Amid farmers’ protest across the country opposing three farm laws, the State Government on Wednesday decided to move the Centre again demanding implementation of the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Committee regarding MSP of crops.
MS Swaminathan, who had chaired the National Commission on Farmers, had recommended, “MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.” A State Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided to pass a resolution to move the Union Government reiterating its earlier stand requesting to implement the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Committee for doubling the farmers’ income.
Earlier, the State Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution in 2017 and again in 2018 for fixing of MSP of agricultural produce in a holistic manner.
The Cabinet at its meeting approved 12 proposals, including the following:
• A proposal for settlement of arrear electricity dues of Government departments till March 31, 2020.
• The work of rural piped water supply project in Bargarh district was awarded to the L&T Ltd, Chennai and KEC-Kaveri (JV), Warangal. Two proposals in this regard got the Cabinet approval.