Central Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, conducted a high-level review meeting in Kolkata with West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari, state ministers, and senior officials from central and state governments. The meeting resulted in several major financial approvals and development initiatives for the state.
Infrastructure Development
A major focus was on accelerating infrastructure projects worth over ₹82,000 crore in sectors including roads, highways, railways, metro, and pipelines. Numerous projects that had been stalled for years were granted approvals after the removal of administrative and political obstacles, signaling a shift from bureaucratic delays to on-ground execution.
Rural Development and Employment
A comprehensive rural development package of ₹8,508 crore was approved by the central government. Combined with the state's share, the total resources exceed ₹12,064 crore, which will be channeled directly to villages through panchayats by March 31 for employment generation and comprehensive village development. The new VB-G RAM G Act 2025, effective from July 1, provides a national framework for rural employment and livelihood, with special focus in West Bengal on creating durable assets like roads, ponds, minor irrigation structures, and school buildings.
Housing and Women's Empowerment
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), interim approval was granted for 1 lakh houses in West Bengal. The beneficiary survey deadline has been extended to August 15 due to heavy rains delaying the process, with instructions to complete physical verification simultaneously to ensure timely allocation. For women's self-help groups (SHGs), financial support of ₹295 crore was announced - comprising ₹245 crore in bank loans and ₹50 crore in Community Investment Fund - to strengthen their role in production, processing, value addition, and marketing activities.
Agricultural Transformation
Multiple agricultural initiatives were approved, including the establishment of a Malda Clean Plant/Green Plant facility to produce disease-free, high-quality planting material for fruits like mango and litchi. Under the Clean Plant Program, large nurseries will receive assistance up to ₹3 crore and medium nurseries up to ₹1.5 crore. Value chain development projects were approved for rice, maize, and orchids, focusing on nutritious rice varieties, seed production, storage-processing, and value addition. West Bengal will be developed as an eastern India seed hub for potato seeds, hybrid maize seeds, and other crops through signed MOUs with the state government.
Scientific Roadmap and Financial Inclusion
A scientific "Agriculture Roadmap" is being prepared for West Bengal in collaboration with ICAR, agricultural universities, and scientists, based on agro-climatic conditions, soil, water, and local resources. Rice research centers are being developed as "Centers of Excellence." The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will be extensively implemented to protect farmers from natural disasters, while village camps will be organized with NABARD and banks to expand Kisan Credit Card (KCC) coverage and provide institutional credit at affordable rates, reducing dependence on moneylenders.