In a strategic move to make position more stronger for coming Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Raman Singh has announced paddy bonus for farmers in Chhattisgarh. As per information received, the bonus to farmers has been announced for the last season’s as well this season’s paddy procurement.
It may be recalled that farmers were staging protest across the state demanding a minimum support price of Rs 2,100 and bonus of Rs 300 per quintal, as promised by the ruling BJP in its poll manifesto in 2013.
“Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction, the state government has decided to provide a bonus to farmers for paddy procurement in 2016-17 and 2017-18,” said Chief Minister Raman Singh while interacting with media in Raipur.
He further added that “Bonus to the tune of Rs 2,100 crore for paddy procurement in the last year’s season (2016-17) will be disbursed ahead of Diwali which will benefit 13 lakh farmers. A bonus for the procurement to be done in this season (2017-18) will be given next year during Vikas Yatra.”
Raman said that he has highlighted the drought-like situation surfaced in many parts of Chhattisgarh during meeting with PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
A notification in this connection has been issued by Agriculture Department.
While the decision has brought cheers on faces of people belonging to farming community, Congress has targeted the government by terming the decision as a move to appease farmers ahead of assembly election.
