Rajasthan has received approval for 2,89,355 pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), involving a total outlay of ₹3,473 crore, in a major push to strengthen rural housing across the state.
The announcement was made by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a state-level PMAY-G programme in Baran, where he joined Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. Chouhan handed over the approval letter for the houses to the Chief Minister during the programme.
The event also saw the approval of ₹340.59 crore for agricultural development initiatives, including projects under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. Members of Parliament, MLAs, ministers and a large number of local residents attended the programme.
Nearly 2.9 Lakh Rural Families to Get Housing Support
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said the approval of 2,89,355 houses would help fulfil the government’s commitment to providing pucca homes to eligible poor families in Rajasthan.
He said the initiative would bring a positive change to families that have so far been living in kutcha houses.
The PMAY-G scheme is aimed at supporting eligible rural households that do not have adequate housing by providing assistance for the construction of pucca houses with basic amenities. The latest approval is expected to give fresh momentum to rural housing efforts across Rajasthan.
Survey Completed for More Than 29 Lakh Potential Beneficiaries
Chouhan also revealed that a survey of 29,13,749 new potential beneficiaries has been completed across the state.
The next stage will involve physical verification of the applicants before assistance is sanctioned to those found eligible.
The Union Minister directed officials to ensure transparency in the beneficiary selection process. He called for beneficiary lists to be displayed at district and panchayat levels so that people can examine them and raise objections if necessary.
He also stressed that eligible families should not be denied government assistance because of errors or shortcomings in the identification process.
PMAY-G Eligibility Rules Expanded
In a significant move, Chouhan announced changes to the eligibility criteria for housing assistance under the rural housing programme.
Under the revised provisions, families owning a two-wheeler will also be eligible for a pucca house, removing the earlier restriction.
The income ceiling for women has also been increased. Women earning up to ₹15,000 per month will now be eligible for housing assistance, compared with the earlier limit of ₹10,000 per month.
The eligibility criteria for small farmers have also been expanded. Farmers owning up to five acres of unirrigated land or 2.5 acres of irrigated land will now be eligible for assistance.
The changes are expected to bring more rural households within the ambit of the housing programme.
Rajasthan Sets Target of 32 Lakh Lakhpati Didis
Women’s economic empowerment was another major focus of the programme.
Chouhan said 16 lakh women in Rajasthan have so far become Lakhpati Didis. He announced that the state’s target would now be doubled to 32 lakh Lakhpati Didis.
He also said that ₹13,400 crore has been disbursed to women through various banks to support their entrepreneurial and economic activities.
The Lakhpati Didi initiative seeks to strengthen women’s incomes and encourage greater participation in entrepreneurship and livelihood activities, particularly in rural areas.
Rajasthan Given ₹12,000 Crore Rural Development Target
Chouhan also highlighted the newly introduced Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana, under which Rajasthan has been given a target of ₹12,000 crore in investment over the next nine months.
According to the Union Minister, the initiative is expected to reach gram panchayats across the state, with a target of approximately ₹80 lakh annually for each panchayat.
He emphasised that village development priorities should be determined with the participation of local communities.
Chouhan said development plans should not simply be decided in Delhi or Jaipur, but that people at the panchayat level should have a role in determining the priorities and projects for their villages.
Government Assures Farmers on Urea Availability
Fertiliser availability and affordability were also addressed during the programme.
Speaking about urea, Chouhan said the government was taking steps to ensure that farmers were protected from the impact of international prices.
According to the Minister, while a bag of urea costs around ₹3,000, farmers receive it for ₹266 under the existing government support mechanism.
He also assured farmers that strict action would be taken against black marketing of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.
The assurance comes amid the importance of ensuring timely availability of farm inputs during the agricultural season.
Stronger Law Proposed Against Fake Seeds and Pesticides
Chouhan also announced plans for stronger action against the sale and distribution of fake pesticides and substandard seeds.
He said the existing legal framework was not adequate to effectively tackle the problem and announced that stronger legislation concerning pesticides and seeds would be brought in the next session of Parliament.
The proposed legislation, according to the Minister, would include stricter punishment for those involved in such malpractice and provide stronger protection to farmers.
Kota-Jhalawar to Get Comprehensive Agricultural Roadmap
The Union Minister also announced plans to prepare a comprehensive agricultural roadmap for the Kota-Jhalawar region.
The roadmap will be developed in consultation with agricultural scientists and local farmers and will cover the entire agricultural value chain.
The proposed strategy will focus on identifying new crops, strengthening processing facilities, improving marketing opportunities and expanding the potential for agricultural exports.
The objective is to increase farmers’ incomes by connecting farm production with processing, markets and opportunities beyond the domestic market.
Call for Public Participation in Building Viksit Rajasthan
Chouhan also called upon citizens to contribute to wider social and development initiatives.
He urged people to participate in activities such as planting trees, educating daughters and promoting a drug-free society. He also administered a pledge to those attending the programme and called for collective efforts towards building a Viksit Rajasthan and Viksit Gaon.
In his address, Chouhan also highlighted the significance of Vande Mataram, describing it as a symbol of India’s freedom struggle, sacrifice and patriotism. He said respecting it was the duty of every Indian.
Housing and Agriculture at the Centre of Rajasthan’s Rural Push
The approval of 2,89,355 PMAY-G houses worth ₹3,473 crore marks the central announcement from the Baran programme, while the accompanying measures extend the government’s rural development focus to agriculture, women’s economic empowerment and village-level planning.
The completion of the survey covering more than 29 lakh potential beneficiaries will be followed by physical verification to identify additional eligible households.
Meanwhile, the expanded housing eligibility rules could bring more families into the programme, while the targets for Lakhpati Didis and rural investment are aimed at strengthening household incomes and village economies.
Together, the announcements place housing, agriculture, women’s empowerment and grassroots development at the heart of the government’s latest rural development push in Rajasthan.
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