Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday announced a major rural development package for Maharashtra, including ₹8,368.50 crore in central assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), while inaugurating the Griha Pravesh ceremony of five lakh completed rural houses in Satara.
The large-scale beneficiary event, held at the Sainik School Ground in Satara, marked the formal handover of newly constructed pucca houses to rural families under the PMAY-G scheme. Chouhan personally handed over house keys to selected beneficiaries and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to ensuring that “every poor family gets a permanent roof” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with senior state ministers and public representatives, attended the programme.
₹8,368 Crore Assistance to Accelerate Rural Housing
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said the Centre has approved ₹8,368.50 crore as the central share for Maharashtra under PMAY-G for the financial year 2026-27. He said the allocation would speed up the construction of rural housing and help the state move towards becoming “homeless-free.”
He also assured that eligible families left out of previous beneficiary lists would be included after verification and survey processes are completed.
“The objective is not only to build houses but also to ensure electricity, water, sanitation and dignified living conditions for every rural family,” the Union Minister said.
Rural Roads Projects Worth ₹122.98 Crore Approved
During the event, Chouhan also handed over approval for 35 rural road projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV to Chief Minister Fadnavis.
The projects, worth ₹122.98 crore and spanning nearly 96 kilometres, are expected to improve connectivity for 35 rural habitations across Maharashtra. The Rural Development Ministry said the projects would improve access to schools, healthcare facilities, markets and other public services in remote villages.
Vikasit Bharat G-RAM-G Yojana From July 1
The Union Minister announced that the “Vikasit Bharat G-RAM-G Yojana” would be launched nationwide from July 1. He said the initiative aims to promote holistic and planned village development through Gram Panchayat-led local development plans.
Chouhan said the scheme would focus on village infrastructure, public facilities and livelihood generation while strengthening the foundation of the Centre’s “Viksit Bharat” vision.
Relief Measures for Onion and Sugarcane Farmers
Chouhan also announced immediate relief for onion farmers, stating that NAFED would begin onion procurement at ₹12.35 per kilogram from Thursday itself to support farmers affected by falling market prices.
He said the Centre would ensure that the procurement process remains transparent and accessible to genuine farmers.
On sugarcane-related issues, Chouhan assured that the Centre and Maharashtra government would jointly work towards resolving challenges faced by sugarcane growers and the sugar sector.
Maharashtra’s PMAY-G Performance Praised
Chief Minister Fadnavis said Maharashtra had completed five lakh rural houses in record time and described the state’s implementation of PMAY-G as a model of efficient governance.
He said the state had received approval for nearly 30 lakh houses with support from the Centre and added that Maharashtra aims to eliminate rural homelessness entirely in the coming years.
Fadnavis also welcomed the onion procurement decision and expressed confidence that issues concerning sugarcane farmers would be addressed through Centre-state coordination.
Focus on Rural Transformation
The programme also featured the distribution of awards under the “Maha Awas Abhiyan” to districts, officials and units for outstanding performance in rural housing implementation.
Chouhan said Maharashtra’s performance demonstrated how political will, administrative efficiency and public welfare could together transform development programmes into mass movements.
Referring to the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Union Minister said good governance must focus on the welfare of the poor, empowerment of women and prosperity of farmers, adding that the Centre was working with the same vision in rural India.
