Under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna launched by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, an incentive of Rs 5,700 crore will be transferred to more than 18 lakh farmers’ accounts
The Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna has been launched today on the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel through video conferencing. The scheme will benefit over 19 lakh farmers in the state and encourage them to produce more crops. It will comes as a relief to farmers during this time of crisis.
What it holds
Under the scheme, Rs 5,700 crore will be transferred directly into accounts of farmers in four installments. More than 18 lakh farmers (approximately 18,34,834) will be provided Rs 1,500 crore as first installment for paddy crop.
The financial assistance calculated on the basis of Rs 10,000 per acre will be deposited to each beneficiary account based on registered area and area under cultivation during Kharif crop season 2019 as an agricultural assistance grant through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for procuring crops like paddy, maize and sugarcane (Rabi).
Purpose and aim
Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna is initiated in the state to assist agricultural inputs with an aim to encourage crop production. The scheme has been partially implemented from Kharif 2019 with retrospective effect.
Who are to be benefitted?
For farmers planting paddy and maize crops in Kharif 2019 through the medium of cooperative societies or on the basis of input ratio, the maximum amount is Rs 10,000 per acre.
It will cover around 9,53,706 marginal farmers, 5,60,284 small farmers, 3,20,844 big farmers — from Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Surguja, and Bastar divisions.
Farmers of acquired maize crop are also to be benefitted under the scheme in Kharif 2019 through Cooperative Society. Data related to procurement is being obtained from the concerned department. On the basis of this, payment will be made to farmers producing maize in the next installment.
Providing support to sugarcane farmers
Under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, for the year 2019-20, for crushing sugarcane crop purchased by the cooperative factory on the basis of the quantity of sugarcane, the FRP amount is Rs 261 per quintal and a total of 93.75 incentives per quintal that is, maximum of Rs 355 per quintal will be paid. Under this, more than 34,000 farmers of the state will get Rs 73.55 crore in four installments.
Sugarcane factory-wise beneficiary in crushing year 2019-20 under the scheme are — Bhoramdev Sugar Factory, Kawardha; Maa Mahamaya Sugar Factory, Ambikapur; Maa Danteshwari Mayya Sugar Factory, Balod; and Loh Purush Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sugar Factory, Pandaria.
Payment of outstanding bonus for sugarcane
Payment of outstanding bonus of sugarcane crop crushing in the year 2018-19 through cooperative sugar factory, depending on the quantity of sugarcane, incentive Rs 27 crore will be given to 24,414 farmers on the basis of Rs 50 per quintal. Under this, Rs 10.27 crore will be distributed.
Inclusion of more crops from next season
State government has also included sugarcane crops, paddy, maize, soyabean, groundnut, sesame, pigeonpea, moong, urad, kulthi, ramatil, kodo, kotki and rabi from kharif 2020 in the Yojna. It has also been said that if farmers, taking the grant for paddy crop last year, replace the paddy with other crops included in the scheme this year, then, in such a situation, they will be given an additional assistance per acre.
Strengthening rural economy
In order to make the state economy dynamic and strong, Chhattisgarh government has transferred an amount of Rs 900 crore to farmers in their accounts in times of crisis under crop insurance and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana.
Earlier, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the state government had waived Rs 8,800 crore loan for about 18 lakh farmers and provided relief to farmers by taking steps like four-time compensation on agricultural land acquisition, irrigation tax waiver.
Generating employment through MNREGA and other ways (forest produce)
During lockdown, the Chhattisgarh government has generated employment under the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme that has directly benefitted 23 lakh villagers. For people depending on forest produce, collection of 16.71 lakh standard sacks of tendu leaves has been fixed in the forest areas of the state. It will benefit about 12.53 lakh collectors.
Chhattisgarh accounts for 98 per cent of the total forest produce across India. It is the major source of income for millions of families in the state. In the current season, the government has committed to pay Rs 649 crore to people dependent on forest produce. The state government has announced an additional incentive of Rs 13 per kg for the fixed support price of Mahua flower at Rs 17 per kg. Similarly, in addition to the support price in the purchase of Kusumi lac, Rangeeni lac and Kullu gum, additional incentive is being given by the state government.
To increase the income of the tribals, the government has ensured the middle-market free system and purchase of forest produce at the right price. Tendu leaf collection rate has been increased to Rs 4,000 per standard bag. Also, the number of forest produce purchased at support price has been increased to Rs 25 from Rs 7.