Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said the government is committed to achieving poverty-free villages. He emphasized the need for imparting skills to people and capacity building to achieve this goal. He addressed the officials and students at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj in Hyderabad after a meeting of its General Council. Stating that rural development is a priority for the government, the minister said rural areas and villages are being provided with road connectivity, drinking water, and power supply. He added that providing employment is key to rural development and that 10 crore women in the country have acquired skills while playing a crucial role in the changing economy of the country. He said a poverty-free village is his dream and achieving a self-sufficient village is not difficult.