Chhattisgarh Govt. is for farmers: Raman Singh

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], October 3 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, on the eve of handing over the statewide bonus 'Tihar' to farmers, on Monday said that the state government is for the farmers.

In a letter addressed to the farmers of the state, Singh said that the amount of paddy bonus would definitely benefit the families of the farmers.

He also said that the state government has been working on the principle of Antyodaya-Prana Antyodaya-Path Antyodaya in the state.

Singh claimed that the villages would be financially strong and prosperous, and that the development of Chhattisgarh would get a new direction and momentum.

"The state government has fulfilled the resolution of giving bonus to the farmers and this year, it is being given to more than 13 lakh farmers. The Chhattisgarh Government has announced the paddy bonus to the farmers. Farmers, who have sold paddy to 1,989 procurement centers of the state, in the Kharif year 2016, will be given a bonus of about Rs. 2,100 crore before Diwali. Farmers, who sell paddy in these centers this year, will receive the bonus next year."

Singh will begin handing over the bonuses in the Baldaabazar and Bilaspur districts on Tuesday and will hand over bonuses to another 18 districts till October 13.

In his letter, Singh also said that the central government has increased the minimum support price for their produce.

"In the year 2016-17, the minimum support price was fixed at Rs. 1,470 for thick rice and Rs. 11,510 per quintal for thin paddy. The Central Government has increased the minimum support price of paddy by Rs. 80 per quintal this year and our government will also give a bonus of Rs. 300 per quintal. Together, in the year 2017-18, farmers are getting Rs. 1,850 for thick paddy and Rs. 1,890 per quintal for thin paddy," he said.

He enumerated a number of measures that the government would be taking up for the betterment of the farmers in the state.

"Agricultural credit facility at zero per cent interest, agricultural machinery and electricity at affordable rates, adequate provision of canals and solar pumps for irrigation, transparency facility for selling paddy etc. have been ensured by the state government for the prosperity of the farmers," he said. (ANI)