'Gram Rath' outreach campaign begins in Rajasthan to promote agritech meet

Jaipur, April 27 (IANS) BJP National President Nitin Nabin and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday flagged off a 15-day statewide 'Gram Rath' campaign aimed at promoting the upcoming Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet, ‘GRAM-2026’, scheduled to be held in Jaipur from May 23 to May 25. 

The campaign was launched at the OTS complex, with specially designed ‘Gram Raths’ set to travel across all gram panchayats in the state. These mobile outreach units will disseminate information about GRAM-2026 as well as various public welfare schemes of the state government.

Speaking on the occasion, Nitin Nabin said that under the vision of ‘Antyodaya’, PM Modi is committed to ensuring that development reaches the last person in society. He highlighted initiatives such as Jan Dhan, Make in India and Skill India, stating that these programmes are empowering citizens and enabling youth to contribute to nation-building.

Praising the state government, Nabin said Rajasthan has gained new developmental momentum under the leadership of Chief Minister Sharma. He noted that efforts to double farmers’ incomes and strengthen rural infrastructure are yielding positive results. “Taking ‘Gram Raths’ to every village is a commendable step towards inclusive development,” he added.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma emphasised that India’s progress depends on the empowerment of villages, farmers and the agricultural sector. He said the state government is developing a robust ecosystem to enhance farmers’ incomes and create new opportunities.

Highlighting the significance of GRAM-2026, CM Sharma said the event will bring together farmers, technical experts, industries and investors on a single platform. “Farmers and livestock rearers will be introduced to modern agricultural techniques, while investors will get an opportunity to explore Rajasthan’s vast potential in the agriculture sector,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that the ‘Gram Raths’ will not only spread awareness about schemes but will also include a suggestion box for citizens to share feedback and grievances directly with the government. Officials will accompany the campaign at the district level to ensure prompt redressal of issues through the Rajasthan Sampark Helpline (181).

Sharma highlighted several central and state schemes benefiting farmers, including Kisan Samman Nidhi, Crop Insurance, Soil Health Cards and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. He also referred to welfare initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, SVAMITVA, Vishwakarma Yojana and the Swachh Bharat Mission.

He noted that the state government has increased financial assistance under Kisan Samman Nidhi from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 and provided over 2.18 lakh agricultural electricity connections.

Additionally, subsidies exceeding Rs 53,000 crore on electricity bills and a Rs 150 bonus on wheat procurement have been extended to farmers.

The Chief Minister reiterated that initiatives such as Gram Utthan Shivirs and the Viksit Gram-Ward Abhiyan are being implemented to ensure grassroots development and achieve the vision of ‘Viksit Rajasthan 2047’.

The ‘Gram Rath’ campaign is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening rural outreach, promoting agricultural innovation and connecting farmers with emerging opportunities ahead of GRAM-2026.