Centre expands rural housing eligibility and doubles Rajasthan’s Lakhpati Didi target to 32 lakh

Key Highlights

• 2,89,355 rural houses approved for Rajasthan under PMAY-G at a project cost of ₹3,473 crore.
• Survey completed for 29.13 lakh additional potential beneficiaries; further approvals to follow physical verification.
• Families owning two-wheelers, women earning up to ₹15,000 a month and specified small farmers can now qualify for housing assistance.
• Rajasthan receives ₹340.59 crore for agricultural development and PM-RKVY.
• State’s Lakhpati Didi target doubled to 32 lakh women.
• Rajasthan given a ₹12,000-crore target under the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana over the next nine months.

The Centre has approved 2,89,355 pucca houses for rural families in Rajasthan under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), with a project outlay of ₹3,473 crore, Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced during his visit to Baran on August 17.

At the state-level PMAY-G programme, Shri Chouhan handed over the approval letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma. The Centre also approved ₹340.59 crore for agricultural development initiatives and the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) for the state.

29.13 Lakh Potential Beneficiaries Surveyed

The Union Minister said a survey of 29,13,749 new potential PMAY-G beneficiaries has been completed in Rajasthan.

Following physical verification, additional eligible families will receive housing approvals. The government has also directed that beneficiary lists be displayed at district and panchayat levels, with mechanisms for objections and corrections to prevent eligible families from being excluded.

PMAY-G Eligibility Rules Expanded

The government has broadened the eligibility framework for rural housing assistance.

Under the changes announced by Shri Chouhan:

• Families owning a two-wheeler can now qualify for a pucca house.
• Women earning up to ₹15,000 per month are eligible, compared with the earlier ₹10,000 income ceiling.
• Small farmers owning up to 5 acres of unirrigated land or 2.5 acres of irrigated land can also qualify.

The changes could expand the pool of rural households able to access housing assistance.

Rajasthan’s Lakhpati Didi Target Doubled

Women’s economic empowerment was another major focus of the programme.

Shri Chouhan said around 16 lakh women in Rajasthan have already become Lakhpati Didis, and the state’s target has now been doubled to 32 lakh.

He also said approximately ₹13,400 crore has been disbursed through various banks to support women’s entrepreneurial activities.

₹12,000 Crore Rural Development Target

Under the newly introduced Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana, Rajasthan has been assigned an investment target of ₹12,000 crore over the next nine months.

The initiative is expected to reach every gram panchayat, with an indicative target of around ₹80 lakh annually per panchayat. The government has emphasised that village-level development priorities should be determined locally through panchayats and community participation.

Agriculture Gets Fresh Funding

The separate ₹340.59-crore approval for agriculture is expected to accelerate implementation of agricultural development programmes in Rajasthan.

The Union Agriculture Minister said the government would focus on strengthening agricultural development in the state, including the Kota-Jhalawar region. A broader agricultural roadmap for the region is proposed to cover crop diversification, processing, marketing and exports, linking farm production with higher-value markets.

Government Reiterates Fertiliser Support

Addressing farmers, Shri Chouhan highlighted continued government support for fertiliser affordability.

He said a bag of urea costing around ₹3,000 at international prices is being made available to farmers for ₹266, with the government absorbing the difference. He also warned against black marketing of fertilisers and agricultural inputs.

The Minister announced that stronger legislation on pesticides and seeds would be introduced in Parliament to tackle fake pesticides and substandard seeds and provide greater protection to farmers.

Implications for Rural Tourism and Hospitality

The combination of rural housing, agricultural investment, women’s entrepreneurship and local infrastructure development could have a broader impact beyond farming.

For Rajasthan’s tourism economy, stronger rural incomes and improved village infrastructure can support the growth of rural tourism, farm experiences, local food enterprises, handicrafts and community-based tourism. The focus on processing and exports in the Kota-Jhalawar region could also create opportunities for local food brands and agri-value chains.

The expansion of women-led enterprises through the Lakhpati Didi programme could further strengthen locally produced food, handicrafts and hospitality-linked microbusinesses, particularly in rural and semi-urban destinations.

Overall, the Rajasthan package links housing security with agricultural development, rural livelihoods and women-led enterprise—areas that could collectively strengthen the state’s rural economy and tourism ecosystem.