Our vision is to empower rural India by transforming villages into vibrant centres of growth and opportunity: PM

We have launched a campaign to guarantee basic amenities in every village: PM

Our government's intentions, policies and decisions are empowering rural India with new energy: PM

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

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 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.

The Prime Minister noted that these achievements could have been realized during previous governments' tenures, but for decades after independence, lakhs of villages were deprived of basic necessities. He pointed out that the majority of SC, ST, and OBC populations reside in villages and were neglected by previous governments. This led to migration from villages, increased poverty, and a widening gap between rural and urban areas. Citing an example of the previous perception of border villages as the last villages of the country, Shri Modi stated that his government has given them the status of the first villages and launched the Vibrant Villages Scheme for their development. He highlighted that the development of border villages is increasing the income of their residents. He emphasized that those who were previously ignored are now being prioritized by his government.

The Prime Minister mentioned the launch of the PM Janman Yojana for the development of tribal areas, ensuring equal rights for regions that were deprived of development for decades. He remarked that over the past 10 years, his government has corrected many mistakes of previous governments. He emphasized that the government is moving forward with the mantra of national development through rural development. Shri Modi highlighted that as a result of these efforts, 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty in the past 10 years, with the majority being from rural areas. He mentioned a recent study by the State Bank of India, which revealed that rural poverty in India has decreased from approximately 26% in 2012 to less than 5% in 2024. He noted that while some people have been chanting slogans to eradicate poverty for decades, the country is now witnessing a real reduction in poverty.

Emphasising the significant role of women in India's rural economy and the government's efforts to expand this role, Shri Modi remarked that women are redefining rural life as Bank Sakhis and Bima Sakhis, and are leading a new revolution through self-help groups. He noted that 1.15 crore women in villages have become Lakhpati Didis and the government aims to make 3 crore women Lakhpati Didis. He added that special schemes were also being implemented for women from Dalit, deprived, and tribal communities.

Underscoring the unprecedented focus on rural infrastructure, the Prime Minister highlighted that most villages are now connected to highways, expressways, and railways. He noted that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, approximately 4 lakh kilometer of roads was constructed in rural areas over the past 10 years. “Villages are becoming modern 21st-century villages in terms of digital infrastructure”, said the Prime Minister. He noted that over 94% of rural households now have access to telephones or mobile phones and banking services and world-class technology like UPI was available in villages. Shri Modi highlighted that the number of Common Service Centers has increased from less than 1 lakh before 2014 to over 5 lakh today, providing dozens of government services online. He underscored that this infrastructure was accelerating village development, creating employment opportunities, and integrating villages into the nation's progress.

Acknowledging the significant role played by NABARD's senior management in the success of various initiatives, from self-help groups to Kisan Credit Cards, Shri Modi emphasized that NABARD will continue to play a crucial role in fulfilling the nation's goals. He highlighted the strength of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and their role in ensuring better prices for farmers' produce. He stressed the need to create more FPOs and move forward in that direction. The Prime Minister remarked that milk production is currently providing the highest returns to farmers. He emphasized the need to establish 5-6 more cooperatives like Amul, with a nationwide reach. He noted that the country is advancing natural farming in mission mode and urged the inclusion of more farmers in this initiative. Shri Modi highlighted the importance of linking self-help groups with micro and small industries (MSMEs) to meet the demand for their products across the country. He emphasized the need for proper branding and marketing of these products. He also stressed the importance of focusing on the quality, packaging, and branding of GI products.

Emphasising the need to work on diversifying rural income, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of making irrigation affordable, promoting micro-irrigation, creating more rural enterprises, and maximizing the benefits of natural farming for the rural economy. He urged for time-bound efforts in this direction.

Shri Modi urged that the entire village should collectively take care of the Amrit Sarovar built in their village. He mentioned the ongoing 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and stressed the importance of every villager participating in this initiative to plant more trees. He further highlighted the significance of harmony and love in village identity. Noting that some people are trying to spread poison in society in the name of caste and weaken the social fabric, Shri Modi urged to thwart these conspiracies and preserve the shared culture of the village.

Concluding the speech, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to continuously work towards empowering villages and ensuring that the resolutions reach every village. He expressed confidence that the development of villages will lead to the realization of a developed India.

The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary were present among the dignitaries.

Welcoming the group of diverse artisans and participants from across India to the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 (GBM2025), Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said that under the guidance of the Prime Minister, rural development has been high on the agenda of the Government since 2014. The Government is primarily working to uplift the poor, youth, farmers and women through various Central schemes financed by the Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

"PSBs are already operating credit saturation drives in priority sectors for schemes such as PM MUDRA Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, and SVAnidhi Yojana. Taking the momentum further, the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav showcases India's rich cultural heritage as well as the aspirations of rural people and development in the four areas —GI Tags, natural farming, women empowerment, tribal welfare, with a focus on North East products," Smt. Sitharaman said.

Smt. Sitharaman highlighted that GBM2025 showcases rural products, including over 50 items with Geographical Indication (GI) tags, and underscored several initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment like Drone Didis and Lakhpati Didis programmes that have significantly contributed to skill development and economic growth among women.

Besides, the GBM 2025 exhibition also brings together small-scale industries that have flourished due to the enabling vision of the Prime Minister to provide collateral-free loans to Bonafide businesses, especially organic and natural farmers, women and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and expansion of tribal products, the Union Finance Minister said.

Background

Celebrating Rural India's entrepreneurial spirit and cultural heritage, the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav 2025 will be held from 4th to 9th January with the theme 'Building a Resilient Rural India for a Viksit Bharat 2047’ and motto “गांव बढ़े, तो देश बढ़े”. Mahotsav aims to celebrate Rural India’s entrepreneurial spirit and cultural heritage.

The Mahotsav, through various discussions, workshops and masterclasses, aims to enhance rural infrastructure, create self-reliant economies, and foster innovation within rural communities. Its objectives include promoting economic stability and financial security among rural populations, with a special focus on North-East India, by addressing financial inclusion and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.

A significant focus of the Mahotsav will be to empower rural women through entrepreneurship; bring together government officials, thought leaders, rural entrepreneurs, artisans and stakeholders from diverse sectors to build a roadmap for collaborative and collective rural transformation; encourage discussions around leveraging technology and innovative practices to enhance rural livelihoods; and showcase India's rich cultural heritage through vibrant performances and exhibitions.