Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday, 17 August approved 2,89,355 pucca houses worth ₹3,473 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for Rajasthan, handing over the sanction letter to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma at a state-level programme in Baran. The minister also cleared ₹340.59 crore for agricultural development under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY).

Key Approvals Announced

The housing sanction covers 2,89,355 beneficiaries across Rajasthan, with a combined outlay of ₹3,473 crore — one of the larger single-state PMAY-G allocations in recent months. Chouhan said the initiative directly fulfils Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to providing permanent shelter to low-income families still living in kutcha houses.

Separately, the ₹340.59 crore agricultural package under PM-RKVY is aimed at boosting farm productivity and rural incomes across the state. Chouhan said he would work with agricultural scientists and local farmers to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the Kota-Jhalawar region, covering new crops, processing, marketing, and exports.

Expanded PMAY-G Eligibility Criteria

Chouhan announced three significant revisions to the eligibility framework for housing assistance under PMAY-G. Families owning a two-wheeler will now qualify. Women earning up to ₹15,000 per month — raised from the earlier ceiling of ₹10,000 — will be eligible. Small farmers owning up to 5 acres of unirrigated land or 2.5 acres of irrigated land will also be covered.

He directed officials to display transparent beneficiary lists at district and panchayat levels, hear objections, and ensure no eligible family is wrongly excluded. A survey of 29,13,749 new potential beneficiaries has already been completed under PMAY-G; physical verification will follow before additional houses are sanctioned.

Women's Empowerment and Lakhpati Didi Push

Chouhan highlighted that 16 lakh women in Rajasthan have so far been enrolled as Lakhpati Didis, and the state's target has been doubled to 32 lakh. Banks have disbursed ₹13,400 crore to women in the state to support entrepreneurial activities, he said.

Viksit Bharat-GRAM G Yojana and Farm Support

Under the newly introduced Viksit Bharat-GRAM G Yojana, Rajasthan has been assigned an investment target of ₹12,000 crore over the next nine months, with an annual allocation of approximately ₹80 lakh per gram panchayat. Chouhan said development plans under the scheme would be decided by communities themselves at the panchayat level.

On farm inputs, Chouhan assured farmers that a bag of urea — which costs around ₹3,000 at international prices — would continue to be available to them for ₹266 per bag. He warned of strict action against black-marketing of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.

He also announced that stronger legislation on pesticides and seeds — with stricter penalties for malpractice — would be introduced in the next session of Parliament, citing the inadequacy of the existing legal framework to address fake pesticides and substandard seeds.

Political Remarks

Chouhan also took aim at the Indian National Congress (INC), saying any disrespect shown to Vande Mataram — which he described as a symbol of India's freedom struggle and patriotism — was unacceptable. He specifically called on Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to apologise to the nation if the party had engaged in conduct disrespectful of the national song.

With beneficiary surveys complete and eligibility criteria widened, the pace of actual house construction and funds disbursement will be the critical metric to watch in the months ahead.