Chandigarh, March 31 - Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that the State Government is committed for safeguarding the interest of Farmers and Farming. Further, in a bid to ensure that there is no delay in payments to be made to farmers during the upcoming Rabi Season 2021-22 commencing from April 1, 2021, this time about 9 percent interest (Bank rate plus one percent) would be paid to the farmers if their payments are delayed. The payments would be made directly into the verified accounts of farmers, said Sh. Manohar Lal.
The Chief Minister said this while addressing a press conference here today. Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. J.P. Dalal was also present on this occasion.
“It would be ensured that farmers must receive payment of their procured produce within a stipulated time period and for this responsibilities have been fixed. Besides this, the state government has also decided to send money directly to the accounts of the farmers within 72 hours of submission of the I-form in the Mandis. If for some reason the money of the farmers is not deposited in their verified accounts on time, then they will be paid at the interest rate of 9 percent,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
Adequate arrangement made for Procurement
The Chief Minister said that adequate arrangements have been made for the smooth procurement of Rabi Crops commencing from April 1, 2021 and concerned departments and procurement agencies have been directed to ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience while selling their produce in different Mandis across the State.
“Hassle-free and time-bound procurement should be ensured by making advance scheduling plans so that farmers do not face any problems” directed Sh. Manohar Lal.
The Chief Minister said that if required this time too the number of procurement centres will also be increased ensuring hassle free procurement. He said that advance directions regarding timely lifting of the crops, smooth functioning of the procurement process and ensuring that no Arhtiya or farmer faces any problems has also been given to the officers concerned.
SOPs issued for Procurement
The Chief Minister informed that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)/Guidelines have been issued for every stakeholder that is Framers’, Arhtiyas, Marketing Board, Transporters and Banks etc and they have been asked to ensure implementation of these SOPs throughout the procurement season. Besides this, health safety arrangements have also been made in advance to minimize health risk to those engaged in procurement operations, he added.
Several Good Governance Reforms initiated
The Chief Minister said that in last one and half years, several Good Governance Reforms were initiated by the State Government ensuring minimum government and maximum governance. He said that while reiterating state government’s commitment to uplift the poorest of the poor in the spirit of Antyodaya a new scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Utthan Abhiyan’ has been announced.
“The Abhiyan aims to draw verified data from the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) and identify the poorest one lakh families in the State. Under this a package of measures from education, skill development, wage employment, self employment and job creation will be adopted and tailored to each family to ensure their Socio- economic upliftment,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
The process of identifying these families through PPP survey has been going on and till date the data of around 13,000 families have been verified, he informed.
Several steps taken for promoting water conservation
The Chief Minister said that several steps are taken by the State Government for promoting water conservation. Besides this, re-use of treated wastewater policy with an objective to use 25 percent of treated wastewater for non-portable uses has also been launched, said Sh. Manohar Lal.
He said that ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat Scheme to diversify the paddy crop into alternative crops. An amount of Rs. 7000 is being given as an incentive to the farmers for adopting crop diversification, said the Chief Minister.
Registration on One Time Registration Portal extended till May
The Chief Minister said that the last date of registration on One Time Registration Portal for group C and D category posts has been extended from March 31, 2021 to May 31, 2021. He said that with the launch of this Portal, youth would be required to apply and submit fees on the Portal only once. He said that the State Government has already announced to conduct a Common Eligibility Test (CET) by Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) for filling up different posts of Group C and D category.
An amount of Rs. 72 crore recovered in Operation Shudhi
The Chief Minister informed that in a bid to eradicate irregularities in the Transport Department, the State Government had launched “Operation Shudhi” as a result of which in last five months since November 2020 to March 2021, an amount of Rs, 72 crore has been recovered by the department. He informed that since November 2020 to March 2021. AS many as 25289 challans were issued, of which 22431 challans were cleared.
The Chief Minister said that with the spirit of ‘Jan Seva’, the State Government during its tenure has launched various e-reforms including online teachers transfer policy, E-auction of mining beds, E-Bhoomi portal, Antyodaya Saral portal, E-CLUs approval. Besides this, said transparent and merit based recruitment is been done in the State.
Plan to give passports to all PG students
The Chief Minister said that many educational reforms have also been introduced in the State. He said that till now only those students who applied for passports were are given passport but now the State Government has planned to give passports to all the postgraduate students in colleges and universities even if they do not apply. He said that 6800 students have been given passports.
On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashankar, Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board, Sh. Vinay Singh and other officers were present.