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Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan connected Tuesday (November 11, 2025) announced that the Central authorities is moving to alteration 10 crore women into “Lakhpati Didis”, each earning astatine slightest ₹1 lakh annually, done self-employment and empowerment initiatives.
Mr. Chouhan made the announcement astatine a nationalist gathering aft inaugurating the rejuvenated 21-acre Vengalayapalem Cheruvu (tank) successful Guntur Rural Mandal successful Guntur District during the concluding ceremonial of the two-day National Watershed Festival connected Tuesday.
Mr. Chouhan, joined by Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, said that the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh authorities are jointly implementing programmes to fortify agrarian livelihoods done watershed development, sustainable agriculture, and women-centric initiatives.
He added that nether the “Lakhpati Didi” initiative, agrarian women would beryllium supported to gain an yearly income of ₹2 lakh, and nary mediocre household successful Andhra Pradesh would stay without a imperishable location nether the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Mr. Chandra Sekhar highlighted the merchandise of ₹180 crore successful pending MGNREGS bills and the promotion of income-generating activities similar food rearing, duck farming, and coconut plantations astir the tank.
He said that the Vengalayapalem vessel would service arsenic a exemplary for h2o conservation crossed India. “Water is the essence of beingness and taste progress. By reviving tanks and promoting watershed programmes, we guarantee groundwater recharge, improved ungraded fertility, and a sustainable economy,” helium added.
The rejuvenated 21-acre Vengalayapalem vessel was developed astatine a outgo of ₹1.20 crore. The vessel draws its main h2o root from the Kondavagu stream.
Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan planting a mango sapling astatine Vengalayapalem colony successful Guntur connected Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh are besides seen. | Photo Credit: T. VIJAY KUMAR
Earlier, the ministers and guests offered prayers astatine the section Vighneswara and Poleramma temples, planted saplings successful the Nakshatra Vanam, and walked on the recently laid walking track.
They besides inspected a restored well, a children’s park, a fittingness park, and an open-air theatre developed astir the lake. Later, speaking to the media, Mr. Chouhan said, “Water is the instauration of taste growth.” He emphasized that programmes similar the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana are being implemented crossed the country.
The Union Minister said that the Vengalayapalem Tank stands arsenic a exemplary for community-based h2o conservation and that the Centre would enactment to replicate specified models successful different parts of the country. “Such projects beforehand bully wellness among citizens and nurture taste development,” helium said, calling the vessel a multi-purpose plus for the community.
Minister Kandula Durgesh stressed connected the value of conserving h2o to safeguard aboriginal generations and beforehand cultivation prosperity. During the event, Mr. Chouhan distributed ₹20 lakh inducement cheques each to 7 top-performing watershed projects from Chittoor, Sri Sathya Sai, Annamayya, Prakasam, and Vizianagaram districts nether the Watershed Jan Bhagirathi Cup 2025 awards.
