Chief Minister Raman Singh on Thursday made several crucial announcements for the welfare of drought-affected farmers and farm labourers in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Thursday.
Singh said that agriculture sector and farmers are the top priority of the State Government. In difficult times of severe drought in Chhattisgarh, the administration is providing all relief to the farmers, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the short-term loans for Kharif 2015 will be converted into Medium-term loans and interest will be waived in the drought-affected regions of Chhattisgarh. About five lakh farmers will be benefitted with this step.
He said that upto 37 paise 'Anawari' drought-hit villages , 30 epr cent loans will be converted in 2015-16, in 2016-17 up to 50 per cent will be done and in 2017-18, 20 per cent loans will be interest-free. In the rest of the villages, the loans can be paid two equal installments in two years. As an alternative, if the loans upto 75 per cent are paid the rest 25 per cent will be waived-off.
Singh said employment upto 200 days will be provided under MGNREGA in the drought-hit villages instead of 100 days. The land-Revenue (Tax ) in 117 Tehsils which was pending had been waived-off.
The Irrigation Tax for Kharif 2015 will be exempted in the affected regions. The funds allocated for the marriage of a daughter under the Chief Minister Kanya Vivaah Yojana had been increased to `30, 000. Earlier it was `15, 000. Employment-oriented schemes will be launched for workers under the Nagar Panchayat areas.
The Chief Minister expressed the hope that these steps will ameliorate the sufferings of the drought-affected farmers.
He added that State is duty-bound to protect the interests of farmers. Whenever the need arises the authorities will back the distressed farmers.
Singh said that Chhattisgarh Government always worked for the welfare of farmers. The farmers brought laurels to the State with record food production and won many national-level awards. It is unfortunate that there was scanty rainfall this monsoon and as soon as State Government realized that drought is staring the region they have taken many steps.
About `37.20 crore subsidy had been sanctioned for the electric pumps by Surguja and Bastar Development Authority, Backward Classes Development Authority and Scheduled Castes' Development Authority , Free power supply to the irrigation pumps had been increased from 1500 units, electrification of hand pumps was done on a war-footing, temporary and permanent electric connections have been provided to the pump sets of the farmers, power is supplied 24 hours a day to the farmers, water is supplied to farmers on a top priority basis. Drought has been added to the Natural Disasters' list.
One quintal paddy seeds had been distributed to the farmers free of cost for the Kharif season 2016. Kisan-Mitan kendras had been set-up to redress the problems of farmers on a priority basis, he said.
Singh instructed the top officers to implement the welfare measures as early as possible. It is presumed that `800 crore Short-Term loans will be converted into Medium -Term loans. About `300 crore extra financial burden will be borne by the State Government due to loan conversions/waivers.
The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country to provide 200 days of employment under the MGNREGA instead of 150 days.