Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday, 16 May addressed the 'Village Development Chaupal' programme at Thikariya village in Bagru, reaffirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance model places women empowerment, farmer welfare, youth employment, and rural development at its core. Sharma underscored that the uplift of these sections is indispensable for both state and national progress.

Women Empowerment at the Fore

The Chief Minister cited several Central and state-level initiatives driving women's advancement. He credited the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign with improving the gender ratio and catalysing social transformation. Schemes such as household toilets, the Ujjwala cooking-gas programme, tap water connectivity, and Jan Dhan bank accounts have, he said, collectively enhanced dignity, security, and financial inclusion for women across the country.

Sharma also highlighted the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which mandates 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, the Ma Voucher Scheme providing free sonography services for pregnant women, and the distribution of bicycles and scooters to girls. Under the Rajivika initiative, nearly 22 lakh women in Rajasthan have received skill training, and around 17.5 lakh women have become financially self-reliant as 'Lakhpati Didis'. A Rajivika beneficiary present at the event shared how the programme had helped her achieve economic independence.

Farmer Welfare and Water Infrastructure

On agriculture, Sharma noted that farmers receive ₹6,000 annually under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme from the Centre, with the Rajasthan government contributing an additional ₹3,000, taking total annual assistance to ₹9,000 per farmer. The state is also strengthening mandis, warehouses, and processing units to improve farm incomes and promote modern and organic farming.

Major water infrastructure projects — including the Ramjal Setu Link Project, the Yamuna Water Agreement, the Indira Gandhi Canal Project, Ganganahar works, and various dam initiatives — are being accelerated to tackle water scarcity. Farmers in 26 districts are now reportedly receiving electricity during daytime hours following improvements in power generation and distribution.

For livestock rearers, the state has launched the Gopal Credit Card Scheme, offering interest-free loans of up to ₹1.5 lakh. The dairy and cooperative sectors are also being strengthened, with nearly 10 lakh new members added to cooperative institutions.

Employment and Anti-Paper-Leak Drive

Sharma said investment proposals signed during the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit are now being implemented, generating fresh opportunities for youth. More than 1.25 lakh appointment letters for government posts have already been distributed; recruitment is underway for another 1.35 lakh posts, and a calendar for 1.25 lakh additional vacancies has been released.

The Chief Minister accused the previous state government of undermining youth aspirations through paper leak incidents and said the present administration has taken strict action to prevent recurrence. Notably, this accountability framing has become a recurring political touchstone for the Sharma government since it took office.

Green Mobility and GRAM-2026 Deferral

In a gesture aligned with Prime Minister Modi's call for fuel conservation, Sharma travelled from the Chief Minister's residence to Thikariya village aboard an electric bus, accompanied by senior administrative and police officials — a move widely read as a public endorsement of green mobility and clean transportation.

The Chief Minister also announced that the proposed Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM-2026) has been temporarily postponed, citing prevailing global circumstances and the fuel conservation drive. 'Unnecessary fuel consumption should be avoided. People should adopt shared transport and public transportation because fuel conservation is directly linked to economic savings,' he said.

With the chaupal format bringing governance messaging directly to village level, the Rajasthan government appears set to expand such outreach ahead of the next electoral cycle.