Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked the officers to ensure arrangements for providing every possible assistance and maximum relief immediately to the farmers in their hour of crisis. Chouhan was holding discussions with Agriculture, Revenue, Cooperatives, Energy and Finance departments here on Sunday.
He said that along with traditional arrangements, proper relief should also be provided to the farmers. He asked the officers of Agriculture, Revenue, Cooperatives, Energy and Finance departments to chalk out a proposal in this regard and put it up at the next Cabinet meet so that it can be enforced at the earliest.
The Chief Minister said that productivity of soybean and pulses crops has come down in an unprecedented manner this year. Therefore, top priority should be given to making timely relief available to the farmers. A memorandum for relief should be sent immediately to the Central Government. It should be prepared jointly by Revenue, Agriculture and Finance departments.
He directed Energy Department officers to explore possibilities to give relief to the farmers who have taken permanent electricity connections. Cooperatives Department officers were directed for adequate increase in fiscal dynamism to provide financial assistance to the farmers.
He directed to ensure continuous power supply. Chouhan asked Revenue Department officers to make effective arrangements for a practical assessment of drought. He said that assessment on the basis of rains will not be a practical approach this year. Innovations should be made in this regard, the Chief Minister said.
Chief Secretary Anthony de Sa, ACS Finance AP Shrivastava, Agriculture Production Commissioner PC Meena, Principal Secretary Revenue KK Singh, Principal Secretary Agriculture Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary Cooperatives Ajit Kesari, Principal Secretary New and Renewable Energy Manu Shrivastava, Principal Secretary to CM SK Mishra and other senior officers attended the meeting