The Chhattisgarh government’s ambitious scheme — Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana — was inaugurated on Thursday via video-conferencing on the martyrdom day of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, along with his Cabinet ministers, transferred Rs 1,500 crore into the bank accounts of farmers as the first instalment of the total Rs 5,750 crore provisioned under this scheme.
The state government claims that the scheme will help support farmers and economically weaker section of society, and provide them opportunities to live a dignified life. Baghel said that 90% of the beneficiaries of this scheme include marginalised farmers, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, OBC and poor people. “First instalment of Rs 1,500 crore under this scheme has been transferred directly into the accounts of farmers.
Under this scheme, Rs 5,750 crore will be provided to 19 lakh farmers of the state. Under this scheme, exchange grant of Rs 13,000 per acre will be provided for sugarcane farming and Rs 10,000 per acre for paddy farming,” the CM said, adding: “We have directly transferred nearly Rs 40,700 crore into the accounts of farmers in form of payment against paddy procurement, loan waiver, crop insurance claim, irrigation tax waver and bonus.”
The CM said recalled the contribution of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who “envisioned the modern India of the 21st century. Shri Rajiv Gandhi believed that building a poverty-free and self-reliant India is not possible without improving the economic condition of farmers. Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nayay Yojana is the first step towards realising the vision of Shri Rajiv Gandhi.”
He added that inauguration of this scheme on the death anniversary of the late Prime Minister “is our humble tribute” to him. In his inaugural address, Rahul Gandhi said that in view the Covid-19 pandemic, he had requested the Prime Minister to provide financial aid to poor people instead of loans, as they currently needed cash more that credit. “Chhattisgarh is the first state of the country to transfer financial aid directly into the accounts of farmers.
The Chhattisgarh government has set the example for entire country on how to help people in the time of crisis. Whether it is corona or any other crisis, we would not leave the side of poor people,” he said. Sonia Gandhi said that the Chhattisgarh government has taken a great step of supporting poor, tribal people and farmers. “Through Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, financial aid is being provided to the farmers directly into their bank accounts.
The decision to include rural landless labourers in the second phase of the scheme is commendable. This scheme will bring about prosperity and positive changes in lives of tribal people, villagers and poor people. Implementation of such schemes at ground level to benefit each and every person will be the true tribute to late Shri Rajiv Gandhi,” the Congress president said. On this occasion, senior party leader Motilal Vora, MP P.L. Punia and Randeep Singh Surjewala along with MPs, MLAs and beneficiary farmers were present via video-conferencing.
