Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Chhattisgarh’s Godhan Nyay Yojana, saying the scheme is in the interest of farmers. The vermi-compost prepared from cow dung helps in increasing crop productivity, an official statement of the state government claimed.
He was addressing the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog which Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also attended.
Baghel elaborated on the scheme, adding that the state government had also started procuring cow urine to produce natural fertilizers.
Baghel said agricultural research institutes should be given the responsibility of providing free seeds of newly developed crop varieties, mini kits and breeder seeds to ensure crop diversification. He spoke on innovative steps taken to increase the production of pulses and oilseeds.
Elaborating, the Chief Minister said a provision had been made to provide Rs 10,000 per hectare to farmers who cultivate pulses, oilseeds or do plantations instead of paddy.
Baghel sought relaxation under the Forest Conservation Act in setting up of 5 MW solar power plants in 10 aspirational districts of the state.
He sought to implement MGNREGA in rural areas located near cities and cities with populations less than 20,000.
He reiterated Chhattisgarh's demand for GST compensation, loss of revenue of Rs 5,000 crore, extending compensation grant for next five years, transferring amounts collected as 'additional levy' from coal block companies and reimbursement of expenditure of Rs 11,828 crores made by the state government to eradicate Naxalism.
Baghel sought release Rs 13,089 crore in the Union Budget of the last three years, the curtailed shares of central taxes. The demand for Rs 4,140 crore deposited at the rate of Rs 294 per tonne on coal mining from coal block companies with the Central government be released to the state, he said.
Highlighting that about 65 percent of the mineral revenue is the source of iron ore mines operating in the state, he called for revision of royalty rates in the financial interest of the state.
He also requested for refund of deposits in the New Pension Scheme and ensuring availability of jute gunny bags.