Shivraj Singh launches Griha Pravesh ceremony for five lakh rural homes in Maharashtra

India has intensified its rural development drive with the launch of a major housing, infrastructure and farmer support package in Maharashtra, as the Union Government seeks to accelerate rural transformation, improve agricultural resilience and expand social welfare access across villages.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Thursday inaugurated the Griha Pravesh ceremony for five lakh completed rural homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in Satara, Maharashtra, while unveiling several major funding and infrastructure announcements aimed at strengthening rural India.

The event, held at the Sainik School Ground in Satara, was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state ministers, senior officials, beneficiaries and thousands of rural residents.

₹8,368 Crore Approved for Rural Housing Expansion

In one of the largest announcements of the programme, Chouhan confirmed the release of the Centre’s share assistance of ₹8,368.50 crore for Maharashtra under PMAY-G for the 2026–27 financial year.

The funding is expected to significantly accelerate housing construction for low-income rural families and strengthen the state’s ambition of becoming homelessness-free.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the central government has a clear resolve that no poor person in the country should live in a kutcha house and every eligible family should get a respectable pucca roof,” Chouhan said.

He praised Maharashtra for completing five lakh rural houses in record time, describing the achievement as a model of efficient governance and welfare delivery.

The PMAY-G programme remains one of India’s flagship rural welfare schemes aimed at replacing unsafe or temporary housing with permanent homes equipped with basic amenities.

Rural Housing Push Expands Beyond Shelter

Chouhan stressed that the government’s objective extends beyond merely constructing houses and includes improving the broader quality of rural life.

He said beneficiaries would also gain access to:

• Electricity

• Clean water

• Sanitation

• Improved living standards

• Basic infrastructure services

The Minister added that families who may have been excluded from current housing allocations would still have opportunities to qualify following verification and survey processes.

“The door is open for eligible families who have been left out, and more housing will be provided as needed after the survey and verification process is complete,” he said.

Policy analysts say the integration of housing with infrastructure and utility services reflects India’s growing emphasis on multidimensional rural development rather than standalone welfare delivery.

Major Rural Road Infrastructure Approved

Alongside the housing announcements, Chouhan handed over approval for 35 rural road projects worth ₹122.98 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV).

The projects will span nearly 96 kilometres and are expected to improve connectivity for 35 rural habitations across Maharashtra.

The upgraded road infrastructure is intended to enhance access to:

• Schools

• Healthcare facilities

• Markets

• Public services

• Employment opportunities

Infrastructure economists say rural road connectivity remains one of the most important drivers of agricultural productivity, market access and poverty reduction in developing economies.

New “Vikasit Bharat G-RAM-G Yojana” to Launch in July

In a major policy announcement, Chouhan revealed that the Union Government will launch the “Vikasit Bharat G-RAM-G Yojana” on 1 July as part of a broader strategy to modernise and systematically develop India’s villages.

Under the initiative, Gram Panchayats will prepare comprehensive development plans tailored to local requirements.

The scheme is expected to accelerate projects involving:

• Village infrastructure

• Livelihood generation

• Public facilities

• Community development

• Rural economic growth

Chouhan described the initiative as a foundational step toward achieving the national vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) through strong and self-sufficient rural communities.

Onion Farmers Receive Immediate Price Support

The Union Minister also announced emergency relief measures for onion farmers facing declining market prices due to oversupply and export-related pressures.

Chouhan confirmed that the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) would immediately begin procuring onions at ₹12.35 per kilogram.

“From today itself NAFED will start purchasing onions at the rate of Rs. 12.35 per kg, so that farmers can get immediate support,” he said.

The intervention is aimed at stabilising prices and protecting farmer incomes during a period of market volatility.

India’s onion sector remains politically and economically sensitive due to its direct impact on both rural livelihoods and food inflation.

The Minister instructed officials to ensure that procurement systems remain:

• Transparent

• Efficient

• Farmer-focused

• Free from irregularities

Sugarcane Industry Concerns Also Addressed

Chouhan additionally acknowledged concerns facing sugarcane farmers and assured that both the Central and Maharashtra governments would jointly work toward practical solutions.

He confirmed that discussions had already taken place with Chief Minister Fadnavis regarding challenges in the sugar and sugarcane sector.

“Farmers are the backbone of the country’s economy,” Chouhan said, reiterating government’s commitment to protecting agricultural producers.

The announcement comes amid ongoing debates around sugar pricing, ethanol blending, export management and sustainability within India’s sugar industry.

Agriculture Positioned as Core Economic Priority

Throughout his address, Chouhan emphasised that agriculture remains central to India’s economic and social development strategy.

He highlighted several ongoing national initiatives aimed at strengthening farmer welfare and rural growth, including:

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) increases

• Oilseed and pulse procurement programmes

• Cotton Mission initiatives

• Farmer ID systems

• Expansion of rural infrastructure

• Farmer-centric governance reforms

The Minister described farmers as “the soul” of India’s economy and reiterated that rural prosperity remains a top priority for the Modi administration.

Maharashtra Showcased as Rural Development Model

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Maharashtra had received approval for a record three million houses under PMAY-G with support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government.

He said the state had transformed the rural housing campaign into a broader social protection initiative by incorporating:

• Solar-powered electricity access

• Support for landless families

• Improved housing quality

• Enhanced social welfare measures

Fadnavis reiterated Maharashtra’s goal of becoming a homelessness-free state and welcomed the onion procurement intervention announced by the Centre.

Rural Development Emerging as Central Political and Economic Strategy

The large-scale announcements in Maharashtra reflect the growing importance of rural development in India’s economic planning and political strategy.

With hundreds of millions of Indians still dependent on agriculture and rural economies, programmes targeting housing, infrastructure, connectivity and farmer welfare continue to play a critical role in driving economic inclusion and social stability.

Analysts say the integration of welfare delivery, agricultural support and infrastructure expansion demonstrates a broader shift toward holistic rural transformation models.

As India continues pursuing rapid economic growth, strengthening rural resilience and expanding access to basic services remain central to the country’s long-term development agenda.