Ranchi: Chief minister Raghubar Das on Wednesday asserted that his government wasn't serving the interests of a selected few and urged people to avail the benefits of various state-run welfare and development schemes.
Launching 'krishi chaupal' (agriculture fair) in Gagi panchayat of Kanke block, Das said his government's aim was to double the income of farmers by 2022 and assured steady supply of seeds, water and fertilisers for increasing farm yield.
Without naming anyone, Das said vested interests were misleading the masses by downplaying the state's growth and spreading rumours that his government was obliging a few individuals. He claimed that in the past four years, the BJP governments at the Centre and the state had tried to set right all things that lay in a shambles since Independence.
"Our government is not meant for obliging individuals. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is our motto. If you find anything wrong happening around, bring it to my notice. I will fix the culprits. Under the amended land acquisition law, land donors will get compensation within eight months. The amended law will bring about revolutionary changes in improving the basic amenities of villages and the rural economy," the chief minister said.
Das, however, did not specify whether the President had approved the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Jharkhand Amendment) Bill, 2017.
He said 2,000 ponds had been renovated and 6 lakh dobas (farm ponds) were dug in the last fiscal to aid irrigation.
"Over 12.5 lakh farmers would be given Kisan credit cards and around 25 lakh farmers will be given soil health cards. Setting up of a separate electricity supply feeder for farmers would begin in January next year. More than 15,000km of rural roads would be built in the coming days," he added.
He promised that his government would provide a marketing platform for agriculture produce, improve basic amenities in villages such as roads, water and electric supplies, provide LPG connections to poor families, among others. "Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will see that no farmer sits idle. Every house will be electrified under Saubhagya Yojana by the end of this year," he added.
The chaupal will continue for a fortnight at all block headquarterswhere government officials will provide spot solutions to problems faced by farmers.
Various government departments and agencies have also put up stalls to extend benefits of various welfare and development schemes.
Other participants included agriculture minister Randhir Singh, Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary, Kanke MLA Jeetu Charan Ram, agriculture secretary Puja Singhal and senior officials of Birsa Agricultural University.
The chief minister also participated in a krishi chaupal in Jamtara on Wednesday besides inaugurating several new schemes.
