“Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan” chaired by Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan charts a shared roadmap for ‘Developed Villages –  Developed India’

Ministry of Rural Development “Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan” chaired by Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan charts a shared roadmap for ‘Developed Villages – Developed India’ Rural Development Ministers from 29 states and Union Territories come together on one platform for the first time Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan says villages are not merely beneficiaries but the driving force of development “The path to a Developed India passes through developed villages”: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan “‘Viksit Bharat – VB-GRAM-G’ scheme to be rolled out across the country from July 1”: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan “Timely release of state funds and filling vacant posts are the keys to development”: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Union Rural Development Minister urges all states to leverage AI and technology to ensure transparency and better service delivery Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces housing for every eligible beneficiary; no deserving family will be left out “This is the time for partnership, not politics”: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches ‘Lakhpati Didi Dashboard’ and ‘SHE LEAPS’ platform for rural women प्रव तथ: 29 JUN 2026 5:30PM by PIB DelhiOn the second day of the two-day Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan, titled ‘Gramodaya Se Rashtrodaya’ and held at the Pusa Campus in New Delhi, Union Minister for Rural Development, and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan held extensive deliberations with Rural Development Ministers from 29 states and Union Territories. The conference not only reviewed the implementation and progress of major rural development schemes but also evolved concrete strategies to translate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Developed Villages – Developed India’ (Viksit Gram - Viksit Bharat) into reality under his leadership and guidance. Addressing the gathering, Shri Chouhan said that villages are not merely clusters of soil, fields and village squares; they represent India’s strength, India’s consciousness and the very soul of the nation. He stressed that the dream of a prosperous and developed India cannot be realised unless villages become prosperous, self-reliant and developed, adding that national progress is impossible without the progress of rural India. Historic gathering of ministers from 29 states and Union TerritoriesFor the first time, Rural Development Ministers, senior government officials and policymakers from 29 states and Union Territories assembled on a common platform to deliberate exclusively on the future of rural development. The Sammelan was attended by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, Rural Development Ministers from various states and other senior representatives. The gathering reflected the true spirit of cooperative federalism, where political differences were set aside and the focus remained firmly on accelerating development, improving governance and strengthening collaboration between the Centre and the states for the benefit of rural communities across the country. Vision of developed villages for a Developed India Emphasising the central role of villages in India’s development journey, Shri Chouhan stated that the vision of a Developed India can be fulfilled only when villages become economically self-reliant, employment-oriented and equipped with quality infrastructure and essential public services. Describing villages as the soul, strength and consciousness of the nation, he said rural development is the foundation upon which the country’s overall development rests. He noted that every investment in villages ultimately contributes to India’s long-term economic growth, social progress and national prosperity.New employment scheme to be implemented from July 1 The Union Minister announced that the ‘Viksit Bharat – VB-GRAM-G’ scheme will be implemented across the country from July 1, replacing the existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). He informed the conference that an interim approval of ₹95,682 crore has already been granted for the implementation of the new programme. Urging state governments to complete all required procedural formalities without delay, Shri Chouhan said timely compliance would ensure smooth rollout of the scheme and uninterrupted delivery of its benefits to rural households across the country. Fresh momentum to the Lakhpati Didi Mission The Sammelan witnessed the launch of the ‘Lakhpati Didi Dashboard’ as well as the inauguration of the digital platform ‘SHE LEAPS’ (Self Help Entrepreneur - Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability) for women associated with Self-Help Groups. Shri Chouhan said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expanded the target of creating Lakhpati Didis from three crore to six crore women. To achieve this ambitious objective, a roadmap has been prepared for bank linkage worth ₹10 lakh crore over the next five years. He said the initiative would strengthen women’s financial inclusion, promote entrepreneurship and create sustainable livelihood opportunities, enabling millions of rural women to become economically independent and active contributors to rural prosperity. Focus on improving implementation Shri Chouhan outlined several priorities for improving the implementation of rural development programmes. He said that states must ensure the timely release of their financial share to avoid delays in projects and payments. He also stressed the need to fill vacant posts related to rural development at the earliest, pointing out that prolonged vacancies weaken implementation capacity. Frequent transfers of officers, he observed, adversely affect continuity and accountability, and therefore officials holding key responsibilities should ordinarily remain at the same posting for at least two to three years. He further emphasised the importance of extensive public awareness campaigns so that eligible beneficiaries are fullyinformed about government schemes. Highlighting the importance of accountability, Shri Chouhan called for stronger social audits and greater use of artificial intelligence-based monitoring systems to improve transparency, efficiency and service delivery across all programmes. Review of housing, road and skill development schemes Reviewing the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and the Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, the Union Minister said several states had delivered commendable performance, while others needed to accelerate implementation and address existing gaps. He laid particular emphasis on providing land to landless beneficiaries eligible under the rural housing scheme and directed that all pending housing cases be resolved expeditiously. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that every deserving rural family receives a permanent house with basic amenities and said no eligible beneficiary should be deprived of this entitlement. Appeal to share best practices and undertake reforms Referring to successful initiatives undertaken by states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, including multi-channel marketing models, community-based enterprises and household livelihood credit schemes, Shri Chouhan said these best practices would be documented and shared with all states so that successful innovations could be replicated across the country. He candidly acknowledged that there remained considerable scope for improving many schemes and administrative procedures. Assuring states of the Centre’s support, he said that if any practical difficulties were being faced because of existing rules or procedures, the Ministry of Rural Development would work in consultation with the Union Cabinet and the Ministry of Finance to introduce appropriate amendments wherever necessary. Alert on water scarcity and the monsoon Expressing concern over the possibility of below-normal rainfall, the Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare urged 14 states to remain vigilant and prepare in advance for any adverse situation. He directed state governments to strengthen water conservation structures and make adequate preparations to generate additional employment opportunities in rural areas if required. He said proactive planning would enable governments to respond effectively to any challenges arising from inadequate rainfall while safeguarding livelihoods and agricultural activity. Message of transformation through partnership Shri Chouhan said this was not the time for competition but for partnership and collective action. He stressed that the Centre should focus on policy formulation, the states should ensure effective implementation, Panchayats should provide leadership at the grassroots level, and citizens should become active participants in the development process. According to him, only such a collaborative model can transform the future of rural India and fundamentally improve both the quality of life and economic prospects of village communities across the country. Encouraging youth and innovation The Sammelan concluded with the felicitation of winners of the logo design, quiz and digital content competitions organised under the VB-GRAM-G initiative. The awards were presented by Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Several publications focusing on new ideas, innovative models and emerging approaches in rural development were also released during the event, underscoring the government’s commitment to encouraging innovation, recognising young talent and promoting fresh thinking in the rural development sector. ***** RC/PU/MK(रलीज़ आईडी: 2279029) आगंतुक पटल : 430 इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Marathi , Assamese , Gujarati , Odia , Tamil , Telugu , Kannada , Malayalam