach every gram panchayat, with an annual target of approximately Rs 80 lakh per panchayat. “The people themselves will decide development plans at the panchayat level,” he said.
On fertiliser availability, Chouhan said the government was protecting farmers from international price fluctuations. He said that although a bag of urea costs around Rs 3,000, farmers would continue to receive it for Rs 266 per bag. He also assured farmers that strict action would be taken against black marketing of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.
Chouhan said the existing legal framework was insufficient to tackle the sale of fake pesticides and substandard seeds. He announced that stronger legislation concerning pesticides and seeds would be introduced in the next session of Parliament, with stricter punishment for malpractice and stronger protection for farmers.
He said he would work with agricultural scientists and local farmers to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for the Kota‑Jhalawar region, covering the entire agricultural value chain, including new crops, processing, marketing and exports, to increase farmers’ incomes.
The Union Minister praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rajasthan government and urged 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 for collective efforts to build a Viksit Rajasthan and Viksit Gaon.
In his address, Chouhan described Vande Mataram as a symbol of India’s freedom struggle, sacrifice and patriotism, and said respecting it was the duty of every Indian. Targeting the Congress, he said the song associated with India’s freedom struggle should not be disrespected. Referring specifically to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Chouhan said that if the Congress had engaged in any objectionable or disrespectful conduct concerning the honour of Vande Mataram, she should apologise to the nation.
–IANS
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