Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be on a two-day visit to Punjab from November 26 to 27, during which he will interact directly with farmers, MGNREGA beneficiaries and representatives of rural development institutions. The visit is part of the Centre’s wider focus on agricultural growth, rural empowerment and improving the delivery of welfare schemes.
According to the schedule, the Minister will arrive in Amritsar on the night of November 26 and travel the next morning to Ransih Kalan village in Moga district. The village has been recognised for community participation and environment-conscious agricultural practices, including crop residue management. Chouhan will hold open discussions with farmers and villagers on environmental conservation, crop diversification, natural resource management and income-enhancement measures. He will also review innovations being adopted at the local level.
In the afternoon, the Minister will reach the K.L. Saigal Memorial Hall in Jalandhar to meet MGNREGA workers and assess the scheme’s contribution to rural employment and infrastructure creation. The interaction will examine how MGNREGA can further support sustainable livelihoods in synergy with other government initiatives.
Chouhan will later chair a high-level review meeting at the District Administrative Complex in Jalandhar with officials from the Centre and the state. The discussions will cover the progress of various rural development programmes, including housing, self-help groups, road connectivity and skill development. Challenges and implementation strategies will be taken up with the objective of improving coordination and ensuring timely delivery of schemes.
After the review, the Union Minister will address the media to outline the Central Government’s priorities for farmers and rural communities. He is expected to share updates on recent policy decisions and highlight areas of upcoming focus for Punjab.
The day’s final engagement will be at the ICAR–Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) in Badshahpur, Jalandhar, where Chouhan will interact with scientists and farmers on research-driven advances in potato farming. The discussions will focus on the institute’s contribution in supplying quality seed varieties, improving productivity and offering technical guidance to enhance farmer incomes. CPRI has been an important centre for potato research for decades, supporting growers across Punjab and northern India.