Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14 in Howrah sanctioned zero point one million (mn) homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for West Bengal and extended the deadline for preparation of the beneficiary list to August 15. The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, conveyed that the extension followed a request from state officials and will allow additional time for verification and compilation. The minister's decision was announced after a formal review of ongoing rural and agricultural schemes.

During the review, officials examined the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Dhan Dhanya Yojana, the Crop Insurance Scheme, Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and the Ajeevika Mission Gramin, and the minister directed authorities to identify valid job cards for 125 days' work. The direction on job cards is to apply in addition to the existing 25.6 mn job cards enrolled under the current programmes. State administrators were instructed to complete verification processes by the revised deadline to ensure timely disbursal and inclusion.

The minister approved the establishment of four training centres and laboratories to support identification and inspection of crop types and assessment of fertile land across the state. He also outlined measures to provide further support to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and advised on resourcing of potato and jute seeds from Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. Officials were instructed to coordinate with central agencies to operationalise these centres and seed arrangements.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan was on a two-day visit to West Bengal on July 13 and July 14 and participated in a tree plantation drive at the new secretariat building at Nabanna alongside the chief minister. The visit included field level discussions and directives aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and agricultural productivity. State authorities were directed to report progress of the sanctioned housing, training centres and job card verification in follow up meetings.