Senior officers of Indian Administrative Service, Forest and Police Services posted at Mantralaya will visit villages on 25, 26 and 27 October and meet the farmers and their families' facing difficult times.
They will discuss with them the possible measures by which maximum benefit and relief could be given to them. They will also assess the status of the beneficiary-oriented schemes and get first-hand feed-back.
Addressing a joint meeting of Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries, the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan observed that it is time to be with the affected farmers, console them and not sit back at the Secretariat. He asked the senior officers to use their talent and administrative expertise to ensure that the farmers get maximum benefits and relief in their hour of grief.
The Chief Minister said that the farmers are in deep trouble. This is the time for the senior authorities to exhibit their talent, ability and devotion to duty. He said that he himself and all members of the Cabinet will also visit the villages. He termed it as positive initiative.
The Chief Minister said that in view of the calamity, it is the task of highest priority to ensure maximum benefit to the farmers. The budget of the tasks, which are low in priority would be cut. He said that loss of crops in 58 lakh hectares is so heavy that it will require at least Rs 3000 crore for relief and equal amount for crop insurance. Presently, Rs 500 crore is being distributed. The top priority is that not a single affected farmer remains deprived of relief.
Chouhan said that in view of the suffering of farmers, the celebration on completion of a decade of remarkable development has been cancelled. The programme to serve the people will continue. He urged the senior authorities to innovate the ways of providing maximum help to the farmers. He urged all officers visiting the villages to talk to farmers about their plans and study the impact and implementation of beneficiary oriented schemes.
He said that dialogues with farmers will underline many issues. He asked the Chief Secretary to make village-wise tour programme of officers and ready a format to assess the schemes meant for the farmers. He said that the objective is to help the farmers optimally.
Chouhan asked the officers to ensure that adequate quantity of fertilisers and seeds for the rabi crop are available. He asked them to list the hurdles in implementation of schemes. He said that it is also necessary to examine why farmers suffer loss. It is essential to draw up a long-term planning. He also asked them to assess other schemes like free medicines distribution, sanitation and the status of enrolment of children in schools, conduct of anganwadi etc. Chief Secretary Anthony DeSa and senior officials were present at the meeting.