Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a major package of development initiatives for Bihar, focusing on housing, agriculture, rural livelihoods and women’s economic empowerment. Speaking at a state-level Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana programme in Patna, he announced the approval of 11,18,937 pucca houses for poor families in the state, with an allocation of ₹13,427 crore.
Chief Minister Shri Samrat Choudhary and several senior members of the Bihar government attended the programme, which highlighted the Centre’s efforts to accelerate rural development and improve the delivery of welfare schemes.
Over 24 Lakh Houses Approved in Two Years
Shri Chouhan said Bihar has received approval for 24,30,327 houses over the past two years, involving a total expenditure of ₹29,164 crore. He described the housing initiative as an important step towards ensuring dignity, security and improved living conditions for economically weaker families.
He said the objective of the housing programme goes beyond providing a physical structure, as a permanent home gives families greater stability and confidence. He also highlighted the government’s emphasis on transparent fund transfers and direct delivery of benefits to beneficiaries.
According to the Minister, stronger coordination between the Central and state governments has helped speed up implementation of welfare programmes in Bihar.
Crop Insurance to Strengthen Farmers’ Security
The Union Minister also welcomed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in Bihar. The scheme will provide financial protection to farmers against crop losses resulting from floods, drought, excessive rainfall and other natural calamities.
Shri Chouhan said agriculture remains the foundation of livelihoods for a large section of Bihar’s population and stressed the need to make farming more resilient and profitable. Along with insurance coverage, he underlined the importance of procurement, technology and other support mechanisms for farmers.
He urged farmers to understand the benefits available under crop insurance and make timely use of the scheme.
Push for More Lakhpati Didis
Women’s economic empowerment was another major focus of the programme. Shri Chouhan said Self-Help Groups were enabling women in Bihar to become financially independent and contribute more significantly to household incomes.
He stressed the government’s objective of creating more Lakhpati Didis through self-employment, group enterprises, banking access and improved livelihood opportunities. He said the economic progress of women has a direct impact on the overall well-being of their families and communities.
To further support women entrepreneurs, he announced plans to establish She-Marts at the district level. These marketplaces are expected to provide Jeevika Didis and women’s Self-Help Groups with opportunities to market their products.
The Minister said better packaging, product development and market access would be essential for rural products to achieve greater commercial success.
Bihar Makes Progress in Farmer IDs
Shri Chouhan also praised Bihar for creating 53,83,000 Farmer IDs. He said digital identification would help improve the targeting and delivery of government schemes while making beneficiary verification more transparent and efficient.
He expressed confidence that the remaining eligible farmers would also be brought into the digital system soon.
Roads, Housing and Agriculture Key to Rural Growth
Highlighting the importance of integrated rural development, Shri Chouhan identified roads, houses and agriculture as three key pillars for improving village life. Better rural roads can connect farmers and communities with markets and essential services, while permanent housing can provide greater security to families. A stronger agricultural sector, meanwhile, can raise rural incomes and create livelihood opportunities.
He appreciated the efforts of the Bihar government and emphasised that continued cooperation between the Centre and the state would be crucial for accelerating development.
The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Agriculture Minister Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Rural Development Minister Shri Shravan Kumar, Revenue and Reconstruction Minister Shri Vinod Kumar Jaiswal, Cooperation Minister Shri Ramkripal Yadav and other ministers, public representatives, beneficiaries and officials.
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Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
