Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed the implementation of the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana through a video conference with Divisional Commissioners and Collectors at the Mantralaya on Monday.
The Collectors said that the confusion that prevailed earlier about Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana has been minimized now. Consequently, arrival of crops has increased. Farmers are satisfied on getting good value for their crops. Crops are hitting 20 weekly markets in remote areas of tribal districts. These weekly markets have been included due to arrival of the crops. Apart from this, 51 sub-mandis too have been activated where farmers are coming with considerable quantity. So far, 171 lakh metric tonne grains have reached mandis. Mandis have generated revenue of Rs 28 crore in last one month alone.
The Chief Minister appreciated all the Collectors for making the scheme successful by working proactively in the interest of the farmers. He said that this is the time to extend support to farmers. They are in crisis. Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana is a means to serve the farmers. This will help in dispensing historic justice to them. He issued instructions to make monitoring teams more active and vigilant for giving right value to the farmers. He said that those who created negative perception regarding the scheme should not be given the same opportunity again.
Chouhan asked the Collectors to send message through SMS about the payment being made under the scheme to 1.55 lakh registered farmers selling their crops between October 16 and 31 in mandis by November 20. The Chief Minister instructed district and divisional level monitoring teams to visit the mandis.
Chouhan said that payment of price difference to farmers who sold their crop between October 16 and 31 should be ensured. He said that full transparency must be maintained in payment process. Farmers should be served by extending support and no opportunity should be given to anti-farmer people to defame this farmer-friendly scheme.
Chouhan instructed to carry out verification of all farmers' bank accounts. He said that sowing area, production etc. should also be verified cautiously apart from bank accounts. He instructed to collect detail of bank accounts of registered farmers and avail them to mandis and deposit the money in farmers' account. He said that the farmers will get the opportunity to put forward their grievances.
The Chief Minister said that the amount of price difference of the 15 days will be deposited in farmers' account on Farmers' Convention to be held in Ujjain on November 20.
He said that farmers' trust in Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana is increasing. All confusion has gone. He said that some so-called anti-farmer people had tried to spread misleading information about the scheme, but they did not succeed.
Chouhan said that farmers should know how much value they have got for their crop. Each farmer should get benefit of this scheme. If real farmers have missed registration under the scheme due to some reason, collect their detail and register them after verification. Registration facility will be opened for such farmers between November 15 and 22. He instructed Collectors of cotton producing districts to make special arrangements for cotton procurement and monitor it. It was informed that 15,500 quintals have been procured at the minimum support price at 8 centres in the State.
The Chief Minister asked the Collectors to encourage farmers to take benefit of storage grant scheme as well. In the scheme, the amount of grant has been increased from Rs 7 to Rs 9.90 per quintal per month. He said that offline applications will be registered online soon.