In a major reprieve to the cotton growers and farm labourers who suffered huge loss due to pink bollworm pest attack on cotton crops, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday announced to enhance the compensation amount from Rs 12,000 to Rs 17,000 per acre besides 10% of the relief to the farm labourers involved in picking of cotton.
Chairing a high level meeting with the representatives of 32 farm unions of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) led by President BKU Balbir Singh Rajewal here at Punjab Bhawan, Channi said that the enhanced compensation amount would involve nearly Rs. 200 crore in addition to the already approved Rs. 416.18 crore on account of compensation @ Rs. 12,000 per acre.
Accepting another major demand of SKM, Channi also announced to cancel all the FIRs registered by the Punjab Police against the farmers who had been protesting against the farm laws within the state, after following the prescribed procedure with due diligence. He also assured the representatives of SKM that he would personally take up the matter with Punjab Governor, who is also the Administrator of UT Chandigarh to withdraw the cases against the farmers who participated in the protest march towards Punjab Raj Bhawan against farm laws. Conceding their demand, Channi announced to call on Punjab Governor soon accompanied by a delegation of various farm representatives urging him to withdraw these cases forthwith.
On the demand of farm unions, Channi said that all the cases of stubble burning registered against the farmers would be sympathetically considered from the legal aspects to safeguard the interest of the farming community. However, he also appealed to farmers to refrain from stubble burning in future as it was hazardous both for environment as well as human health besides hampering the fertility of land to an enormous degree.
Taking serious note of supplying paddy seed of spurious quality to farmers in Moga district which resulted in crop damage in 2000 acres, the Chief Minister directed the Agriculture Minister to take a stern action against the fraudulent seed company and ordered due compensation to the affected farmers to make their loss good. The Chief Minister also directed to initiate exemplary action against all the erring officials of PUNSEED involved in supply of substandard wheat seed during the current Rabi season.
Regarding the meager compensation paid to the farmers in lieu of land acquired from them for Delhi-Katra-Amritsar expressway, Channi said that he would personally convene a meeting of all Divisional and Deputy Commissioners to rationalize the rates of compensation in this regard. He categorically said that such farmers should not be allowed to suffer on this count and thus directed the Financial Commissioner Revenue to examine such cases on priority to award fair compensation as per the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
In a bid to give priority to state's youth in the government jobs, the Chief Minister said that the state government is seriously contemplating to bring a comprehensive proposal in the next Cabinet for formulation of a policy to reserve around 75% of posts in government exclusively for Punjabi youth.
On the issue of appointment of PAU Vice Chancellor, the Chief Minister said that the selection process in this regard is already underway and the competent person would be appointed soon purely on the merit basis in a fair and transparent manner. Likewise, CM Channi also emphasized the need to infuse professionalism and scientific temper in the fields of agriculture and horticulture and thus asked the Chief Secretary to appoint technocrats with vast experience and expertise in their respective fields so as to take the agriculture sector on new heights of glory.