Centre-State Double-Engine Partnership Will Take Bihar to New Heights of All-Round Development: Chief Minister

Key Decisions Taken:

• The ambitious VBGRAMG Scheme, aimed at giving a new direction to rural development in Bihar, will be fully implemented from July 1.
• All pending payments under MGNREGA will be cleared before June 30 with the support of the Central Government.
• Special Centres of Excellence will be established for agricultural products such as onions, tomatoes, mangoes and other crops to promote innovation and productivity in agriculture.
• Bihar’s agricultural produce will be connected to international markets to ensure farmers receive fair prices for their products.
• Bihar, the first state in the country to adopt an Agricultural Roadmap, will now place special emphasis on integrated farming and be developed as a model state in this field.
• The Bihar Government is rapidly implementing the scheme to transform Jeevika Didis into Lakhpati Didis. Bihar currently ranks first in the country under this campaign.

Patna, June 2026: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a high-level meeting at Sankalp Hall, Lok Seva Bhavan, to discuss various issues related to agriculture and rural development in Bihar.

Several important decisions were taken during the meeting aimed at improving farmers’ prosperity, strengthening rural infrastructure, and ensuring faster implementation of welfare schemes at the grassroots level.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said it was a privilege to discuss key issues related to Bihar’s agriculture and rural development with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He expressed gratitude to the Central Government for releasing backlog funds for Bihar’s development.

He stated that, keeping the interests of rural workers at the forefront, it was agreed that all pending MGNREGA dues would be cleared before June 30 with support from the Centre. He also announced that the ambitious VBGRAMG Scheme, designed to provide a new direction to rural development, would be fully launched from July 1.

The Chief Minister said that under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana 2.0, around 1.04 crore people had been identified in Bihar, of whom nearly 60 lakh were found eligible. He urged that these poor families should receive permanent housing at the earliest. Construction of houses under the rural housing scheme will be accelerated, and Bihar is expected to receive the first allotments under the new financial year.

Highlighting women’s empowerment, Choudhary said the state government is actively working under the Central Government’s livelihood initiatives to make Jeevika Didis financially independent and transform them into Lakhpati Didis. Bihar currently holds the top position in the country in this mission. He added that the state organizes Saras Melas, where rural women sell their products, and the Centre has assured full support for expanding such initiatives.

On agriculture, the Chief Minister stressed the need for establishing Centres of Excellence, particularly for tomatoes and onions in districts such as Buxar and Lakhisarai. He said special agricultural centres would be developed for key crops including onions, tomatoes, and mangoes to promote innovation and increase productivity.

He further noted that horticulture, wheat, and paddy production are being actively encouraged in Bihar. To ensure better returns for farmers, the state’s agricultural products will be linked to international markets. Referring to Bihar’s vast horticultural potential, he also emphasized the need to expedite the establishment of a Makhana Board to capitalize on rising global demand for makhana (fox nuts).

The Chief Minister pointed out that Bihar was the first state in India to adopt an Agricultural Roadmap. Building on that achievement, the government will now focus on integrated farming and develop Bihar as a model state in this area. Watershed projects and soil conservation programmes will also be implemented rapidly to maintain ecological balance and improve soil fertility.

He reiterated that the state government is committed to good governance and inclusive development. Agriculture and rural development, he said, form the backbone of Bihar’s economy, and administrative teams will ensure transparent and efficient implementation of all schemes.

“The double-engine cooperation between the Centre and the State will take Bihar to new heights of comprehensive development,” the Chief Minister said.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan endorsed the Chief Minister’s views and assured that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government would continue extending full support to Bihar in agriculture and rural development.

The meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, senior officials from the Agriculture and Rural Development Departments, and representatives of the Government of India.