Keeping his word on providing insurance cover for farm labourers as mentioned in the BJP's assembly poll manifesto, Chief Minister Raman Singh on Wednesday launched the 'Atal Khetihar Mazdoor Yojana' in a well-attended ceremony targetted at Chhattisgarh's 17 lakh farm labourers.
Singh after taking oath as Chief Minister for the third consecutive term in Chhattisgarh, had announced that he would launch the scheme on the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 25 while adding that the day would also be observed as 'Sushashan Diwas' (Good Governance Day). The Chief Minister had also stated that launch of the scheme was dedicated to 'Atalji' in keeping with his wishes of serving the masses.
Addressing a massive congregation of farm labourers and citizens here, Singh remarked , "the poorest in Chhattisgarh is the nearest one to the State government. All the major schemes of the Government have been prepared for the poor and the farmers.' The 'Atal Khetihar Mazdoor Yojana' is the biggest scheme of the new Government, which would help the poorest and Antyodaya scheme-covered people in the time of their crisis, he said.
later , Singh inaugurated the scheme by presenting the symbolic 'Insurance Security Certificate' to some labourers. The Chief Minister handed over a cheque worth Rs 5 crore, on behalf of Panchayat and Rural Development Department to the life Insurance Corporation of India (lIC) for the scheme. 'Atalji had created Chhattisgarh State to bring changes in the life of the people of the state. In accordance with his thoughts, we have given first priority to the villager, the poor and the farmers.Chhattisgarh is the only State that has arranged for two time meals for the poor', Singh said.
The Chief Minister stated that today, the Government, by launching 'Atal Khetihar Mazdoor Yojana', has removed the concern of lack of financial security of the more than 17 lakh poor families of farm labourers the State on the occasion of "Good Governance Day". Singh asked the officials of Panchayat and Rural Development Department to implement the scheme immediately and in an excellent manner and to provide its benefits to the affected within the prescribed time limit.
Presiding over the function, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar said that in the State, there were no schemes for the financial security of the farm labourers. 'This scheme has been launched to give security to the farm labourers in their time of crisis.' Raipur lok Sabha MP Ramesh Bais also spoke on the occasion while Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Department Vivek Dhand presented detailed information of the scheme.
According to the scheme, on the accidental death of a farm labourer, his nominee will get Rs 75,000. For natural death, the next of kin of the dead will get Rs 30,000. Similarly, for permanent disability due to accident Rs 75,000 and for loss of one eye or fracture of one hand or leg Rs 37,500 would be given.
A maximum of two children of the insured person will get scholarship of Rs 100 per month during their education from 9th class to 12th class and those enrolled in the ITIs. On the death of the insured person, a form should be filled in and submitted to the Janpad Panchayat.