Minister of Rural Development Highlights 9 Years of Its Transformative Achievements

Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh, addressed the media today in New Delhi, shedding light on the remarkable accomplishments of the Rural Development Department over the past nine years. During the press conference, Giriraj Singh outlined the department's unwavering commitment to the principles of Seva (service), Sushasan (good governance), and Garib Kalyan (welfare of the poor) under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

One of the key highlights of Giriraj Singh's address was the assurance of ample funds available for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The Minister also revealed that the Finance Ministry has been approached for additional funds under the scheme, and these funds are expected to be sanctioned shortly.

Furthermore, Singh emphasized the ministry's dedication to achieving the target of creating 2 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ (prosperous sisters) by the end of this year. This scheme, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address this year, aims to empower women in rural areas by providing them with financial independence. To promote awareness and transparency about the ministry's achievements, Singh also unveiled brochures highlighting the nine years of accomplishments under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).

 Giriraj Singh provided insights into various schemes, underscoring the significant progress made over the past nine years in uplifting the lives of rural communities. Here are some of the key highlights:

DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna-National Rural Livelihoods Mission)

• Since 2014, the Ministry has mobilized 7.33 crore women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs), with banks disbursing over 7.22 Lakh crore in loans. Remarkably, the Non-Performing Assets (NPA) percentage has decreased to just 1.88% since 2014. The Ministry's new target is establishing 10 crore SHGs by December 2023, with at least 2 crore becoming "Lakhpati Didis."

PMAY-G (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin)

• Over the last nine years, the Ministry has successfully completed 3.21 crore houses in rural areas, providing a total assistance of 2.48 lakh crore for house construction to beneficiaries.

PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana)

• The Ministry has completed 7.44 lakh kilometers of road length and connected more than 1.62 lakh rural habitations through all-weather roads.

NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)

• In the past nine years, this scheme has generated 2,644 crore person-days of employment, with more than 6.63 lakh crore released as the central share. The construction of over 67,000 'Amrit Sarovar' (water storage reservoirs) in rural areas underscores the ministry's commitment to water resource management.

NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)

• In the past nine years, this scheme has generated a total of 2,644 crore person-days of employment, with more than 6.63 lakh crore released as the central share. The construction of over 67,000 'Amrit Sarovar' (water storage reservoirs) in rural areas underscores the ministry's commitment to water resource management.

Serving as the nodal ministry for most rural development and welfare initiatives, the Rural Development Ministry plays a pivotal role in the nation's overall development strategy. The ministry's vision and mission are rooted in the pursuit of sustainable and inclusive growth for rural India, achieved through a multi-pronged strategy focused on eradicating poverty, creating livelihood opportunities, providing social safety nets, and developing essential infrastructure for growth.