On the occasion of the martyrdom day of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday transferred Rs.1500 crore as input subsidy directly into the bank accounts of 22 lakh farmers in the state to help them prepare for the upcoming Kharif season.

The amount has been released as the first installment of the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyaya Yojana 2021. Under this scheme, a total of Rs 5,597 crore will be given to the farmers in four installments as input subsidy. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Dr. Charan Das Mahant and all the members of the cabinet paid tribute to Ex-Prime Minister late Shri Rajiv Gandhi during the programme.

The program started with the state song, after which Bhupesh Baghel administered the oath of anti-terrorism day to the people present.

To mark the occasion, Bhupesh Baghel also transferred Rs 7.17 crore to 72,000 villagers, cattle rearers of the state as payment for the dung procured in Gauthans between March 15 and May 15, under Godhan Nyaya Yojana. The CM also launched the super compost fertilizer manufactured in gauthans for sale to the farmers and inaugurated the beautification work of the statue site at Rajiv Gandhi Chowk in Raipur.

MLAs from all the districts including MP Mr. PL Punia, District Panchayat President and other public representatives also participated in this program virtually.

For this programme that marked the transfer of funds under Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyaya Yojana and Godhan Nyaya Yojana, MP Mrs. Sonia Gandhi had sent a message for the people of Chhattisgarh commending the leadership of Baghel and praising the state government’s efforts for economic growth and betterment of farmers as well as common people.

"The Rajiv Gandhi Kisaan Nyay Yojana is an appreciable step towards welfare of farmers. I congratulate the govt for taking this step. Rajiv Gandhi had always envisioned the empowerment of farmers, labourers, poor and backward people," she said.

Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said, "The input subsidy provided to the farmers under Rajiv Gandhi Kisaan Nyay Yojana has significantly improved the agriculture and farming status in the state. Our government has expanded the scope of the scheme from kharif season 2021, including various kharif crops along with paddy."

The CM also gave detailed information about the provisions of Rajiv Gandhi Kisaan Nyay Yojana 2021 and said that the certain amount to be paid to the landless labourers every year has been provisioned in the budget of 2021-22.

Covid measures

He also spoke about the measures being taken by Chhattisgarh government for Covid prevention, treatment and vaccination, as well as for the support and relief of COVID affected people during this second wave. The CM also informed about the COVID vaccination status, free distribution of two months ration to people in need, free education for children in crisis due to COVID, and Mahtari Dulaar Yojana.

Incentives

Baghel said that other than waiving off the agricultural loans of farmers, the state has distributed additional incentives worth Rs 11 thousand crore in last two years. The programme was also addressed by Assembly Speaker Dr Charan Das Mahant and MP PL Puniya AGri.

Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant and MP PL Punia said that the Chhattisgarh government has fulfilled its pro-people policies with commitment even in the face of adverse situation.

At the outset of the program, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources said in his welcome address that the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana is an important scheme for the farmers of Chhattisgarh state. He informed about the procurement of vermi compost in the state under Godhan Nyaya Yojana, and also talked about the production of super compost manure and other livelihood activities conducted by women self-help groups.

Choubey further said that apart from the release of Rs 7.17 crore to the dung vendor farmers, a dividend amount of over Rs 3 crore is being released to the Self Help Groups and Gauthan Committees. So far, Rs 95 crore has been provided to the cow dung vendors under Godhan Nyaya Yojana.