Chief Minister Hemant Soren, along with agriculture Minister Badal, on Monday reviewed the progress of various ongoing farmers welfare schemes most of which were initiated by former Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
Badal talking to The Pioneer after assessing various farmers’ welfare schemes said, “The previous Govt had launched various farmers’ welfare schemes.
The schemes that are useful will continue, but the schemes that are useless and causes unwanted burden on state exchequer will be stopped.”
The Agriculture Minister said that no decision has be taken to stop the Mukhyamantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana , but the dept is going through details of the schemes such as objective of the scheme and the beneficiaries of the scheme.
The Agriculture minister’s refusal to close down the MMKAY scheme assumes importance as Opposition parties are skeptical that Hemant government will close down MMKAY scheme.
On August 11 last year, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu along with Chief Minister Raghubar Das launched Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana (MMKAY).
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 have to get Rs 5,000 for each acre with maximum amount upto Rs 25,000. The MMKAY scheme is additional to PM Kishan scheme under which farmers has to get Rs 6,000 per acre in three installments.
Badal said, “We will hold two or three more such review meeting of agriculture department and then decide whether to close down MMKAY.” CM and agriculture minister also reviewed the functioning of crop insurance scheme in state. Badal said, “We have come to know that there are many beneficiaries of crop insurance in a family, while on other hand many families have been left out.”
On the issue of waiving farmers’ loan as announced by three parties Grand Alliance, Badal said, “The Grand Alliance is committed to waive farmers loan, but at present no decision has been taken as the state exchequer is empty.”
The Grand Alliance (JMM, Congress) in election had announced to waive farmers’ loan on the lines of Congress ruled Chhattisgarh government. During election campaign, apart from waiving farmers’ loan it was also announced that JMM/Congress government will hike the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy upto Rs 2500 on the lines of Bhupesh Bhagel government in Chhattisgarh. Minister Badal said, “No decision has been taken on increasing the MSP of paddy as the government first priority to clear the system so that farmers get the real price of MSP and not middleman.”
