New Delhi, Jan 4 (FN Bureau) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam here, emphasizing the pivotal role of rural India in achieving the vision of a developed nation.The event celebrates rural innovation, resilience, and progress under the theme “Building a Resilient Rural India for a Viksit Bharat 2047” and the motto “गांव बढ़े, तो देश बढ़े” (When villages grow, the nation prospers).Addressing the gathering at the event, Modi said, “Our government’s intentions, policies, and decisions are infusing new energy into rural India”.”Our goal is to provide maximum economic assistance to people in villages, enabling them to farm and access new employment and self-employment opportunities within their villages” he said.
The Prime Minister noted, “Since 2014, I have been continuously serving rural India every moment and providing a dignified life to the people of the villages is the priority of my government.””Our vision is that the people of the villages of India should be empowered, they should get maximum opportunities to progress”.Speaking about the PM-KISAN scheme, he said, “With this vision we had provided approximately Rs. 3 lakh crore in financial assistance to farmers….adding that over the past decade, the amount of agricultural loans has increased 3.5 times”.Modi noted that around 70,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are being computerized to ensure that farmers and villagers get better value for their products, thereby strengthening the rural economy.”A report from the State Bank of India came out, according to which rural poverty in India was around 26 percent in 2012. While in 2024, the Rural poverty in the country had decreased to less than 5 percent” he said.Underscoring the unprecedented focus on rural infrastructure, the Prime Minister highlighted that most villages are now connected to highways, expressways, and railways. He noted that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, approximately 4 lakh kilometers of roads was constructed in rural areas over the past 10 years.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said banks have undertaken saturation drive for 16 government schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Mudra and PM SVANidhi.The Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 will be held from 4th to 9th January with an aim to celebrate Rural India’s entrepreneurial spirit and cultural heritage.The Mahotsav, through various discussions, workshops and masterclasses, aims to enhance rural infrastructure, create self-reliant economies, and foster innovation within rural communities.Its objectives include promoting economic stability and financial security among rural populations, with a special focus on North-East India, by addressing financial inclusion and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.