Bengal to Receive Over ₹1,700 Crore for Rural Roads and Employment Schemes, Says Suvendu Adhikari

New Delhi, June 2026 : Senior West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced that the state is set to receive substantial financial support from the Centre for rural infrastructure and employment initiatives after a meeting with Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Adhikari said approval letters worth nearly ₹1,000 crore have been sanctioned under two phases of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), providing a major boost to rural connectivity across West Bengal.

He emphasized the importance of agriculture and rural development in the state, noting that nearly 60 to 65 per cent of West Bengal’s population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihood.

“Rural development and agriculture are extremely important for Bengal. A large section of the population relies on farming and allied activities. I had a very positive meeting with the Union Agriculture Minister, and I am grateful for the support extended to the state. Approval letters for projects worth around ₹1,000 crore under two phases of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana have been received,” Adhikari said.

The BJP leader also revealed that a new rural employment programme is set to be launched shortly and that more than ₹700 crore has already been approved to facilitate its implementation. According to him, the existing phase of rural employment initiatives is nearing completion, making way for a fresh round of development activities.

“The present phase is ending this month, and a new rural employment scheme will begin soon. To ensure continuity and speed up development work, approval of more than ₹700 crore has been granted. Funds will be released shortly, and the work will commence this month itself,” he said.

Adhikari stated that discussions with the Union Minister also focused on the implementation of various central schemes meant for farmers. He alleged that the previous administration in West Bengal failed to ensure that farmers received the full benefits of several flagship programmes launched by the Centre.

According to him, issues related to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Crop Insurance Scheme), the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (Irrigation Scheme), and other agriculture-related welfare initiatives were discussed during the meeting.

“It was discussed how farmers in the state were deprived of benefits under several central schemes. Concerns were raised regarding corruption and the failure to properly implement programmes designed to support farmers and strengthen rural livelihoods,” Adhikari said.

Highlighting upcoming developments, the BJP leader announced that the next installment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme will be released on June 20. The date coincides with West Bengal’s State Foundation Day and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the state.

“Save agriculture, save villages—that remains our guiding slogan. On June 20, which is State Foundation Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal. On the same day, the next installment of the PM-KISAN scheme will be released for eligible farmers,” Adhikari said.

The PM-KISAN scheme provides direct income support to farmers through periodic financial assistance deposited directly into their bank accounts.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also echoed concerns regarding the implementation of several central welfare schemes in West Bengal. He maintained that a number of initiatives aimed at benefiting farmers and rural communities could have delivered greater results if implemented effectively.

The announcements are expected to provide a significant boost to rural infrastructure, employment generation, and agricultural development in West Bengal. With fresh allocations exceeding