Empowering Every Village: The 2025 Rural Growth Agenda Unveiled

Image Source: IAS Gyan

The government has announced a comprehensive set of measures in Budget 2025 to drive productivity, resilience, and prosperity across India’s rural sector, recognising its pivotal role in the nation’s growth and food security.

Key Highlights:

A record allocation of ₹1.88 lakh crore for rural development will support infrastructure, employment, and empowerment programmes across 6.65 lakh villages, targeting 2.68 lakh Gram Panchayats and Rural Local Bodies.
The PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, covering 100 low-productivity districts, will boost agricultural output through advanced techniques, crop diversification, modern equipment, improved irrigation, and expanded credit access.
The Rural Prosperity and Resilience Program will address underemployment in agriculture, focusing on skilling, technology adoption, and targeted investments to invigorate rural economies and generate local jobs.
The Jal Jeevan Mission is extended to 2028, aiming for 100% rural water supply coverage and robust infrastructure maintenance.
The Bharatnet Project will bring broadband connectivity to all rural government secondary schools and primary health centres, narrowing the digital divide.
Special emphasis is placed on empowering rural women, young farmers, marginalised communities, and landless families through inclusive schemes and micro-enterprise support.
Climate-resilient farming is a priority, with incentives for adopting high-yield, climate-resilient seed varieties, natural farming, and subsidised crop insurance to combat the impact of extreme weather events.

India Post’s extensive network will facilitate rural economic growth by offering micro-credit, digital services, and logistics support for entrepreneurs and self-help groups.

These initiatives collectively aim to create a robust, self-reliant, and future-ready rural sector, ensuring sustained growth and improved livelihoods for millions.

Source: DD News, Times of India, Financial Express, PIB