Baran, August 18: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday handed over approval for 2,89,355 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) to Rajasthan, involving an outlay of ₹3,473 crore.

Chouhan, who was visiting Rajasthan, participated in a state-level PMAY-G programme in Baran along with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. He also handed over an approval letter for ₹340.59 crore under agricultural development initiatives and the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to providing pucca houses to poor families in Rajasthan was being fulfilled.

“Today, approval is being given for 2,89,355 houses at a cost of ₹3,473 crore,” Chouhan said, adding that the initiative would bring a positive transformation in the lives of families living in kutcha houses.

 

Chouhan said the survey of 29,13,749 new beneficiaries had been completed. Following physical verification, houses would be sanctioned for the remaining eligible beneficiaries.

He directed authorities to display transparent beneficiary lists at district and panchayat levels, hear objections and ensure that eligible families are not excluded because of errors or procedural shortcomings.

The Union Minister announced three significant changes in the eligibility criteria for housing assistance.

Under the revised norms, families owning a two-wheeler will also be eligible for a pucca house. The monthly income ceiling for women has been increased from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000, while small farmers owning up to five acres of unirrigated land or 2.5 acres of irrigated land will also qualify for housing assistance.

Highlighting the government's focus on women's economic empowerment, Chouhan said 16 lakh women in Rajasthan had so far become Lakhpati Didis. The target would now be doubled to 32 lakh.

He said women had received ₹13,400 crore through various banks to support entrepreneurial activities.

Referring to the newly introduced Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana, Chouhan said Rajasthan had been given a target of ₹12,000 crore in investment over the next nine months.

He said the programme would extend to every gram panchayat, with an objective of providing approximately ₹80 lakh annually to each panchayat. Development priorities, he said, would be decided locally rather than solely at the state or central level.

“The people themselves will decide development plans at the panchayat level,” Chouhan said.

On urea availability, Chouhan said the government was taking steps to shield farmers from international price fluctuations. Although the cost of a bag of urea is around ₹3,000, farmers would continue to receive it at ₹266, he said.

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 inadequate to tackle the sale of fake pesticides and substandard seeds. He announced that stronger legislation covering pesticides and seeds would be introduced in the next session of Parliament, with provisions for stringent punishment for those involved in such malpractice.

The Union Minister said he would work with agricultural scientists and local farmers to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for the Kota-Jhalawar region.

The roadmap would cover the entire agricultural value chain, including crop diversification, processing, marketing and exports, with the aim of improving farmers' incomes from the farm gate to global markets.

Chouhan also called upon citizens to contribute to social causes, including tree plantation, education for daughters and efforts towards creating a drug-free society. He administered a pledge to those present and urged collective efforts to build a Viksit Rajasthan and Viksit Gaon.

Speaking on the significance of Vande Mataram, Chouhan said the song represents India's freedom struggle, sacrifice and patriotism. He said respecting Vande Mataram was a duty of every Indian.