Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday urged the Central Government to constitute a high level panel with representation of progressive farmers, agriculture experts and policy makers to revamp the sagging agrarian economy in the country and suggest ways and means to put it on the strong pedestal, which was the need of the hour otherwise the national economy on the whole would be in tatters.
Badal, addressing the gathering on the foundation laying ceremony of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), said that there was utter disappointment amongst the peasantry due to unviable agriculture policies of the successive Congress governments at Centre, which forced them to give away this profession leaving them in lurch.
He said that it was extremely deplorable situation, when our farmers who heralded Green Revolution in 1960s and made our country self reliant in food production were now committing suicides.
He sought Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s immediate intervention to come out with a concrete policy to bring an end to the agrarian crisis forever.
Badal hoped that the IIM would also prove to be a mentor for the State to rechristen its agriculture policies for the betterment of the farmers.
Badal also urged the Union Minister to consider state at least for industrial package exclusively for border districts if not possible for the entire state.
He also impressed upon Jaitley to grant a special financial package for the people of border districts, who had been severely hit by the partition and were passing through tiring circumstances.
The Chief Minister also sought special funds for rejuvenation of Upar Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) from Centre, which was in dilapidated condition as its water carrying capacity had been alarmingly reduced.