Gandhinagar, March 12 (NationPress) On Thursday, the Gujarat Assembly approved a substantial budget of Rs 3,725.11 crore for the Rural Development Department for the fiscal year 2026–27.

The initiative includes extending rural employment from 100 days to 125 days as part of a new mission, along with an enhancement in housing assistance for beneficiaries.

During the Assembly discussions, Rural Development Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya emphasized that the budget is designed to boost employment prospects in rural areas, enhance housing for rural families, and promote women's economic involvement.

Bavaliya stated, "The anticipated 'Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G Ram G)' will ensure rural workers receive 125 days of guaranteed employment instead of the previous 100 days. We have allocated Rs 1,500 crore for this initiative."

He added, "The efforts of our rural labor force will be valued more highly, and through this mission, we aim to achieve the Vision 2047 objectives in the rural employment sector."

The budget also proposes increased financial support for beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).

To date, over 6.90 lakh homes have been constructed in the state under this scheme.

For the financial year 2026–27, a budget of Rs 1,617.33 crore has been proposed, and with an added state contribution of Rs 50,000 per house, the total assistance for each beneficiary will reach Rs 2,32,920.

An additional Rs 47.35 crore has been allocated under the PM‑Janman Scheme to aid housing for families from particularly vulnerable tribal groups.

Additionally, the minister announced financial backing to finalize approximately 18,000 pending houses from the period between 2016–17 and 2023–24.

These delayed houses will receive an extra Rs 50,000 each through full state funding, totaling a provision of Rs 90 crore.

In addressing rural employment and the economic empowerment of women, Bavaliya mentioned that more than 5.96 lakh women in Gujarat have become "Lakhpati Didis."

"To further support these women, the government has introduced a new provision of Rs 47.25 crore for interest subsidies on loans and incentives for their businesses," he noted.

To enhance market access for self-help groups, the government intends to establish "Gram Haats (markets)" at pilgrimage and tourist destinations with a budget of Rs 20 crore, where products created by women's groups can be marketed.

An additional Rs 25 crore has been earmarked for the marketing and e-commerce promotion of products produced by self-help groups.

The budget also includes Rs 737.91 crore for rural sanitation under the 'Swachh Bharat Mission'.

Support for building Community Sanitation Complexes has increased from Rs three lakh to Rs five lakh, with a Rs 10 crore provision for the program.

Other allocations encompass Rs 50 crore for drainage and liquid waste management systems in villages.

During the debate, Bavaliya stated that the government operates under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

"This budget aims to make villages prosperous, and will help realize the vision of ‘developed villages leading to a developed India,’" he concluded.

The budgetary provisions for the Rural Development Department were subsequently approved by the Assembly.