While addressing the concluding function of 'Gramoday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan' from village Tara Sewaniya in Phanda block of Bhopal district, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that government respects farmers' hard work. The government will now allow any loss to them. Therefore, onion will be purchased from farmers at Rs 6 per kg. Directives have been given regarding all arrangements for the purchase.
In his guiding address at Gram Sabha's meeting, the Chief Minister said that Farmers Welfare Fund will be instituted for timely assistance to farmers. He has directed collectors to ensure arrangements that agriculture schemes of villages are chalked out in villages itself and discussed at Gram Sabhas. Dream of prosperous state will not come true till farmers are happy, he added.
Describing 'Gramoday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan' as a unique campaign, the Chief Minister said that villages' schemes will be chalked out in villages and government will implement them. He administered pledge to villagers to keep villages clean under Swachchh Bharat Mission, conserve water, send children to school daily, conserve energy and make village addiction-free.
The Chief Minister announced to develop sports ground and open higher secondary school at village Tara Sewania. Referring to progress of Gramoday Abhiyan, Chouhan thanked the persons who have got deleted their names from BPl list voluntarily. Chouhan said that the government has made arrangements for employment, clothing and housing of people. He said that under Gramoday Abhiyan, 1.44 lakh 44 eligible beneficiaries' names have been included in BPl list.
Over 1.67 lakh pension cases have been sanctioned and 4.66 lakh caste certificates have been distributed. He informed that over 16 lakh farmers have been covered under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Besides, free health check-up of 16 lakh women has been done. Arrangements for free treatment have been made in case of serious diseases. Arrangements will also be made for treatment of childless women.
Chouhan said that the state government is committed to making agriculture profitable. Farmers are being given loans at zero per cent interest rate. Now, arrangement has been made for repayment of only Rs 90,000 by concerning farmer against loan of Rs one lakh. In view of crisis faced by farmers, relief of Rs 4,600 crore has been deposited in farmers' bank accounts and Rs 4300 crore crop insurance compensation is also being paid soon.
He said that time has come now to change farming methods. Village's agriculture scheme will be chalked out in village itself. Selection of crops will be done at Gram Sabha so that crops can be grown on the basis of area's climatic zone, quality of soil and availability of water resources.