Describing agriculture sector as the most crucial for country’s development, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday pleaded that it should be given top priority in the formulation of national plans. Badal, sharing his views during the first meeting of newly-constituted NITI Aayog’s Governing Council at Prime Minister’s residence, asked the Centre to formulate a flagship scheme, in consultation with States, to make agriculture far more profitable and economically viable.
Batting for revival of agriculture sector which has now turned to be non-profitable venture due to high input costs and low returns resulting in mounting farmers’ debt and suicides, Badal advocated for the continuation of procurement at MSP by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) till a viable alternative is provided to the farmers otherwise it could lead to serious unrest.
Badal’s assertion came in the wake of recent media reports submitted to the Central Government recommending withdrawal of MSP and procurement by FCI. He also mentioned several factors like depleting ground water and degradation of soil health which have accentuated the woes of the peasantry especially of Punjab’s farmers. Chief Minister also demanded special one-time allocation for restoration and rejuvenation of century old canal network in the State which has resulted in reducing its carrying capacity by 20 per cent.
Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s out-of-the-box initiative ‘Make in India’ to promote small and cottage industries across the country, Badal impressed upon the Centre to “ensure level playing field for the industry in the State by duly compensating it for losses suffered due to incentives given to the neighbouring hill Sates, which resulted in flight of industry from Punjab”.
Vying for allocation of Central sector projects in Punjab besides restoration of freight equalisation, Badal said that State’s efforts for industrialisation would not fructify without centre’s unstinted support and cooperation. He also envisaged Centre’s support to accord top most priority to Food Processing Industry in the State besides optimally utilising international airports at Amritsar and Mohali to propel industrialisation at a much faster pace.
On the lines of Sagar Mala project aimed at ensuring holistic development of coastal areas, the Chief Minister asked for introduction of ‘Border Mala’ project for giving development boost to the border areas in the land locked border State like Punjab. He reiterated that trade to Pakistan from Attari-Wagah border be brought at par with Mumbai-Karachi port. He also raised the demand to open other trade routes to Pakistan through Hussainiwala and Fazilka borders.
Showing concern over the drug menace, the Chief Minister solicited all possible help and support from Centre saying that it was not a State level problem or even a national rather an international one. Contending this issue, Badal said that no drug was manufactured or produced in the State, but heroin was smuggled from international border whereas poppy husk and synthetic drugs were produced and manufactured in other States.
He urged the Centre to intensify its vigil on international border and emphasised the need to have better coordination amongst inter-state and Centre-State agencies. Five-time Chief Minister also recommended that states should be at liberty to prepare their own annual plans in the spirit of cooperative federalism. “The prevalent system of Annual Plan joint review should be done away with,” he said.
He also suggested that under ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme, State should be treated as a unit instead of district. “Successful initiatives by States like Shagun Scheme, Nanhi Chhan project and Mai Bhago scheme should be included in this scheme,” he added. In his concluding remarks Badal felicitated the Prime Minister for providing such platforms for interaction with the Chief Ministers, and urged him to hold planned quarterly meetings with every Chief Minister.