Latest news with #Gramin


The Print
a day ago
- Business
- The Print
Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets Rajasthan CM, discuss agriculture, rural development schemes
This includes Rs 3,286 crore for wages, Rs 944 crore for material components, and Rs 154 crore under administrative expenses. In response, CM Sharma expressed his gratitude to the Union minister on behalf of the state of Rajasthan. During the meeting, Chouhan stated that the Ministry of Rural Development had recently released Rs 4,384 crore to Rajasthan under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the current financial year. New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday met with Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and discussed various matters related to the comprehensive development of the rural and agricultural sectors, the ministry said in a statement. The progress of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) was also discussed during the meeting. Chouhan noted that the implementation of this important scheme has been commendable in Rajasthan, with several large-scale surveys being conducted already. He assured that the approval for the construction of additional houses will be granted without delay as soon as the verification of the ongoing surveys is completed. A total of 7.46 lakh houses are to be built in Rajasthan, including those under the PM-JANMAN scheme. The meeting also covered discussions on the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. On agricultural issues, the discussion focused on the implementation progress of schemes such as 'Per Drop More Crop' under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), the construction of pond-like tanks to harvest rainwater, and fencing around fields. They also discussed notable agricultural advancements in the Bassi region of Jaipur. CM Sharma expressed interest in establishing agricultural supervisors at the Gram Panchayat level with the help of the central government Other key topics discussed during the meeting included strengthening interstate trade, notifying Rajasthan's superior peanut varieties, and promoting the state's popular castor oil. Sharma also informed Chouhan about the good progress of monsoon in Rajasthan this year, adding that favourable rainfall is expected to yield a significantly better harvest in 2025. Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, Rural Development Secretary Shailesh Singh, Director General of ICAR Dr. M.L. Jat, and senior officials from both central ministries and the Rajasthan government were also present. PTI AO NB NB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Gujarat tops July rankings in Centre's PM-JANMAN tribal mission
Gujarat ranks first for the month of July under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN). The State approved 12,489 houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin); electrified 5,200 households of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs); installed 37 mobile towers; ensured 100% piped water supply to 2,803 households; and approved 17 road connectivity projects to improve access. The Central government programme focuses on delivering essential services to PVTGs. The State has topped the monthly State-wise ranking based on the implementation of PM-JANMAN. Also read: Tribal Affairs Ministry clears speedier sanctioning of homes under PM-JANMAN package for vulnerable tribes The mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15, 2023, marked as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. It covers 75 PVTGs across 18 States and one Union Territory. The goal is to ensure access to housing, drinking water, healthcare, education, electricity, livelihood, and communication for communities that have remained outside formal systems of development, officials said on Monday. The western State is home to five PVTGs — Kathodi, Kotwalia, Padhar, Siddi, and Kolgha — and the government is focused on addressing development gaps through targeted delivery, the officials added. Also read: Tribal homestays, farming on forest land are highlights of Centre's fresh drive to develop ST villages In the area of healthcare, 22 mobile medical units are operating in tribal areas. 'As many as 67 Anganwadi centres are set to become functional to support early childhood care. The construction of 13 hostels has been approved to expand access to education for PVTG children,' officials said. Eight Union Ministries provide coordinated delivery of services under PM-JANMAN. They include the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Communications, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 'To increase awareness on the mission, the government of Gujarat launched an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign,' the officials said, adding, 'As part of this, 920 PM-JANMAN selfie points were created. Wall paintings were done at 473 locations, 1,446 hoardings and posters were put up, and over 32,000 pamphlets were distributed.' During the outreach campaign, services from other government schemes were also provided. This included the issuance of 23,374 Aadhaar cards, opening of 12,229 Jan Dhan accounts, and the distribution of 2,998 caste certificates and 14,827 ration cards. Additionally, 1,051 Kisan Credit Cards were given out, and 4,048 beneficiaries received assistance under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, they said. 'Over one lakh people received Ayushman Bharat health cards, and 466 women benefited from the PM Matru Vandana Yojana,' the officials said.


New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Union Minister Pemmasani tours Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh districts; pushes mission-mode development
GUNTUR: Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Dr Pemmasani Chandrasekhar conducted a three-day tour of Naxal-affected districts in Chhattisgarh. 'We are implementing development in mission mode to ensure every service reaches even the remotest villages,' the Minister said. He visited villages including Mankeli, Gangaloor, and Cherpal in Bijapur district, where he took part in awareness campaigns and distributed sanction orders under PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) and Ayushman Bharat - PMJAY health cards to beneficiaries. He interacted with self-help groups (SHGs), Anganwadi workers, and community leaders, stressing the importance of grassroots participation in governance. Dr Pemmasani laid the foundation stone for a Farmers' Training Centre and inspected the Primary Health Centre and Livelihood Centre. He praised officials and volunteers for their commitment under challenging conditions and encouraged them to maintain consistent engagement with tribal communities. In Kanker and Kondagaon districts, he addressed public meetings, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to transforming conflict-affected tribal regions through inclusive development. During the three-day visit, he reviewed the progress of flagship schemes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, and Poshan Abhiyaan. He urged officials to enhance inter-departmental convergence to improve delivery outcomes and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left behind. Dr Pemmasani also instructed district administrations to identify bottlenecks and fast-track infrastructure projects. District collectors, elected representatives, and senior officials accompanied him throughout the visit.


Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Shivraj Chauhan takes stock of development schemes
Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged district-level officials to expedite the implementation of the PM Awas Yojna and Lakhpati Didi schemes. During a visit to his parliamentary constituency, Vidisha, he held a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) in Raisen. The meeting involved in-depth discussions on public welfare issues such as steps to check black marketing in fertilisers and crackdown on the sale of counterfeit fertilisers, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Lakhpati Didis under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and water infrastructure. While reviewing the work of the PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) — Awas Plus, Chouhan instructed that the scheme should be implemented in such a way that beneficiaries receive their instalments on time. He stressed on ensuring zero negligence in construction works and called for rigorous monitoring at the district level to ensure timely completion. In the fiscal year 2024-25, as many as 27,981 houses have been approved across all Gram Panchayats of the district — 4,825 are complete, and 23,156 are under progress. Chouhan reviewed the progress under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and asked for a detailed count of Lakhpati Didis. He weighed on the fact that more and more women should be empowered to become Lakhpati Didis through a concrete action plan. It has been said that the district currently has 43,613 Lakhpati Didis. The Union Minister obtained scheme-wise information during the review of the agriculture department's work in the district. He directed that strictest action be taken against people who are engaged in black marketing or selling counterfeit fertilisers, as it amounts to a grave injustice against farmers. The minister also inquired about the procurement of 'moong' (green gram) and instructed officials to inspect procurement centres. During a review of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the Minister directed that every village be connected to main roads, ensuring seamless rural connectivity and improved access to services. It was reported that under the 2024-25 plan, 30 roads covering 276.236 km have been sanctioned, of which 28 roads have been completed. Similarly, of 13 sanctioned bridges, nine have been completed. The meeting also reviewed the work of the National Highways Authority of India. The Minister directed agriculture officers to visit fields regularly and advise farmers about appropriate pesticides in case of crop diseases. He emphasised using Krishi Vigyan Kendras to disseminate the latest agricultural techniques and also instructed on getting on with early preparations for the rabi (winter) crops. Upon being informed that Basmati rice from the district had been rejected in international markets, he told officials to educate farmers against using internationally banned pesticides. Chouhan asked for details about reservoirs and pond water storage conditions during the review of the Water Resources Department. He reiterated that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, every household must have tap water access and that all incomplete projects must be finished at the earliest. He also reviewed the Energy Department's progress, particularly under-construction electricity substations, and instructed that they too be completed without any further delay.
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Business Standard
13-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
IBA pitches for ₹10,000 per unit subsidy for household biogas plants
Indian Biogas Association has pitched for a scheme to provide ₹10,000 per unit subsidy for reviving 5 million biogas units, which are ready with basic infrastructure, saying it can spur mass adoption of the cleaner fuel, especially in rural India. Indian Biogas Association (IBA) Chairman Gaurav Kedia told PTI that the overall government spend on the scheme would be ₹5,000 crore, which could be recovered in two years. He stated that IBA has called for the government to lead a bold, forward-looking attempt to support 5 million biogas units across the country. Infrastructure for these units is already in place and incentives are needed to spur mass adoption in rural India, he noted. "A focused, mission-driven approach like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan can deliver meaningful results in this direction. Most of these systems are underutilized or idle because of insufficient funding, maintenance, and long-term incentives. It is high time we move from potential to performance and convert biogas into a real household fuel of the future. IBA calls for a policy revolution to make biogas systems not only accessible but rewarding," he said. As under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), where the Government of India provides a subsidy of ₹12,000 to eligible rural households for constructing individual household toilets (IHHL), a similar model could be considered for reviving small biogas plants, assuming a revival cost of approximately ₹10,000 per unit, he suggested. He informed that the IBA will propose to the government a one-time grant of ₹10,000 per plant to restore non-operative units to bring dead assets to life, increase clean energy production and enhance the return on public and private sector investments. Given that rural Biogas plants can substitute the subsidized LPG cylinde₹being provided to rural households (12 cylinders per year at ₹603 per cylinder under the Ujjawala Yojana), Biogas can replace free LPG cylinders each year and could help save around ₹3,618 crore per year -if all these 5 million biogas plants become functional, he pointed out. This provides the assurance of continuous cooking fuel, enhances user confidence, and promotes large-scale acceptance by minimising the perceived risk of using biogas alone, he noted. Kedia suggested that the quarterly maintenance check-ups should be implemented by the government on biogas units to provide them with long-term viability and smooth operation. As most breakdowns occur due to minor, avoidable faults, regular check-ups will make plants operate at peak efficiency and enhance user satisfaction, he suggested. With this preventive measure, plant life will be extended, performance enhanced, rural employment created, and misuse of subsidies prevented, he stated. The proposed initiative is aimed at realising the potential of Biogas in India through the means of small-scale biogas plants scattered throughout the country. It is more about changing rural lives, managing solid waste, utilising the digestate as organic manure, and enabling a sustainable future at the grassroot level," Kedia said. One biogas plant can save almost 6 tonnes of CO2 annually and lower firewood use by 5 tonnes, curbing indoor air pollution and felling of trees. States, on the economic front, could save more than ₹50,000 crore jointly through improved waste management, healthcare cost savings, and import substitution. With the appropriate nudge, India can minimise reliance on LPG imports while building a circular, renewable energy economy. IBA will be presenting the proposal to the government soon, he pointed out. "If we get our investments right, India can become the world benchmark," said Kedia, adding that the IBA also urged harmonious integration of this proposed initiative with flagship programs such as GOBARdhan and SATAT, to facilitate easier implementation and impact. The IBA is the largest and professional biogas association for biogas industry stakeholders, including technology providers, project developers, plant operators and planners of biogas plants. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)