RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 7: The State government expressed its commitment for all-round development of farmers in the state as the Jharkhand assembly approved a budget of Rs 3130.20 crore of the agriculture department by voice vote in the absence of legislators of the main opposition party.
Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh expressed the commitment sharing the details of what the state government has planned to do this year for the benefit of farmers.
He said that the loan waiver scheme will continue and for this purpose regular meetings are going with bank officials and agriculture department officials and all the hurdles coming in the way of waiver are being removed.
Patralekh referred to the budget already uploaded on the website of the agriculture department as an extra step the government is taking for the benefit of farmers.
“Once a farmer becomes a loan defaulter banks do not give them a loan but our government is taking such a step that this situation does not come and the steps have been taken to ensure that farmers may also get payment,” Patralekh said.
The minister said that steps have been taken to also help farmers whose accounts have been declared NPA and are facing loan waivers.
During the discussion, the opposition had cornered the government for waiving Rs 50,000 loan against the promise of Rs 2 lakh. On which the minister said that the process of waiving loans will continue and what is possible for the government is being done.
“At least we have marched a step forward in that direction,” Patralekh said.
The agriculture minister said that a proper step has been taken by the government to help farmers in case of the destruction of their crops due to natural calamities or any other reasons. It has been ensured that farmers do not
During the debate, BJP legislators criticized the government for not allowing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Scheme to continue. On which the minister gave clarification said that the scheme was not in the interest of farmers and it was benefitting insurance companies only.
“State government paid Rs 565crore as premium but the government could get only 90.03 crore and also did not file a required affidavit demanded by the state government,” the minister said.
The minister said that the government this time is now only providing cows but cowsheds also. While informing about Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Yojna the minister said how the previous government did corruption in the distribution of cows and as many as 15299 cows were given in Deoghar district while the number of cows given in other districts remained negligible to this number.
As the minister was giving his reply in the house, Mandar MLA Bandhu Tirkey expressed his anguish for the government’s failure in taking action against corrupt officials of the agriculture department. On which the minister said that he will look into the matter.
