Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited his parliamentary constituency, Vidisha, on July 26, 2025, and chaired a key District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, to assess ongoing public welfare initiatives.
The meeting focused on critical issues such as deaddiction, black marketing and sale of counterfeit fertilisers, housing, road connectivity, women's empowerment, water infrastructure, and energy development.
Addressing pressing concerns, Chouhan took serious note of the black marketing and circulation of fake fertilisers in the district. Terming it an “injustice to farmers,” he directed officials to take the strictest possible action against those involved. The minister also reviewed the ongoing procurement of moong (green gram) and instructed local authorities to carry out field-level inspections at procurement centres to ensure fair and transparent operations.
Calling for accelerated development efforts, Chouhan urged local representatives and officers to work with commitment and transform Raisen into a model district. He stressed the timely completion of development projects and ensuring that no eligible beneficiary under any government scheme is left out.
During the review of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)- Awas Plus, the minister underlined the importance of releasing all installments to beneficiaries on time and called for strict monitoring to avoid construction delays. He noted that, of the 27,981 houses sanctioned in the district for FY 2024–25, 4,825 have been completed while 23,156 are currently under construction.
The minister also reviewed the implementation of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and highlighted that Raisen district has produced 43,613 “Lakhpati Didis”, women who have achieved an annual income of over Rs 1 lakh. He called for a concrete action plan to help more women attain financial independence.
On rural connectivity, Chouhan directed that every village be connected to main roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Officials reported that out of 30 sanctioned road projects, 28 have been completed, along with 9 out of the 13 planned bridges.
Chouhan further instructed agriculture officers to visit farms regularly and guide farmers on managing crop diseases and using safe pesticides. In response to the international rejection of Basmati rice from the district due to the use of banned chemicals, he urged officials to raise awareness among farmers.
Regarding the water and energy sectors, the minister stressed the need for the speedy completion of tap water supply projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission and the timely commissioning of ongoing electricity substation projects to ensure uninterrupted services for all rural households.
