The much awaited Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana (MMKAY) announced by Chief Minister last year, was launched by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu at a glittering function held here on Saturday.
The Vice President by pressing a button credited Rs 442, 24,64,758 in the account of 13,60,380 farmers. Under the MMKAY scheme of Raghubar Das Government, the beneficiaries (farmers) will get Rs 5,000 per acre for purchasing seeds, fertilizers and other agriculture tools.
Farmers having agricultural land upto 5 acres will get Rs 5,000 for each acre with maximum amount upto Rs 25,000. The MMKAY scheme of Raghubar Das Government is additional to PM Kishan scheme under which farmers will get Rs 6,000 per acre in three installments. The State Government through the scheme aims at disbursing Rs 3,000 crore in the account of 35 lakh farmers by December this year.
The function was attended by Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Governor Droupadi Murmu, Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker Harivansh, State Agriculture Minister Randhir Kumar Singh and other dignitaries.
The Vice President on the occasion appreciated the efforts taken by the State Government in launching a scheme meant for Annadata (farmers). Naidu said, “The Centre and State should work together in agriculture sector. Depleting ground water and low crop productivity is cause of concern for both Centre and State.” Naidu said that other States should follow Jharkhand, how both Centre and State are working towards for welfare and benefit of farmers.
The Vice President also focused on water conservation claiming that it is the need of the hour. The Vice President urged the people to come forward in water conservation. He said, “The Government through various schemes is working towards water conservation. But the effort can become successful only when there is participation of common people in this endeavor.”
Stressing the importance of rural development, the Vice President said that the Country could not progress if the villages are left neglected. Naidu said, “When I was Minister of Rural Development during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Vajpayeejee gave much focus/attention on rural connectivity and in this connection roads were constructed.”
Naidu said, “If villages are connected with roads, then only Government officials, CO, BDO, Collector, Magistrates will reach people solving their grievances.” At the launch of schemes, the Vice President personally handed over cheques of MMKAY schemes to five beneficiaries. The five beneficiaries (farmers) who received the money included, Akshi Toppo, Najmul Khatoon, Sarla Gorai, Suraj Lakra and Mohammed Idris. Suraj Lakra a resident of Namkum area and one of the beneficiaries of the scheme said, “With the launch of Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana (MMKAY), Rs 11,125 was credited in my account. I thank the State Government for keeping farmers interest as one of the top priority.” The Vice President said that while selecting the beneficiaries, the Government should go for selecting women as beneficiaries so that the money is utilised judiciously.
Sources said that State Government decided to launch the MMKAY scheme keeping in interest the agrarian society of State. Around 68 per cent of total land in State is agriculture land with nearly 73 per cent of farmers being small and marginal. The State Government through the schemes aims at doubling the income of farmers by 2022.
