Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, virtually inaugurated 50,000 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) in Assam today.
The event, held at the Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati, marked a significant step in the state’s rural development journey. Alongside the launch of houses, Chouhan witnessed the distribution of agricultural machinery and equipment to thousands of farmers, a move aimed at enhancing productivity and empowering rural livelihoods.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Chouhan emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to transforming rural infrastructure and providing better living conditions for marginalized communities. With an estimated project cost of ₹650 crore, the 50,000 houses inaugurated will benefit families across Assam, aligning with the broader vision of rural upliftment.
He praised the state’s remarkable progress under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, noting that nearly 19 lakh houses have already been completed out of a target of 20 lakh homes for the underprivileged. Additionally, Chouhan announced the sanctioning of 3.88 lakh more houses under PMAY-G for the current financial year, ensuring continued support for rural families and also another 3.88 lakh houses in the next financial year.
The Union Minister elaborated on the expansion of eligibility criteria under PMAY-G, which aims to include more beneficiaries who were previously excluded. He assured that efforts are underway to ensure that no deserving family is left behind in accessing housing benefits.
The ceremony also included the distribution of power tillers, power weeders, power-operated threshers, pump sets, power sprayers and other essential agricultural tools under various flagship schemes like the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER). The schemes aimed to help farmers in Assam improve productivity and adopt sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, 20 “Millionaire Baideus” (Didis) of the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to rural development and self-help initiatives.
In addition to these initiatives, Chouhan virtually inaugurated critical infrastructure projects such as the Uparhali Principal Market Yard of ASAMB in Kamrup and the Jamunamukh Warehouse in Hojai. These projects aim to enhance market access and storage facilities for farmers, further strengthening Assam’s rural economy.
The Union Minister expressed a vision for transforming Northeast India into a hub for fruits, vegetables, and floriculture, with plans for new initiatives to support this goal underway.
Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, lauded the government’s efforts and reiterated the state’s commitment to empowering farmers and boosting the rural economy. He highlighted the importance of the agricultural machinery distribution in improving farmers’ livelihoods and driving economic growth in rural Assam.
The event was part of Chouhan’s two-day visit to Assam and Meghalaya. During his visit, he reviewed the progress of agriculture and rural development initiatives with state officials in Guwahati and participated in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of ICAR-RC-NEH in Umiam, Meghalaya.
