Centre fast-tracks rural lifelines in J&K

Srinagar, Apr 28: Rural infrastructure, women’s empowerment, and agriculture-led prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir received a major boost on Tuesday as the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the sanction of Rs 8000 crore road projects for J&K.

Handing over the sanction letter for projects approved under the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY)-IV (Batch-II) for Jammu and Kashmir to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, at a programme held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, the union minister said that developed J&K was key to developed India and stressed that the doors of both Dil (heart) and Delhi (Centre) were open for J&K’s development.

Chouhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India was committed not only to building roads but also to connecting hearts, adding that for the development of Jammu and Kashmir, “the doors of both the Dil and Delhi are open.

He said that Jammu and Kashmir was accorded priority in the first phase of PMGSY-IV approvals and had again been prioritised in the second phase, reflecting the Centre’s strong commitment to the region.

Chouhan said that the approval of road projects worth nearly Rs 8000 crore for Jammu and Kashmir within a single year was a historic achievement.

He assured that as construction progresses on the sanctioned roads, the central government would continue to take positive decisions on the remaining required routes. The union minister emphasised that the objective was not merely road construction but connecting every village, habitation, and remote settlement to the mainstream of development, as roads bring schools, hospitals, markets, and opportunities closer to people.

Focusing on women’s empowerment, he said that a Mother Sanction exceeding Rs 4568.23 crore had been released under DAY-NRLM for women Self-Help Groups across 24 states and Union Territories.

Addressing the women of J&K, he said the goal was not limited to creating ‘LakhpatiDidis’ but to transform them into stronger and more empowered entrepreneurs.

During the programme, Chouhan and CM Omar also felicitated LakhpatiDidis.

On agriculture and farmers’ issues, the union minister specifically referred to the challenges of small landholdings, difficult terrain, and weather-related risks in J&K.

He said the central government stands firmly with the region through the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme and will undertake concrete measures such as promoting clean planting material of improved varieties, establishing high-quality nurseries, and advancing scientific crop diversification.

Chouhan said that a team of scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research will be deputed to J&K to study its climate, soil, water resources, and agricultural potential, and to prepare a comprehensive roadmap.

Highlighting integrated farming as an effective model for enhancing farmers’ income, he said that instead of relying solely on grains, fruits, or vegetables, farmers can significantly increase their earnings by integrating allied activities such as animal husbandry, fisheries, sheep and goat rearing, beekeeping, and other enterprises.

The union minister said that the central government would work closely with the J&K government to design an integrated programme that makes agriculture more profitable, sustainable, and employment-oriented.

He said that he had come to J&K not with any sense of formality or position, but with a spirit of service.

On the occasion, Chouhan also released a Mother Sanction of over Rs 4568.23 crore under DAY-NRLM for 24 states and Union Territories.

The programme was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Jammu and Kashmir’s Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Cooperation and Elections Javed Ahmad Dar, Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma, Members of Parliament, several MLAs, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development RohitKansal, senior officials of the J&K government, and a large number of rural people, farmers, and women beneficiaries.