Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin Plus (+) for the financial year 2024-25, 13.29 lakh houses have been approved for Maharashtra. The survey work for these houses has been completed, and they are now included in the final list. A target of constructing 19.66 lakh houses has been set for the state, with an estimated expenditure of ₹29,501 crore.
He added that under the Awas Plus scheme, individuals owning two-wheelers and telephones will also be eligible for a pucca house. Furthermore, people with a monthly income below ₹15,000 and those owning over 5 acres of unirrigated land will qualify for the scheme.
The government is committed to women's empowerment, with a target of creating 3 crore "Lakhpati Didis" (self-sufficient women) across the country. So far, 1.15 crore women have already achieved this milestone. Highlighting agricultural advancements, Shri Chouhan stated that during the UPA government's tenure, the agricultural budget was only ₹23,000 crore. Under the Modi government, it has been increased to ₹1.27 lakh crore. Additionally, ₹1.94 lakh crore in subsidies have been provided across 45 programs.
The government has stressed the importance of natural farming under the Natural Agriculture Mission while maintaining production levels. Shri Chouhan shared that ₹1,166 lakh crore has already been spent on various ongoing schemes under the National Food Security Program. Recently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated 109 new varieties of 65 crops to the nation, which will significantly support natural farming practices.
The Minister called for curbing the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and advocated for developing irrigation technologies that maximize water efficiency. He emphasized reducing production costs and noted that last year, the government provided farmers with 1.94 metric tonnes of subsidy.
Maharashtra Sets a National Record: Shri Chouhan proudly announced that Maharashtra is the first state in the country to receive the highest target for house construction under the scheme. He expressed confidence that the state government would achieve this goal within the stipulated timeframe.
