Under the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar Lal, the Haryana government has time and again reaffirmed its commitment to making beneficial decisions for the economic and social upliftment of farmers. Taking this commitment, a step further, the Chief Minister announced substantial financial assistance to farmers totalling more than Rs. 466 crore under various schemes for the welfare of farmers, reaffirming the government’s dedication to supporting the backbone of the agricultural sector, farmers and ensuring their prosperity and progress.
Announcing the aid, while addressing a press conference here today, the Chief Minister said that the present state government has always stood by farmer brothers, recognizing their invaluable contribution to the nation’s growth and development. School Education Minister, Kanwar Pal also remained present on this occasion.
Divulging the scheme-wise details, Manohar Lal shared that today, under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana for millets, financial aid of Rs. 177.84 crores is being credited to the accounts of 2,50,470 farmers. In this scheme, at the rate of Rs. 300 per quintal, this amount is being given for an area of 7,40,985 acres. He said that this scheme was initiated in the year 2021. Before today, an amount of Rs. 870 crores has already been given under this scheme as Bhavantar Bharpai. Adding today’s amount, a total of Rs.1047.84 crores have been given for millets so far.
The Chief Minister said that in addition to this, Bhavantar payments are also given for 21 horticultural crops. So far, an amount of Rs. 40.71 crores has been given for horticulture crops. Combining both scheme payments, a total of Rs. 1088.55 crores have been directly deposited into the accounts of farmers.
Under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme, started for water conservation and crop diversification, the Chief Minister today directly transferred an amount of Rs. 25.10 crores into the accounts of 19,528 farmers. In this scheme, at the rate of Rs. 7,000 per acre is being given for an area of 35,842 acres. Before this, Rs. 118 crores had been given under this scheme.
He said that this scheme was initiated in the year 2020. With today’s amount, a total payment of Rs. 143.50 crore has been given to farmers for sowing crops instead of rice.
Manohar Lal further shared that today an amount of Rs. 24.42 crores has been transferred into the accounts of 6,621 farmers registered under the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) scheme. In this scheme, at the rate of Rs. 4,000 per acre, this amount is being given for an area of 61,052 acres. Before this, an incentive payment of Rs. 47 crores had already been given under this scheme. He shared that this scheme was initiated in the year 2021. With today’s amount, a total payment of Rs. 71.42 crore has been given to farmers for sowing rice using DSR.
Today, under the first component, an amount of Rs. 75 lakh is being credited to the accounts of 2,500 farmers, and under the second component, an amount of Rs. 45 lakh is being credited to the accounts of 179 farmers. A total of Rs. 1.20 crore has been deposited into the accounts of 2,679 farmers under both components.The Chief Minister while sharing details about the tireless efforts being made for crop residue management in the state, shared that under the In-Situ Management of Crop Residue Scheme, farmers are given various incentives. He said that there are two components to this scheme. Under the first component, a 50 percent subsidy is given on the purchase of machinery, and under the second component, an incentive amount of Rs. 1,000 per acre is provided for making paddy straw bales.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister V Umashankar, Chairman, Power Utilities PK Das, Commissioner and Secretary, SEWA Department Pankaj Agarwal, Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department Vikas Gupta, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Ashima Brar, Director General, Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department Mandip Singh Brar, Managing Director, UHBVN Dr. Saket Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, HKRNL Sh. Amit Khatri, Media Secretary Sh. Praveen Atreya, Chief Media Coordinator Sh. Sudesh Kataria and other officers also remained present on this occasion.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that everyone has the right to protest in a democracy, but the protest should be in a democratic manner. The ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest of the farmers seems to be politically motivated.
Further he said that the use of tractors in the Protest as inconvenient not only for people in Delhi but across the country, Manohar Lal stated that farmers should travel to Delhi by train and public transit instead of tractors and make their point while also taking into account the comfort of others. The state government is buying land from farmers according to their wishes and rates on e-bhoomi. This is directly benefiting the farmers and there is no dispute between the farmers and the government. Security agencies of Haryana and Punjab are engaged in maintaining law and order. Security agencies have put up barricades only for security reasons so that peace and order can be maintained in the state. A close eye is being kept on suspicious and anti-social elements.