A ‘Viksit Gaon' is an achievable reality: Chandrasekhar
Speaking at the first Performance Review Committee meeting of the Ministry of Rural Development here, Dr Chandrasekhar underscored the critical role of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in building a 'Viksit Gaon' as the foundation for a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, according to a statement here today.
He said rural development schemes are no longer just welfare measures but essential engines driving the nation's inclusive growth story under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cabinet Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Among flagship initiatives, MGNREGS stood out prominently in the Minister's address. Describing it as 'the strongest weapon against rural unemployment and distress migration', Dr Chandrasekhar highlighted the scheme's continuing relevance, particularly during agricultural lean seasons.
With an annual investment between Rs 90,000 and Rs 1,00,000 crore, MGNREGS has generated over 250 crore person-days of work each year. More than 36 crore job cards have been issued so far, and over 15 crore workers remain active beneficiaries, said the statement.
However, the Minister stressed the need to transition beyond mere wage payments. He called for a shift towards meaningful and durable asset creation, diversified work categories to ensure productivity, greater convergence with other developmental schemes, and enhanced community participation in selecting and planning work.
'The true potential of MGNREGS lies in its ability to create productive infrastructure that sustains rural livelihoods over time,' he said.
In his review, Dr. Chandrasekhar also provided updates on several other key schemes stating that under PMAY-Gramin, over 3.22 crore pucca houses have been constructed so far. An additional 2 crore houses are targeted by 2029. The Minister called for the use of eco-friendly, region-specific technologies and cost-effective housing designs, he said.
Similarly, PMGSY has ensured that more than 7.56 lakh km of rural roads are built. The Minister proposed setting up state-level road maintenance funds and encouraging community-based monitoring for improved sustainability.
Under the DAY-NRLM, over 10.05 crore rural women have been mobilised into 91 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs), with cumulatively achieved bank linkages worth over Rs 11 lakh crore.
Under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, 1.5 crore women now earn more than Rs 1 lakh annually — halfway to the government's 3-crore target, said the Minister even as he emphasised that future efforts must aim to scale up credit access, market connectivity, and skill advancement for SHGs and rural youth alike, the statement added.
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