Union Minister for Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, participated in the Rural Self Employment Programme organized by the Ministry of Rural Development at Bhairunda, Madhya Pradesh. During the event, he launched several major initiatives aimed at enhancing rural infrastructure, employment, and housing across India.
Minister unveiled the Awas Sakhi Mobile App under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), which is expected to streamline housing processes and improve transparency in the allocation of homes under the scheme. In addition, the Union Minister inaugurated 100 Community Managed Training Centres (CMTCs) across 18 states, designed to provide training and empower rural communities with self-sustainable skills.
As part of rural infrastructure development, the foundation stone was laid for 500 kilometers of newly paved roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Shri Chouhan also launched the Gram Sadak Survey & Planning Tool, which will improve road planning and connectivity in rural areas. Furthermore, approval was granted for the establishment of five new RSETI (Rural Self Employment Training Institute) training centers in Madhya Pradesh, enhancing skill development opportunities for rural populations.
Speaking on the occasion, Chouhan announced the commencement of a survey of kuccha houses, aimed at identifying families left out from the 2018 pucca house list under the PMAY scheme. ‘The survey will be completed within six months, and eligible families will be included,’ he stated. Additionally, he highlighted that the income eligibility limit for PMAY has been raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month, broadening the scheme’s reach. He also revealed that Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the Lakhpati Didi initiative, which aims to empower women in rural communities.
He provided significant updates for farmers as well, announcing that farmers with irrigated land up to 2.5 acres and non-irrigated land up to 5 acres are now eligible for PMAY benefits. Addressing the declining soybean prices due to foreign oil imports, he shared that the Government of India will impose a 27.5% tax on imported oil to support domestic soybean prices. Additionally, the government has approved purchasing soybeans at the minimum support price (MSP) in Madhya Pradesh, with registrations currently open. He also mentioned that Madhya Pradesh has successfully procured the entire moong crop, and that the minimum export rate on Basmati rice has been abolished, benefiting rice farmers by facilitating foreign exports and potentially raising prices.
The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Mohan Yadav, Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan, Panchayati Raj Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Prahlad Patel, Rural Development Secretary Shailesh Kumar, and several officials from the ministry and the state government.
