Chhattisgarh Government on Saturday made some new adjustments in the paddy procurement policy and announced to launch the annual mega paddy procurement drive from December 1.
The Cabinet meet which was chaired by Chief Minister Raman Singh decided to constitute a separate welfare board for the third gender.The Government has extended the deadline of registrations of farmers at the co-operative societies till October 31. The societies have been ordered to begin paddy procurement from December 1.
The cabinet also decided to constitute a separate welfare board for socio-economic development of the people belonging to the third gender. The social welfare minister will be the president while secretaries of the departments concerned will be members of this board.On the recommendation of Chhattisgarh State OBC Commission, the cabinet approved to include as many as 10 castes including Gahira, Goli, Bhatari, Bhathari, Bhadari, Kunvi, Kunavi, Kalwar, Bhuliya and Kamalapuri in the list of other backward classes (OBC).
Similarly, on the recommendation of Tribes Advisory Council of Chhattisgarh, the cabinet decided to give benefits of scholarships and admissions on seats, if available, in schools and hostels to the children of some communities as given equivalent to the children of Scheduled Tribes.The cabinet has included Parahiya, Dhanuhar (Dhanuvar), Kherwar, (Kharwar), Kisan (Kisan Nagesiya), Parganiha (Pradhan), Amneet (Amnit), Suor caste (Sanvara, Suonra, Saura and also known as Shara) in this category.
This apart, discussion on the seeds policy was also held during the meet. The policy aims to make the state self-reliant in seeds and saplings availability of agriculture and horticulture field and strengthening infrastructure for its production, developing the state as a hub of hybrid seeds production, encouraging establishment of horticulture seeds production units in private sector, encouraging seeds exportation, establishing a seeds grid in the state etc.