The State Government has taken a significant step on Tuesday in fulfilling one of its key promises made in its poll manifesto by ordering distribution of Rs 300 per quintal bonus on paddy to the farmers.
The first instalment of 50 per cent bonus amount will be distributed through cooperative societies by July 15.
An order to this effect has been issued by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, under the Bonus Scheme on Paddy Production.
The department, for distribution of first instalment of bonus, has released Rs 1,196 crore to the Managing Director, Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation (MARKFED) on Tuesday.
The State Government had made a provision of Rs 2,400 crore in its annual budget 2014-15 for distribution of paddy bonus at Rs 300 per quintal to the farmers. During the last Kharif season, 11.76 lakh farmers had sold 79.70 lakh metric tonnes of paddy on prescribed support price to cooperative societies. They would also get benefit of this bonus. The Food Department, in a circular issued here on Tuesday has instructed all collectors and officers concerned to start necessary preparations for distribution of the bonus amount.
Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner Ajay Singh and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Secretary Vikassheel, at a meeting held here on Tuesday have reviewed the preparations for distribution of paddy bonus to the farmers and issued a circular in this regard to collectors, Managing Director Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation, Director, Food and Managing Director, State Cooperative (Apex) Bank.
As per the scheduled programme, MARKFED would release the bonus amount to District Cooperative Central Banks by June 26. District Cooperative Central Banks will give this amount to Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative Societies by June 28 and the societies would distribute the bonus to the farmers before July 15. The State government has instructed the collectors and officers concerned to make proper publicity of it at local level.