Srinagar, July 3: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said efforts are being made to provide housing to five lakh homeless people in Jammu and Kashmir.
“93% of houses under the PM Awas Yojana have been completed, and the remaining eligible beneficiaries—identified from a pool of 500,000 applicants—will be allotted homes after verification,” he told reporters here. The
Agriculture Minister said the Prime Minister has decided that those who are still without homes will be given permanent shelter. “A survey has been conducted to identify the beneficiaries. Verification is important so that no ineligible names are included,” Chouhan said.
He said the work will be initiated to ensure every eligible individual in the region gets a permanent roof. The minister also said that under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), efforts are underway to eliminate rural poverty, particularly among women.
“To alleviate rural poverty, women are being empowered through Self Help Groups under NRLM, with many becoming Lakhpati Didis and even Millionaire Didis earning ₹10 lakh annually,” he said.
Chouhan recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the region, where he had announced over ₹4,200 crore under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to improve road connectivity in rural areas. He appreciated the fast-paced work of the J&K government and said that road construction for the remaining areas will begin soon.
Earlier, Chouhan held a detailed review meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Chouhan emphasised that a developed Jammu and Kashmir is crucial to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Several important decisions were taken in the interests of farmers and rural residents of the region, he said.
Chouhan noted that agriculture remains the backbone of both the Indian and Jammu & Kashmir economies, with nearly 50% of the population depending on it for livelihood. He praised the state’s initiative, ‘Kisan Khidmat Ghar’ — a one-stop center providing farmers access to all agricultural services under one roof.
Chouhan expressed satisfaction with the variety of horticulture crops grown in the He also stated that farmers in J&K who have received land allotments from the government but lack official documentation will be considered for inclusion under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. The government is also planning to launch the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) soon to ensure that horticulture crops are accurately mapped and included under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
Commenting on the demand for a Regional Horticulture Center in the Jammu region, Chouhan announced that ICAR would support Jammu Agricultural University with the required infrastructure. The minister further said that the current storage limit in CA (Controlled Atmosphere) facilities would be extended from 18 months to 24 months. For the horticulture mission, subsidies will be provided for up to a storage capacity of 5,000 metric tons, and even those who have constructed facilities with 6,000 MT capacity will be eligible for a subsidy up to 5,000 MT. An MoU will also be signed between ICAR and the university to facilitate cooperation.
For improving soil health and fertilizer regulation, Quality Control Labs will be set up in Kathua, Baramulla, and Anantnag. Under the RKVY scheme, efforts will also be made to enhance irrigation by bridging the gaps from the canal to the field.
Chouhan said that the government is proud of its achievements and committed to implementing central schemes effectively. Echoing Prime Minister Modi’s vision, he assured that all efforts will be made to accelerate the development of Jammu & Kashmir. He thanked the Chief Minister and reaffirmed the commitment to work together for the region’s progress.