Kekri: In a major announcement with potential implications for millions of farmers, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma indicated on Saturday that the state's annual financial assistance for farmers could eventually be increased to ₹12,000, while unveiling development projects worth approximately ₹880 crore in Ajmer district.
Speaking at a public gathering in Kekri, the Chief Minister said the state government had already enhanced the annual farmer assistance from ₹6,000 to ₹9,000 and was working towards increasing it further to ₹12,000. Although no implementation timeline was announced, the statement is expected to raise expectations among the state's farming community.
The announcement came during the inauguration and foundation-laying ceremony of a wide range of infrastructure projects covering highways, rural roads, bridges, educational institutions and healthcare facilities.
Among the flagship projects is the Nasirabad–Sarwar–Kekri–Deoli Phase-I four-laning project, along with the strengthening of major district roads, expansion of rural road networks, construction of cement-concrete roads in Kekri municipality and additional classrooms in government schools.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated a government Integrated College of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy and launched several projects aimed at improving road connectivity between Kekri, Sarwar, Nasirabad, Sawar and Deoli.
Highlighting the government's rural development agenda, Sharma said farmers continue to benefit from daytime electricity supply, electricity subsidies, interest-free agricultural loans of up to ₹1 lakh under the Rajasthan Cooperative Gopal Credit Card Loan Scheme, and livestock insurance through the Chief Minister Mangala Pashu Bima Yojana, under which more than 22 lakh insurance policies have been issued.
He further stressed that dairy development initiatives and the Lakhpati Didi programme are creating new employment opportunities and strengthening the economic position of women in rural Rajasthan.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a "Developed India," Sharma said Rajasthan has accelerated investments in transport, water, education and public infrastructure. According to the state government, more than 49,000 kilometres of roads have been developed over the past two-and-a-half years at a cost exceeding ₹33,000 crore, while 18,000 kilometres of new roads have been constructed and over 3,000 kilometres upgraded under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
The proposed increase in farmer assistance has yet to receive formal cabinet approval, but the announcement signals the government's intention to expand direct financial support alongside large-scale infrastructure investment.
