The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and CM Vishnudev Sai reviewed the works of Panchayat & Rural Development and Agriculture Department at Mantralaya (Mahanadi Bhawan) today. The meeting reviewed the status of effective implementation of State and Central schemes and deliberated on future development strategies. Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised the commitment and administrative working style of the Chhattisgarh government and said that the state has done exemplary work in the field of agriculture and rural development. He said that to realise the resolve of a developed India, it is our priority to strengthen the concept of a developed village and a happy farmer.
CM Vishnudev Sai said in the meeting that the Chhattisgarh government considers rural development and agriculture as the backbone of the state. “Our aim is to ensure overall prosperity of villages and not just implementation of schemes,” he said. Increasing farmers’ income, creating employment opportunities and strengthening infrastructure are our topmost priorities. The Chief Minister also underlined that reaching development to the remote and deprived areas of the state in collaboration with the Central government is a shared responsibility, which the Chhattisgarh government is determined to fulfil.
CM Vishnudev Sai said that making the rural economy self-reliant, providing digital services to the last mile and providing skill-based employment to the youth is the real good governance. He said that our strategy is to bring a change in the lives of the people rather than limiting the schemes to just data.
Reviewing the schemes of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department in the meeting, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the need to link the ‘Amrit Sarovar’ scheme with local livelihood. He said that this will provide employment to the villagers and will lead to tangible results in the direction of water conservation. On the request of the State Government, the Union Minister assured to revise the labour budget under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). At the same time, while reviewing the progress of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), he emphasised on early construction of sanctioned houses and physical verification of the new survey being done.
While appreciating the Pradhan Mantri Gramme Sadak Yojana, the Union Minister expressed satisfaction over the progress of construction works under the Niyad Nelanar Yojana, especially in the Naxal affected areas. He said the scheme is taking development to the remotest and challenging terrains of the state. The Union Minister lauded the ‘Atal Digital Suvidha Kendras “launched by the Chhattisgarh Government in Gramme Panchayats and termed it as a revolutionary step towards digital empowerment in the rural economy. He suggested that this innovation be studied and implemented in other states as well.
Reviewing the agriculture sector, Shri Chouhan said that for increasing the income of farmers, efforts are required not only in traditional farming but also in allied sectors like animal husbandry, horticulture, fisheries. He encouraged adoption of scientific farming practices, improved seeds, organic farming and crop rotation. Giving details of the special initiative being launched soon by the Central Government, Shri Chouhan said that the team of scientists will visit various districts of the state and train the farmers in practical and scientific agricultural techniques. He urged the state government to actively participate in this initiative.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed confidence that the Centre and the State Government will together take Chhattisgarh to new heights of development with innovative experiments and commitment in the field of agriculture and rural development. The Chief Minister assured that the Chhattisgarh Government would take all possible steps to translate this shared resolve into ground reality.
Prominent among present occasion included Additional Deputy Commissioner (D) Harbir Singh, SP (D) Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu, SDM Hoshiarpur Amit Mahajan, SDM Dasuya Randeep Singh Heer, SDM Mukerian Ashok Kumar, SDM Garhshankar Harbans Singh, DSP (H) Gurpreet Singh Gill and others.