Chief Minister Raman Singh on Thursday participated in the ‘Bonus Tihar’ programme at Mungeli district headquarters of the State.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated developmental works worth Rs 191.66 crore.
Singh also distributed about Rs 75 crore 'paddy Bonus' to 48,000 farmers.
He said that the farmers will be celebrating 'Festival of lights' twice over as all the 13 lakh farmers will be receiving Rs 2,100 crore paddy bonus soon.
Singh was addressing a huge rally of farmers and added that by the click of button the hard-working farmers will get bonus amount into their accounts.
The Chief Minister also dedicated, performed 'bhoomi pujan' and laid foundation stones of developmental works worth Rs 191 crore in the district.
Singh said that new district Mungeli had been carved out about five years ago on the popular demand of the citizens.
Developmental works had picked up momentum after the creation of new district. Collectorate and Integrated official complex had been constructed. Infrastructure development works had picked up apace here, the Chief Minister stated.
He congratulated the district administration, citizens and people's representatives on the district being declared 'Open Defecation Free' under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachchh Bharat' mission.
Singh remembered the popular leader of the region, former MlA late Niranjan Kesharwani.
The farmers gave a rousing reception to the Chief Minister and expressed their gratitude for allocating bonus to them before Diwali.
Singh revealed that there was scanty rainfall in 96 tehsils of 21 districts. The farmers were disappointed as their crops lay waste in the fields.
The Chief Minister said that 'Bonus' Tihar is being celebrated in all the districts and 13.50 lakh farmers will benefit. All the farmers will get paddy bonus. There was no provision for sanctioning Bonus in the initial three years of formation of State from 2000-03.
He said that drought-like conditions prevailed even in 2015. The authorities had announced Rs 1,800 crore package to the farmers then also.
The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh Government is the Government of farmers and it took several steps in improving their financial condition.
The interest on loans had been reduced to zero. Earlier the interest on loans was about 15 per cent. An amount of Rs 3,500 crore had been distributed as loans to the farmers. There are four lakh irrigation pumps in the entire State and electricity up to 7,500 units is provided free of cost.
Singh revealed that about 14 lakh poor families had been allocated free domestic gas connections under the Prime Minister 'Ujjwala' project. The target is to provide gas connections to about 36 lakh families. Pucca houses will be provided to all the poor by the year 2022. Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme will eradicate the worries of farmers. About 60 lakh families are provided with medical insurance up to Rs 50,000 .
Construction works inaugurated at hands of Chief Minister include circuit house constructed at the cost of Rs 4.53 crore, bridge on Aagar River at Chandrapuri-Sonpuri Road worth nearly Rs 1.67 crore, high school buildings constructed in village Sakte, Marrakona and Badra at the cost of 49.75 lakh each, Jila Panchayat Resource Centre constructed at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore, and soil examination lab building constructed in Dharampura at the cost of nearly Rs 67 lakh.
He also inaugurated additional rooms in higher secondary school of Dindori village constructed at the cost of Rs 39 lakh, additional rooms in Baigakapa Higher Secondary School constructed at the cost of Rs 15 lakh, additional rooms in higher secondary school Akhrar worth nearly Rs 43 lakh and in higher secondary school Ramhepur constructed at the cost of Rs 30 lakh, and police control room constructed in Mungeli at the cost of Rs 38 lakh.
On the occasion, Nal-Jal Praday Yojana in village Saristaal, Farhada, Kona and village Khudiya, were also inaugurated at hands of the Chief Minister.