New Delhi:
In a significant move to underscore the government’s commitment to rural development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This six-day event, running from January 4 to 9, 2025, is a celebration of rural India’s resilience and innovation under the theme ‘Building a Resilient Rural India for Viksit Bharat 2047’.
PM Modi’s address highlighted the government’s robust policies and decisions aimed at transforming rural areas into vibrant centers of growth and opportunity. He emphasized that the prosperity of villages is pivotal for the nation’s overall development, stating, “The more self-reliant and progressive our rural areas become, the stronger our journey toward a developed India by 2047.”
Main Body Section
At the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025, PM Modi reiterated the government’s focus on inclusive economic policies to strengthen the rural economy. He reflected on his childhood in a small town, which gave him a firsthand understanding of the challenges and vast potential of rural areas. Modi underscored the government’s achievements since 2014, including ensuring vaccines reached every village during the COVID-19 pandemic, a feat that surprised the world.
The Prime Minister highlighted significant improvements in basic amenities, noting that clean drinking water and essential services are now available in every household across lakhs of villages. The Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, numbering over 1.5 lakh, have enhanced health services, and digital technology has enabled telemedicine, connecting rural areas to top doctors and hospitals.
Financial assistance to farmers has been a key area of focus, with the PM-KISAN scheme providing approximately Rs. 3 lakh crore over the years. Agricultural loans have increased by 3.5 times in the past decade, further bolstering rural economies. Recently, the Cabinet approved the continuation of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana for another year, safeguarding farmers against global price hikes of essential fertilizers like DAP.
PM Modi also announced policies to support traditional artisans through the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, recognizing their contributions to the rural and local economies. The government’s efforts have led to a significant reduction in poverty in rural India, which has fallen below 5% in 2024 from about 26% in 2012, according to an SBI research report.
The Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 aims to bridge the gap between urban and rural sectors by fostering partnerships and encouraging investment in rural India. The event features exhibitions showcasing rural innovations, interactions with artisans, and workshops on empowering rural communities through technology and enhanced agricultural productivity.
