Shivraj Singh Unveils Rural Development Push With ₹1.25 Lakh Crore Support

Chairing a high-level virtual meeting with State Rural Development Ministers, Chouhan stressed that the transition should not affect employment generation, wage payments or workers' rights.

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed states and Union Territories to ensure a smooth and worker-centric implementation of the new 'Viksit Bharat GRAMG' initiative, which is set to come into effect from 1 July 2026. Chairing a high-level virtual meeting with State Rural Development Ministers, Chouhan stressed that the transition should not affect employment generation, wage payments or workers' rights. He described the initiative as a critical step in strengthening rural livelihoods and accelerating village development under the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

"This is not merely a transition of a scheme, but an issue connected with the lives and livelihoods of crores of workers," the minister said, adding that not a single worker should be left without employment during the changeover period. Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Pemmasani also participated in the meeting.

₹95,692 Crore Interim Allocation Released to States and UTs

To support the rollout, the Centre has announced a substantial financial package. Chouhan informed states that ₹30,000 crore had already been allocated under MGNREGA, while an additional interim allocation of ₹95,692 crore has now been released to states and Union Territories.

With these allocations, total funding will exceed ₹1.25 lakh crore. The minister said the resources will reach nearly 2.80 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country, enabling local bodies to undertake development works while generating employment.

The largest allocations include Uttar Pradesh with ₹12,221.48 crore, West Bengal with ₹8,508 crore, Tamil Nadu with ₹7,957.57 crore, Andhra Pradesh with ₹7,707.21 crore, Rajasthan with ₹7,581.87 crore and Bihar with ₹6,715.83 crore.

Among Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir received the highest allocation at ₹1,151.02 crore. An additional ₹1,850.62 crore has been earmarked for central administration and social audits.

The minister urged states to identify and approve a sufficient number of projects in advance so that implementation can begin immediately from July.

Focus on Digital Readiness and Rural Asset Creation

Chouhan highlighted the importance of digital preparedness in ensuring smooth implementation. He noted that several states have already made significant progress in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), e-KYC verification, face authentication systems and SMS-based information services.

According to the minister, 26 states have already made budgetary provisions aligned with the objectives of 'Viksit Bharat – Gramin Bharat'. Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana and Mizoram have been urged to complete the process quickly, and Chouhan said he would personally communicate with the Chief Ministers of these states.

He also called on states to issue necessary notifications, identify agricultural peak seasons, complete 100 percent e-KYC coverage and organise awareness and capacity-building programmes at district and block levels.

Development works will continue to be identified through Gram Panchayats and approved by Gram Sabhas, ensuring that local priorities remain central to implementation. The minister emphasized that the initiative seeks not only to generate employment but also to create durable rural assets that contribute to long-term development.

Chouhan invited all states to participate in the National Rural Development Conference scheduled for 28–29 June at the PUSA Institute in New Delhi, where detailed discussions on implementation strategies will take place.

He expressed confidence that, with cooperation from all states and under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative would play a significant role in transforming rural India, strengthening village economies and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for millions of workers.