In accordance with the announcement of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, preparations for bonus distribution of about Rs1,950 crore to more than 10 lakh farmers of Chhattisgarh have already begun.
Most of the farmers will be paid bonus for paddy procurement through account payee cheques during the State-wide 'Vikas Yatra', which will commence May 6, under the leadership of Chief Minister.
As per the schedule, 'Vikas Yatra' will start from Dantewada district and the journey will ceremoniously conclude at Sarguja district on June 15.
However, bonus distribution will begin with the commencement of 'Vikas Yatra' and will go on till June 30. Meanwhile, farmers will be distributed bonus (through cheques) at the rate of Rs270 per quintal on the 71 lakh metric tons of paddy worth Rs9000 crore that was procured at cooperative societies during Kharif marketing year 2012-13. In this context, Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Protection Department has issued circular from Mantralaya (Mahanadi Bhavan), Naya Raipur to all the District Collectors of State.
The circular reads the instructions for District Collectors to ensure extensive promotion of bonus distribution at local-level. Moreover, they have also been instructed the necessary details about bonus distribution programme scheduled during 'Vikas Yatra' should be compulsorily put on public display at headquarters of all primary cooperative societies and Gram Panchayat buildings.
In the circular, Department Secretary Vikassheel has stated that bonus amounts will be distributed to farmers in form of cheques, as per the decision of State Government.
Collectors have been instructed to inspect the condition of computers and printers at paddy procurement centres and ensure that these machines are in working condition so that the process of data entry and cheque printing can be completed on time. Moreover, they have also been instructed to arrange for data entry operators, and ensure availability of cheque rolls at paddy procurement centres as per the requirement.
It has been mentioned in the circular that National Informatics Centres (NIC) is developing a software, exclusively for cheque printing of bonus amounts, that will be installed at all paddy procurement centres to expedite the process.
Circular also clarifies that the bonus amounts will be distributed through account payee cheques only, no manual or handwritten cheque will be honoured.
Concerned officials have been instructed to prepare the bonus cheques on time, so that timely distribution can be ensured.