Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday announced the approval of 11,18,937 pucca houses for poor families in Bihar under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, with an allocation of ₹13,427 crore.
Addressing a state-level programme of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Patna, Chouhan said the initiative would provide poor families with greater security, dignity and an improved quality of life. He handed over the sanction letter to Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
The programme was attended by senior ministers, public representatives, beneficiaries and officials of the Bihar government.
Over 24 Lakh Houses Approved in Two Years
Chouhan said that 24,30,327 houses had been approved for Bihar over the past two years, involving a total expenditure of ₹29,164 crore.
He said the government’s housing programme was aimed not merely at constructing brick-and-cement structures but at ensuring dignity and security for poor families.
“A pucca house is not merely a structure of brick and cement. It is a symbol of dignity and confidence for an entire family,” Chouhan said.
He said such houses would protect families from harsh weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain and storms, and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to providing pucca houses to poor families was being implemented on a large scale in Bihar.
Chouhan said the government had strengthened transparency in the delivery of welfare benefits and ensured that funds reached intended beneficiaries directly. He added that the benefits provided under government schemes were the rightful entitlement of poor families and not an act of charity.
Crop Insurance for Bihar Farmers
The Union minister also welcomed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in Bihar, saying the scheme would provide farmers protection against crop losses caused by floods, drought, excessive rainfall and other natural calamities.
Eligible farmers would receive compensation in the event of crop damage, helping reduce the financial risks associated with agriculture, he said.
Describing farmers as the backbone of the country’s food security, Chouhan said the Centre and the Bihar government were working together to make agriculture more remunerative and resilient through crop insurance, procurement support and greater access to technology.
“If the farmer is strong, the village will be strong; and if the village is strong, Bihar will be strong,” he said.
He urged farmers to understand the benefits available under the crop insurance scheme and make timely use of them.
Focus on Women’s Economic Empowerment
Chouhan also highlighted the role of women’s Self-Help Groups in Bihar’s rural economy, saying lakhs of women were progressing through such groups and many had become Lakhpati Didis.
He said the government was focused on increasing women’s incomes through self-employment, group-based enterprises and improved access to banking and financial services.
Chouhan said women’s economic empowerment contributed to the overall social and economic progress of families and described the Lakhpati Didi initiative as an important component of rural development.
He also stressed the need to improve market access for products made by women’s Self-Help Groups and said efforts would be made to establish She-Marts in every district to provide Jeevika Didis and other women entrepreneurs with platforms to market their products.
“Products made in villages can succeed only when there is a proper market for them,” he said.
He added that support for product development, packaging and marketing could help substantially increase the incomes of rural women and strengthen their economic independence.
Bihar Makes Progress in Farmer IDs
Chouhan commended Bihar’s progress in creating digital Farmer IDs, stating that 53,83,000 farmer identity cards had already been generated in the state.
He said the digital identification system would help streamline the delivery of government schemes, improve transparency and enable benefits to reach eligible farmers more efficiently.
Chouhan expressed confidence that the registration of the remaining farmers would also be completed soon.
Roads, Housing and Agriculture Key to Rural Development
Highlighting the importance of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Chouhan said roads, housing and agriculture were three key pillars of rural development.
Better road connectivity would link villages with markets and essential services, pucca houses would provide security and dignity to families, while a stronger agricultural sector would help increase rural incomes, he said.
Chouhan said the Centre and the Bihar government were working together to accelerate development in the state’s villages and strengthen Bihar’s role in India’s growth story. He emphasised that close coordination between the two governments was essential for the state’s progress.
Remarks on Vande Mataram
Chouhan also criticised the Congress over the issue of singing Vande Mataram, alleging that singing only a portion of the national song amounted to disrespecting national sentiments.
He said Vande Mataram was a matter of national pride and not an issue belonging to any particular political party. The song had served as a source of inspiration during India’s freedom movement, he said.
Accusing the Congress and some other political parties of indulging in vote-bank politics, Chouhan alleged that symbols associated with India’s unity, culture and national identity were sometimes distorted for political gains.
He said there could be no compromise on matters linked to national pride and called for Vande Mataram to be sung in its entirety.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar, Revenue and Reconstruction Minister Vinod Kumar Jaiswal, Cooperation Minister Ramkripal Yadav, Minister Sunil Kumar, Rural Works Minister Savita Gupta, the Social Welfare Minister and several other public representatives were present at the programme.
