Flagship programmes driving country’s progress: Chouhan

New Delhi, Mar 17: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday spoke in the Rajya Sabha about the contribution of various flagship programmes — ranging from the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and MGNREGA to Viksit Bharat – G RAM G, PM Awas, Ayushman Bharat, free ration, Lakhpati Didi and rural employment schemes — in driving the country’s progress. He said that Mahatma Gandhi continues to live in the nation’s thoughts, emotions and collective conscience.
In his address, which lasted for over one-and-a-half hours, the Union Minister repeatedly emphasised that Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals remain deeply embedded in the country’s policies and governance approach.
Describing Viksit Bharat – G RAM G as an “upgrade of MGNREGA”, Chouhan said the scheme balances the interests of both farmers and labourers by providing a statutory guarantee of 125 days of employment instead of 100 days, along with better wages, unemployment allowance and legal safeguards such as payment of interest in case of delays. He informed the House that the Central Government has made the largest-ever budgetary provision of Rs 95,692 crore for the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G scheme, representing the Centre’s share alone.
Responding to opposition concerns regarding the source of funding for states, Chouhan listed state-wise allocations and said that nearly every state, including Jharkhand, Kerala, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Tripura, Haryana, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Goa and Maharashtra, has made provisions for the scheme in their budgets, including those governed by Congress or other parties.
“You may continue to stage opposition in Delhi, but in the states, your own governments have approved this scheme. This clearly shows that the scheme has been accepted across the country,” he said.
In his reply, Chouhan outlined a wide array of pro-poor schemes implemented by the government. He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, crores of pucca houses have been constructed; more than 11 crore toilets have been built; crores of LPG connections have been provided under the Ujjwala scheme; tap water has reached homes under ‘Har Ghar Jal’; healthcare of up to Rs 5 lakh is being provided under Ayushman Bharat; affordable medicines are being made available through Jan Aushadhi centres; more than 80 crore people are receiving relief through free ration; over 52 crore Mudra loans have been disbursed; and initiatives such as Skill India, Atal Pension Yojana, PM Garib Kalyan and Kisan Samman Nidhi are being implemented. He said these initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to the principle of prioritising the “last person in the queue”, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi.
On women’s empowerment, Chouhan said that today crores of women are progressing through self-help groups under the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative. Through bank linkages, entrepreneurship and models such as ‘Drone Didi’, ‘Krishi Sakhi’, ‘Bank Sakhi’ and ‘Pashu Sakhi’, women are advancing economically and socially. He said the government has now set a target of creating six crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
“Our resolve is that no sister should remain poor. Women who were once limited to making papads and pickles are now moving towards enhancing the dignity of institutions ranging from Panchayats to Parliament,” he said.