Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said the State wants minimum support price of crops to be linked with wholesale price index.
Talking with mediapersons on eve of sangat darshan in Fazilka Vidhan Sabha constituency, Badal said that State Government is devoted to protecting interests of farming community which is amply proved by waiving of tubewell electricity bills of farmers.
He said the state government is bearing expenditure of Rs6000 crore from State exchequer. He also divulged that State Government is connecting farmers with cashless health insurance scheme under which families engaged in farming would be able to avail free treatment upto Rs50000 annually from designated hospitals and its premium would be paid by Government.
He said that State Government is giving subsidy to tune of 33 percent to make available tractors and other agricultural implements to farmers in order to mitigate rising cost of agriculture.
The Deputy CM said State Government is taking every possible step to address waterlogging problem in south western districts of state and is spending Rs250 crore to check this menace. He said the SAD-BJP Government is commencing a project worth Rs 2200 crore to ensure clean drinking water to all villages of Punjab.
On Urban and Rural Development, Badal said that State Government is spending Rs6000 crore this year for developing rural and Rs4000 crore for urban areas besides spending Rs25-30 crore in each vidhan sabha constituency. He said that developing Fazilka from every aspect is priority of State Government.
He met panchayats of 57 villages of Fazilka district during sangat darshan at Mandi ladhooka and Theh Kalandar and gave instructions to concerned departments to release grants worth Rs16 crore for all round development of these villages.