What happened: commitment programme for agriculture and rural development

The Ministry of Rural Development organised a commitment programme at C. Subramaniam Auditorium, Pusa, New Delhi to operationalise PM Shri Narendra Modi’s “Shakti Ki Saptadhara” announced from the Red Fort on Independence Day. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan initiated the programme and administered a collective pledge to participants drawn from government departments and rural stakeholders.

Participants in the programme included officials, employees, scientists, farmers, Lakhpati Didis, food processors, exporters, and representatives of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Minister of State Bhagirath Choudhary and Dr. Chandra Shekhar Pemmasani, along with the Secretaries of all four departments, were present.

In his address, Chouhan described agriculture and food processing as key pillars of the vision. He called for coordinated action from farm level to global markets, linking food processing, packaging, branding and exports. He also urged state- and district-level agricultural roadmaps based on local climatic and soil conditions and emphasised roles of research institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and agricultural education and research bodies in taking technologies to farmers.

The event also focused on rural development priorities. Chouhan highlighted the Lakhpati Didi initiative, stating that the target of three crore rural women Lakhpati Didis has been achieved and that PM Modi has set a new target of creating six crore Lakhpati Didis. He linked this to opportunities for skill development, financial support, market access and entrepreneurship for women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), including promotion of She-Marts and branding for better market access.

On implementation, Chouhan stressed monitoring rural development at the village level through field visits and alignment between departmental data and ground realities. He called for expediting rural programmes related to water security, river rejuvenation, conservation of land resources, and rural livelihoods.

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