Traditional Cots to Replace Chairs at PM Modi’s Khatla Sabha in Bhildi of Gujarat

Bhildi (Banaskantha): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a farmers’ gathering in a traditional rural setting in Bhildi village of Deesa taluka in Gujarat on Friday, October 30, with cots, locally known as khatlas, replacing conventional chairs in what is being described as the country’s first-of-its-kind ‘Khatla Sabha’.

The unusual seating arrangement will be a key feature of the national-level PM Kisan Utsav Divas event, which will combine farmer welfare initiatives with the inauguration of major dairy infrastructure projects in north Gujarat.

The main highlight of the programme will be the release of the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. More than 9.34 crore farmer families across the country are expected to receive over ₹18,680 crore through direct benefit transfers into their bank accounts.

In Gujarat, more than 52.33 lakh farmer families will receive financial assistance exceeding ₹1,000 crore under the scheme.

The latest disbursement adds to the substantial assistance extended to farmers since the scheme’s launch. Across the first 23 instalments, more than ₹4.47 lakh crore has been transferred to over 11 crore farmer families nationwide. In Gujarat, more than 69.26 lakh beneficiary farmers have received over ₹24,137 crore so far.

₹325-crore cattle breeding centre to be inaugurated

Alongside the farmer assistance programme, Modi will inaugurate the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BBBRC), spread across 127 acres in Bhildi and developed at a cost of ₹325 crore.

The centre aims to strengthen scientific cattle breeding, improve livestock quality and enhance productivity in the dairy sector. The facility is expected to support advances in animal husbandry, which remains an important source of livelihood for rural communities across Gujarat.

Preparations for the inauguration are underway, with the centre’s premises illuminated ahead of the event.

The Prime Minister will also virtually inaugurate Banas Dairy’s Potato Expansion project and its Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) facility. In addition, he will lay the foundation stones for two compressed biogas plants at Tharad and Radhanpur, highlighting efforts to expand dairy infrastructure and promote waste-to-energy initiatives.

Events planned across Gujarat

The PM Kisan Utsav Divas programme will be marked by 34 district-level events and more than 2,100 cluster-level programmes across Gujarat. The main event at Bhildi will be telecast live, while beneficiaries will receive assistance letters under various agriculture and horticulture schemes.

The gathering is expected to bring together farmer welfare measures, livestock development and dairy-sector expansion, with the traditional seating arrangement adding a distinct rural touch to the event.

Modi to attend events at Ekta Nagar

The Bhildi programme is part of Modi’s two-day visit to Gujarat, which will also include engagements at Ekta Nagar, home to the Statue of Unity.

On October 30, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the Bharat Parv pavilion and watch the National School of Drama’s theatrical production of Anandamath.

On October 31, he will pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on National Unity Day, inaugurate development projects, attend the Aarambh 2026 programme and interact with trainee officers. He will also review the parade during the main National Unity Day celebrations.

The Bhildi event will place farmer assistance and dairy-sector development at the centre of the Prime Minister’s Gujarat itinerary, while the ‘Khatla Sabha’ format is set to distinguish the gathering from conventional political rallies. DeshGujarat