Employment and self-reliant Gram Panchayats are our goal; Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB- G RAM G) will accelerate development: Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Chhattisgarh’s pace of housing construction a role model for other states; ‘Mor Gaon Mor Pani’ mega campaign making a significant contribution to water conservation
Over 8 lakh houses built in just two years; 17.60 lakh houses completed; special strategy to be framed to complete pending development projects in Bastar division
Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews functioning of Panchayat and Rural Development Department
Raipur, January 31, 2026//
Creating employment and building self-reliant Gram Panchayats is a key objective of the government. The implementation of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB G RAM G) for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural), the pace of development in villages will gain momentum. For this, nearly one-and-a-half time higher approvals have been provided in the budget, said Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Praising the rapid pace of housing construction in Chhattisgarh, Shri Chouhan said it has emerged as a role model for other states. Along with housing, he lauded the ‘Mor Gaon Mor Pani’ mega campaign being implemented village by village, calling it a significant contribution to water conservation. He directed state officials to make more women self-reliant by linking them to self-help groups through an increased number of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and to ensure that wage payments are not delayed under any circumstances. He also instructed senior officials to frame a special strategy to complete pending projects in the Bastar division. Bastar, he said, has remained distant from development for a long time, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government will move forward decisively for its holistic development.
During the review, Shri Chouhan took stock of the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (Gramin), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission (BIHAN), Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana, PM Janman and RCPLWEA schemes. He also directed state officials to expedite recruitment to vacant posts under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a detailed review meeting of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department at Mahanadi Bhavan here on Saturday. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma and Agriculture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam were present.
At the meeting, departmental officials informed that approvals have been granted for 24.58 lakh houses under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana in the state, of which 17.60 lakh houses have been completed. Under PM Janman, 18,373 houses have been completed out of 33,246 approved. Under a special project for surrendered Naxalites, 3,416 houses have been approved. In just two years since the formation of the government, 8.41 lakh houses have been completed, the highest in the country. Through the Lakhpati Didi initiative, over 8,000 women in the state have become Lakhpati Didis so far. More than 5,000 masons have been trained across the state, rainwater harvesting systems have been installed in over 1.5 lakh houses, and information was shared on innovations such as QR codes, Didi ke Goth and Chhattis Kala.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Shri Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Subodh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary,Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Ms. Niharika Barik Singh, PWD Secretary Dr Kamalpreet Singh, and senior departmental officials from Delhi.
