Bhopal:Wednesday, February 4, 2009:The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asserted that exploitation of farmers would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against those playing with the honour and dignity of farmers. Shri Chouhan was addressing a massive rally organised by the state unit of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh here at Motilal Nehru stadium today.
The Chief Minister maid many announcements in the interest of farmers on the occasion. He said that the work of providing adequate power supply to farm sector and setting up separate feeder for domestic power supply would be completed in next five years. A Kisan Adhikar Pustika would be provided in place of Kisan Rin Pustika to the farmers. Containing Khasra B and fiver years Khasra, map and information about all types of loan the book can be used as a certified document. Revenue marks like Chanda and Minar would be identified and made permanent.
Shri Chouhan said that inform next budget farm loans would be provided at three percent interest rate. He said that arrangement would be made to directly deposit the grant amount under different schemes in the bank accounts of farmers. The farmers would be provided the facility of marketing storable farm produce like potato, onion, garlic, ginger, dry chilly, Gur etc through Krishi Upaj Mandis. Shri Chouhan also announced to formulate a new policy on sugarcane. He said that it is under consideration to include a provision in the new policy that in case of non-payment to farmers on time the payment would be made with interest.
The Chief Minister said that master plans of all villages would be prepared and the villagers would be conferred permanent ownership rights of their assets. Shri Chouhan said that all information regarding farmers would be available in Hindi in all government departments.
Shri Chouhan was in agreement with the demand for realising power bills in two instalments in a year from farmers. He said that the demand of fully eliminating broker system in Mandis would be examined and due action would be taken in this regard. The Chief Minister also assured consideration on the demand of making payment to all milk producing farmers at uniform rate.
Earlier, the Chief Minister dwelt on the seven resolutions or priorities of the state government for making Madhya Pradesh a Golden State. He reiterated his resolve to turn agriculture into a lucrative proposition.
Shri Chouhan said that efforts have been started to provide a new base to agriculture and farmers’ welfare in next three years. Irrigation potential has been increased by completing the incomplete irrigation projects and efforts have been made to reduce the cost of farming and to ensure remunerative price of farm produce to farmers. This year wheat was not allowed to sell at less than Rs. 1100 a quintal.
The Chief Minister said that cultivation of fruit and floriculture are being encouraged in the state. The farmers would get necessary facilities for this. By establishing processing units fair price of these produces would be ensured to farmers.
Shri Chouhan came down heavily on the central government for reducing 350 MW unallocated quota by 319 MW, thereby meting out a step motherly treatment to the people of Madhya Pradesh. He said that central government’s undertakings like BHEL are delaying the establishment of power houses in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the power supply is not satisfactory at present due to scanty rainfall and non-cooperation of the centre. He said that in next five years additional capacity of 7000 MW would be created by completing the power projects.
Shri Chouhan went to the pandals and met the farmers there.
Prominent among those present at the rally included the Minister for Agriculture Shri Ramkrishna Kusmaria, national general secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Union Shri Dinesh Kulkarni, state president Shri Dayaram Dhakad, national secretary Shri Prabhakar Kelkar and state secretary Shri Shivkumar Sharma.