Chhattisgarh ministers Kawasi Lakhma and Anila Bhedia claimed that the past six-month rule of the Congress government was full of achievements and many initiatives were taken for the welfare of common people of the state.
The minister duo were addressing a press conference here at new circuit house on Monday evening to spell out the fulfillment of promises made by the Congress in its election manifesto for the 2018 assembly polls.
Specifically mentioning that right after the government was formed on December 17, 2018, short-term farm loans amounting to Rs 11,000 crore of defaulting farmers were waived off by the government, the ministers appreciated the leadership of Bhupesh Baghel for taking initiatives in the interest of poor and farmers.
They also cited that the government taking yet another big decision had declared minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2500 per quintal fro paddy. This Kharif season a payment of Rs 3000 crore was made for procurement of paddy at MSP, they said.
Fulfilling yet another promise made in the manifesto, the government announced to provide 35 kgs of rice per ration card to all the families, including those from Above Poverty Line (APL) under food for all scheme, they mentioned.
Lakhma speaking on this occasion specially mentioned decision of government for returning land acquired for establishing Tata Steel Plant in Lohandiguda region of Bastar. It was a historic decision and affected farmers were benefited by it, he said.
Lakhma also claimed that Narva Garva, Ghurva and Badi under Suraji scheme was not a mere slogan. It would be instrumental in strengthening the rural economy by developing animal husbandry, conservation of water and arranging green fodder for the cattle. Under the scheme it has been instructed to reserve at least three acres of land for cow shed so that the stray cattle could not destroy the standing crop in the field, the minister said.
The minister duo also specifically mentioned the fulfillment of promise of curtailing the power tariff to half till 400 units. Now the consumers have to give Rs 2.75 per unit instead of Rs 5.30, they added.
In a bid to generate employment the state government had taken initiative for recruitments of 15000 teachers in schools and 1345 assistant professors in colleges, they said.