Lok Sabha Question No. 1934 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Aspirational Districts
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Smt. Malvika Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1934 ANSWERED ON 11/03/2025

## ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS

## 1934. SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of new schemes and programmes in the new budget for the rural development of villages in aspirational districts;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  and  the  allocation  for making  sure  that  there  is  proper  connectivity  to  most  of  the villages; and
- (c) the details of steps taken to make uneducated villages aware of  the  schemes and programmes initiated by the Government for their development and upliftment?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a):  In the budget for the Financial Year (FY) 2025-26, the Government has announced launch of a comprehensive multi-sectoral 'Rural Prosperity and Resilience' programme. The programme aims to address underemployment  in  agriculture  through  skilling,  investment,  technology  and invigorating  the  rural  economy.  The  focus  of  the  programme  will  be  on rural women, young farmers, rural youth, marginal and small farmers and landless families with goal to generate ample opportunities in rural areas so that migration is the option, but not a necessity. While Department of Rural  Development  is  lead  Department,  Department  of  Agriculture  and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Department of Financial Services will also be involved in implementation of the programme.

Further,  in  the  Union  Budget  2025-26,  it  has  been  announced  to launch 'Prime Minister DhanDhaanyaKrishiYojna'. The programme is to be implemented  in  convergence  and  will  cover  100  districts  with  low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below average credit parameters.  The  programme  aims  to  help  1.7  crore  farmers  through

enhanced agriculture productivity, improved irrigation facilities and facilitating long-term and short-term credit.

Under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS), Cluster Facilitation Project (CFP) has been rolled out from 1st April 2020. It aims to ensure effective implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS for accelerated Development in  231  Blocks  of  108  Aspirational  Districts  and  46  Blocks  of  other backward areas through better planning.

- (b): Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana  (PMGSY),  which  is  a  one-time  special  intervention  of  the Government of India to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single allweather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations in the core network.

Subsequently,  new  intervention/verticals  namely  PMGSY-II,  Road Connectivity  Project  for  Left  Wing  Extremism  Areas  (RCPLWEA),  and PMGSY-III were added under the ambit of PMGSY for the upgradation of rural  roads  and  construction  of  strategically  important  roads  in  LWE Areas.  Since  inception  till  07.03.2025  a  total  of  77,  403  km  of  road  has been sanctioned, out which 74,969 Km of road length has been competed under various interventions/verticals of PMGSY.

A new vertical named PMGSY-IV has been launched on 11.09.2024 with a focus on providing all-weather connectivity  to  unconnected habitations of 500+ population in plain areas and 250 + population in NE and Hill States/UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule-V, Aspirational Districts/Blocks, Desert Areas) and 100+ in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts as per Census 2011. The scheme will be implemented from 2024-25 to 2028-29 with a total outlay of Rs. 70,125 crore  with  a  target  to  provide  connectivity  to  25,000  unconnected habitations. The Central Government is working in close coordination with the States/UTs to facilitate the submission of proposals under the scheme.

- (c): The  government  is  making  efforts  to  create  awareness  about various welfare schemes through localized campaigns such as community radio stations, and outreach programs. Efforts have also been made to use technology,  such  as  mobile  apps  and  SMS  services,  to  disseminate information about government initiatives. Additionally, community leaders and  self-help  groups  are  being  engaged  to  educate  people  about  the benefits of these programmes and encourage active participation.

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