Context:
Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Theme: “Building a Resilient Rural India for a Viksit Bharat 2024.”
- The Mahotsav will be running from January 4 to 9, focusing on strengthening rural infrastructure, fostering innovation, and boosting economic stability in rural India.
- It will highlight the government’s dedication to empowering villages and driving rural development.
Objectives
- The Mahotsav promotes economic self-reliance in rural India.
- Key focus areas: financial inclusion, sustainable agriculture, and rural entrepreneurship.
- Special emphasis on North-East India and empowering rural women.
- Workshops, discussions, and masterclasses will explore technology’s role in rural livelihoods.
- The event will also showcase India’s rich cultural heritage.
Key Initiatives of Government for Rural Development:
- PM Janman Yojana: Focus on developing tribal areas and ensuring equal rights for deprived regions.
- Rural Infrastructure Development:
- Over 4 lakh km of roads were built under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in 10 years.
- 94% of rural households have access to mobile phones, banking, and digital services like UPI.
- Cooperatives and Dairy Production:
- Promoting milk production with better returns for farmers.
- Establishing more cooperatives like Amul to ensure nationwide dairy reach.
- Natural Farming and MSMEs:
- Advancing natural farming and including more farmers in the initiative.
- Focus on branding, packaging, and marketing GI (Geographical Indication) products.
- Diversifying Rural Income:
- Making irrigation affordable, promoting micro-irrigation, and creating more rural enterprises.
- Maximizing benefits from natural farming for the rural economy.
- Women Development in Rural Economy:
- Women are transforming rural life through roles like Bank Sakhis and Bima Sakhis.
- 1.15 crore women have become “Lakhpati Didis“(wealthy women) with a target of 3 crore.
- Some other schemes are like MGNREGA Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Mission Antyodaya, National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA),Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), Aajeevika – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) etc.
- These initiatives are aimed at holistic rural development, empowerment, and progress in India.