Union Government Sanctions Rs 3,473 Crore for Rural Housing in Rajasthan Under PMAY-G

Jaipur, Aug 18 (KNN) Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan handed over approval for 2,89,355 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in Rajasthan, involving an outlay of Rs 3,473 crore.

The approval letter was handed over to Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma during a state-level PMAY-G programme in Baran. Chouhan also approved Rs 340.59 crore for agricultural development and the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY).

A survey of 29.13 lakh new PMAY-G beneficiaries has been completed. Chouhan said houses would be sanctioned for eligible beneficiaries after physical verification and directed authorities to display beneficiary lists at district and panchayat levels and address objections.

The government has also revised PMAY-G eligibility criteria. Families owning a two-wheeler, women earning up to Rs 15,000 per month and small farmers with up to five acres of unirrigated or 2.5 acres of irrigated land can now qualify for housing assistance.

On women’s empowerment, Chouhan said 16 lakh women in Rajasthan have become Lakhpati Didis, with the target now increased to 32 lakh. He also said Rs 13,400 crore has been disbursed through banks to support women’s entrepreneurial activities.

Under the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana, Rajasthan has been given an investment target of Rs 12,000 crore over the next nine months. 

Each gram panchayat is expected to have an annual development target of around Rs 80 lakh, with local development priorities to be determined at the panchayat level.

On fertiliser prices, Chouhan said that although a bag of urea costs around Rs 3,000, farmers would continue to receive it for Rs 266, with the government bearing the difference. 

He also said stricter legislation on pesticides and seeds would be introduced to address fake and substandard agricultural inputs.

For the Kota-Jhalawar region, Chouhan announced plans for an agricultural roadmap covering crop diversification, processing, marketing and exports to improve farmers’ incomes.

(KNN Bureau)