Amid apprehension by the farmers about procurement of Wheat during the lockdown, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday allayed their doubts saying there is no need for them to worry as each and every grain will be bought though there could be some delay.
Addressing the people of the State, Khattar said that since it is not possible to make procurements till April 14, arrangements for procurement of Mustard and Wheat will start on April 15 and April 20, respectively if the situation is favorable.
Till then he has appealed to the farmers to stock the grain in their homes. In case any farmer is having trouble doing the same, the Marketing Board has been directed to look into the matter, Khattar said, adding that to make up for the loss that the farmers will face due to delay in procurement and the lockdown soon a new scheme will be announced by the State Government.
He also made several announcements to combat COVID-19 and said that the State Government has decided to increase the ex gratia amount being given to the employees working in such an adverse situation, whether they are working in the isolated wards made for Corona patients or deputed in the COVID testing laboratories or the employees involved in such works from Rs 10 lakh. He said, “Now the ex gratia amount for doctors will be Rs 50 lakh, Rs 30 lakh for nurses and Rs 20 lakh for other employees( whether Government or contractual).”
He said the State Government has launched a new website covidssharyana.in for the registration of any shop, store owner (kiryana, vegetable, milk and chemist, etc) who desires to register to offer services by delivering items in order to helping the people of the State and fight against the spread of Corona virus may register on this website. This website has been started so that people can get daily necessities on time. E-passes will be issued to those who register on this website, he added.
Khattar said that extensive arrangements have been made through District and Police Administration to deliver all kinds of daily essential commodities to the people. He said that along with the administration, online arrangements have been made for the cooperation of the volunteers’ in this portal. He said that in the last four days since the registration was open, 33,000 people have registered themselves as volunteers, which includes 546 Doctors, 255 Nurses, 1108 paramedical, 4700 home delivery assistants, 5700 social distancing communication, 5700 for public communication, 6200 for supporting the district administration have been included.
The Chief Minister also apprised that five laboratories have been made available in the State for the testing of Corona virus and two more testing labs are also being set up. Similarly, 2500 isolated beds and about 6500 quarantine beds have been made available.
The Government has set up the Haryana COVID-19 Relief Fund and more than 2000 people have voluntarily contributed to donate in this Fund and to date an amount of Rs 5.84 core has been accumulated in this Fund.
The Chief Minister shared that arrangements have been made to provide financial assistance to labourers and BPL families including daily wagers, laborers and construction workers.
Under the Mukhyamantri Parivar Samridhi Yojana, 12.56 lakh families got registered to date. Out of this, 2.76 lakh families have been given a lump sum assistance of Rs 84.46 crore in two installments of Rs 4,000. Similarly, it is decided to give Rs 1,000 per week to 3.85 lakh workers registered with the Construction Workers Board. Apart from this, BPL families will also be given Rs 1,000 per week and for families who are not in the BPL list, separate arrangements will be made for their registration.
Khattar appealed to the people of the State to come forward to give their suggestions or share any problems related to the department related to COVID-19. For this, helpline numbers 1075 and 1100 have been issued.
CONGRESS AND BKU RAISE FARMERS' PROBLEMS
Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja wrote a letter to Khattar on Thursday drawing his attention to the problems likely to be faced by farmers in the wake of delay in procurement of crops.
Selja said the State Government should set up a round-the-clock dedicated helpline for farmers where all their concerns should be clarified. Demanding waiving of crop loans, she also said that the credit limit of Kisan Credit Cards used by farmers should be increased.
As delay is expected in wheat procurement, the Government should make arrangement to store the produce of farmers or get it lifted directly from their fields, she said in the letter.
Meanwhile, BKU's Gurnam Singh said the government should not wait till April 20 to procure wheat. “By that time, 90 per cent of wheat would have been harvested and procurement mandis are flooded with the crop at one go and will not help the situation. The Government should make arrangements to procure it from the fields at its own pace,” he added.
Singh also said the Government should give advance of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre to the farmers who have to pay to farm labourers and to meet other expenses related to harvesting and storing of crop.
“The Government can deduct this amount later from farmers accounts when they procure the produce and make payment to farmers for it,” he said.