Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level review meeting in Kolkata to assess development projects and announced a series of initiatives aimed at boosting infrastructure, agriculture and rural development in West Bengal.
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state ministers and senior officials from the Centre and the state government. Several key decisions were taken to accelerate development projects and improve public infrastructure.
Addressing a joint press conference, Chouhan said West Bengal would play an important role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat and stressed the need for coordinated efforts between the Centre and the state to speed up development.
₹82,000 Crore Infrastructure Projects Reviewed
The Minister said that 19 major infrastructure projects worth more than ₹82,000 crore in sectors including roads, railways, metro, petroleum, natural gas and coal were reviewed during the meeting.
He said discussions focused on resolving issues related to land acquisition, rehabilitation, utility shifting, forest clearances and inter-departmental coordination. Concerned departments have been directed to ensure timely implementation of the projects.
Rural Development and Employment
Chouhan announced that the Centre has approved ₹8,508 crore for rural development in West Bengal. Including the state’s contribution, more than ₹12,064 crore will be utilised through Panchayats for employment generation and rural infrastructure development.
He said the government aims to increase employment opportunities beyond the existing 100-day guarantee under the new VB-G RAM G Framework, while creating durable rural assets such as roads, ponds, irrigation facilities, schools and Anganwadi centres.
One Lakh Houses Under PMAY-G
The Union Minister announced interim approval for one lakh rural houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
He said the beneficiary survey deadline has been extended till August 15 due to heavy rainfall so that all eligible families can be identified before house allotments begin.
Financial Support for Women’s Self-Help Groups
Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, financial assistance worth ₹295 crore has been announced for women’s self-help groups in West Bengal. The package includes ₹245 crore in bank credit and ₹50 crore through the Community Investment Fund to strengthen livelihood opportunities and rural entrepreneurship.
Agriculture and Seed Development
Chouhan announced that Malda will be included in the national Clean Plant Programme, where a modern facility will produce disease-free planting material for mango, litchi and other fruit crops.
He also said West Bengal will be developed as the Seed Hub of Eastern India, with projects focusing on rice, maize, potato seeds, orchid cultivation and horticulture to improve productivity and farmers’ incomes.
Crop Insurance and Kisan Credit Cards
The Minister said efforts will be made to expand the coverage of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) across the state to protect farmers against crop losses.
He also announced village-level camps in collaboration with NABARD and banks to increase the reach of Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) and improve farmers’ access to institutional credit.
Chouhan said the Centre would continue working closely with the West Bengal Government to strengthen infrastructure, agriculture, employment generation and rural development, contributing to the state’s overall progress.
