Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the Centre had approved the construction of zero point one million (mn) houses in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana and had allocated Rs 10 billion (bn) for laying 2,400 km of rural roads under the PM Gram Sadak Yojna. The state had identified and approved 25.6 mn job card holders for 125 days of guaranteed work under the VB-GRAMG scheme and had received the Centre's in-principle nod to process additional applications. He said unskilled labour would receive Rs 300, semi skilled Rs 450 and skilled Rs 600 under the programme.\n\nHe said four districts — Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Jhargram and Purulia — had been brought under the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to transform underperforming areas. The Centre had approved four agricultural training and research units across the state, including centres in Chinsurah for rice and in Malda for mangoes, and had announced an upfront allocation of Rs 1 billion (bn) for them. The state government indicated these measures would support crop choice and yield improvements by aligning research with agro-climatic conditions.\n\nUnion Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Rural Welfare Ministry had sanctioned Rs 85.08 bn for West Bengal up to March 31, 2027, under the rural job scheme and that the total outlay would exceed Rs 120.64 bn with state contribution. He said a collaborative effort involving the Indian Council for Agricultural Research and state universities was being pursued to prepare an agricultural roadmap and that the first presentation had been made at the meeting. An MoU had been signed to make the state a hub of seed development for eastern India.\n\nChouhan noted previously sanctioned benefits worth Rs 824.92 bn had not been completed under the earlier regime and welcomed the removal of obstacles to fast-track development under the current administration. He highlighted support for women self-help groups, including bank loans equivalent to Rs 2.35 bn and other investments of zero point five bn. Officials said the measures aimed to secure livelihoods and accelerate rural infrastructure and agricultural development across the state.