Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan drawing water from the rejuvenated water tank at Vengalayapalem village in Guntur on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: T. VIJAY KUMAR
Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday (November 11, 2025) announced that the Central government is working to transform 10 crore women into “Lakhpati Didis”, each earning at least ₹1 lakh annually, through self-employment and empowerment initiatives.
Mr. Chouhan made the announcement at a public meeting after inaugurating the rejuvenated 21-acre Vengalayapalem Cheruvu (tank) in Guntur Rural Mandal in Guntur District during the concluding ceremony of the two-day National Watershed Festival on 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 government are jointly implementing programmes to strengthen rural livelihoods through watershed development, sustainable agriculture, and women-centric initiatives.
He added that under the “Lakhpati Didi” initiative, rural women would be supported to earn an annual income of ₹2 lakh, and no poor family in Andhra Pradesh would remain without a permanent house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Mr. Chandra Sekhar highlighted the release of ₹180 crore in pending MGNREGS bills and the promotion of income-generating activities like fish rearing, duck farming, and coconut plantations around the tank.
He said that the Vengalayapalem tank would serve as a model for water conservation across India. “Water is the essence of life and cultural progress. By reviving tanks and promoting watershed programmes, we ensure groundwater recharge, improved soil fertility, and a sustainable economy,” he added.
The rejuvenated 21-acre Vengalayapalem tank was developed at a cost of ₹1.20 crore. The tank draws its main water source from the Kondavagu stream.
Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan planting a mango sapling at Vengalayapalem village in Guntur on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh are also seen.
| Photo Credit:
T. VIJAY KUMAR
Earlier, the ministers and guests offered prayers at the local Vighneswara and Poleramma temples, planted saplings in the Nakshatra Vanam, and walked along the newly laid walking track.
They also inspected a restored well, a children’s park, a fitness park, and an open-air theatre developed around the lake. Later, speaking to the media, Mr. Chouhan said, “Water is the foundation of cultural growth.” He emphasized that programmes like the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana are being implemented across the country.
The Union Minister said that the Vengalayapalem Tank stands as a model for community-based water conservation and that the Centre would work to replicate such models in other parts of the country. “Such projects promote good health among citizens and nurture cultural development,” he said, calling the tank a multi-purpose asset for the community.
Minister Kandula Durgesh stressed on the importance of conserving water to safeguard future generations and promote agricultural prosperity. During the event, Mr. Chouhan distributed ₹20 lakh incentive cheques each to seven top-performing watershed projects from Chittoor, Sri Sathya Sai, Annamayya, Prakasam, and Vizianagaram districts under the Watershed Jan Bhagirathi Cup 2025 awards.
Published – November 11, 2025 08:38 pm IST
