Today, India is engaged in achieving prosperity through cooperatives: PM Modi

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today. Building a Resilient Rural India for a Viksit Bharat 2024 is the theme of the Mahotsav. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister greeted all the people present a very happy 2025. He said the grand organization of the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav in the beginning of the year is giving a glimpse of the development journey of India and creating an identity of the same. He congratulated NABARD and other associates for the organization of the event.

The Prime Minister remarked that those of us who were born and brought up in the villages know the potential of the villages. He added that the spirit of the village also resides in those who live in the villages. He further added that those who have lived in the villages also know how to live the true life of a village. Shri Modi said that he was fortunate to have spent his childhood in a small town with a simple environment. He added that he spent time in the countryside later when he left the town.

“I have experienced the difficulties and am also aware of the possibilities of the village”, said the Prime Minister. He added that since childhood he had observed that although the people of the village are hardworking, they miss out on the right opportunities due to lack of capital. He further added that despite the villagers having diverse strengths in various fields, it is lost in the quest to satisfy their basic amenities. The Prime Minister noted that there were diverse challenges like natural calamities, lack of access to markets facing the farmers. He added that after having seen all these, he resolved his mind and was encouraged to tackle the challenges faced by them. He further added that the development works being undertaken today in the rural areas are inspired by the lessons and experiences from the villages. Shri Modi said that since 2014, he has been constantly in the service of rural India.

“Ensuring a dignified life for the people of rural India is the priority of my Government”, exclaimed the Prime Minister. He added that their vision was to ensure an empowered rural India, provide ample opportunities for villagers, reduce out migration and ensure ease of life of the people of villages. Therefore, he said, the Government had implemented a program in each and every village to ensure basic amenities. Shri Modi highlighted that every house was provided with a toilet as part of Swachh Bharat Mission, crores of people in rural India were given pucca houses as part of PM Awaas Yojana and lakhs of houses in villages were ensured safe and clean drinking water through Jal Jeevan Mission.

“Today, Health facilities are being provided in more than 1.5 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to the people”, said the Prime Minister. He added that Telemedicine, assisted by digital technologies, has ensured the option of best doctors and hospitals to the villages. Crores of people in the rural areas have benefited from the telemedicine through e-Sanjeevini, he further added. Shri Modi remarked that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the world wondered how India’s villages would cope. He added that however, the Government ensured that vaccines reached the last person in every village.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of creating economic policies that consider every section of rural society to strengthen the rural economy. He was pleased that over the past 10 years, the government has formulated special policies and made decisions for every section of the village. Shri Modi remarked that just a few days ago, the Cabinet approved the extension of the PM Crop Insurance Scheme for another year and decided to continue the subsidy on DAP. He emphasised that the government’s intentions, policies, and decisions are infusing new energy into rural India.

The Prime Minister underscored the goal of providing maximum economic assistance to villagers within their villages, enabling them to engage in farming and create new employment and self-employment opportunities. He noted that through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, farmers have received approximately ₹3 lakh crore in financial assistance. Noting that over the past 10 years, the amount of agricultural loans has increased by 3.5 times, Shri Modi mentioned that now livestock and fish farmers are being provided with Kisan Credit Cards. He added that in addition, more than 9,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in the country are receiving financial assistance. He further underlined that the government has consistently increased the MSP for several crops over the past 10 years.

Shri Modi highlighted the launch of campaigns like the Swamitva Yojana, through which villagers are receiving property papers. He remarked that over the past 10 years, several policies have been implemented to promote MSMEs. The Prime Minister emphasized that MSMEs have benefited from the Credit Link Guarantee Scheme, with over one crore rural MSMEs reaping its benefits. He noted that today, rural youth are receiving support from schemes like the Mudra Yojana, Start-Up India, and Stand-Up India.

The Prime Minister highlighted the significant contribution of cooperatives in transforming the rural landscape. He remarked that India is on the path to prosperity through cooperation, and for this purpose, the Ministry of Cooperation was established in 2021. He 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.

Shri Modi emphasised that apart from agriculture, various traditional arts and skills have been prevalent in our villages, such as blacksmithing, carpentry, and pottery. He remarked that these occupations have significantly contributed to the rural and local economy, but were previously neglected. He added that to enhance their skills and provide affordable assistance, the Vishwakarma Yojana is being implemented, giving lakhs of Vishwakarma artisans an opportunity to progress.

“When intentions are noble, the results are satisfying”, said Shri Modi. He added that the country is now reaping the benefits of the hard work done over the past 10 years. Citing a recent large-scale survey that revealed several important facts, Shri Modi noted that compared to 2011, consumption in rural India has nearly tripled, indicating that people are spending more on their preferred items. He noted that previously, villagers had to spend more than 50% of their income on food, but for the first time since independence, the expenditure on food in rural areas has fallen below 50%. He explained that this meant the people are now spending on other desires and needs, improving their quality of life.

Highlighting another significant finding from the survey, which revealed that the gap in consumption between urban and rural areas has decreased, the Prime Minister remarked that it was previously believed that urban individuals could spend more than those in villages, but continuous efforts have reduced this disparity. He emphasized that numerous success stories from rural India inspire us.