Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attends Farmers’ Conference in Chamoli
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Dec: Union Minister of Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, participated in a state-level farmers’ conference in Gauchar (Chamoli district) on Monday. A large number of farmers, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, State Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi, local MPs, MLAs, and other public representatives were present.
At the conference, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the launch of a clean plant programme in Uttarakhand at a cost of Rs 100 crore and stated that the central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will leave no stone unturned in the state’s development. During his visit, Shivraj Singh Chouhan interacted with farmers. He also mentioned the recently launched Vikasit Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB-G RAM G, saying that this will lead to the development of every village in the country and that this scheme has become a panacea for rural development.
Immediate assistance for crop loss – Union Minister Shivraj Singh said that more than ₹65 crore has been deposited in the accounts of farmers whose crops were damaged due to adverse weather conditions. He praised the day and night hard work of farmers in the terraced fields of Uttarakhand, saying, “God forbid a natural disaster, but farmers work day and night, toiling blood and sweat.” Shivraj Singh also praised the miracle of increasing production despite their small farm sizes.
5-Year Agriculture Roadmap – Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that after discussions with Chief Minister Dhami, a team of scientists and officials will prepare an agriculture roadmap for Uttarakhand. This team will consult with progressive farmers, experts, and local officials. Its objective is to rapidly increase farmers’ income, as Uttarakhand ranks number one in farmer income growth. However, it is also important to determine how to increase agricultural income even more rapidly.
A major announcement regarding a Clean Plant Centre: Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighting the immense potential of Uttarakhand’s fruit production, announced that a “Clean Plant Centre” will be established at ICAR-CITH Mukteshwar at a cost of ₹100 crore. Millions of disease-free plants of kiwi, apple, Malta, and citrus fruits will be available here, eliminating the problem of damaged plants from nurseries. An agreement with New Zealand will establish a “Centre of Excellence” for kiwi, making Uttarakhand the national horticulture capital.
Integrated Farming Model – Chouhan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge of “integrated farming” is promoting crops, fruits, vegetables, herbs, animal husbandry, and fish farming in small farms. With the Chief Minister’s support, an integrated farming model will be developed in Uttarakhand as well. He said that by increasing the production of the state’s divine herbs, farmers will become millionaires.
Shivraj Singh said that Modi has launched the new scheme to address the shortcomings of MNREGA. It includes a 100-125 day employment guarantee, unemployment allowance, and interest on pending wages. The budget has been increased from ₹88,000 crore to ₹1,51,282 crore. Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats will now decide on development projects in villages. Corruption will be curbed by linking them to PM Gati Shakti. Labourers will be provided relief by halting work for 60 days during peak agricultural season, and this system will also provide relief to farmers. Shivraj Singh said that MNREGA had many shortcomings and inconsistencies. Contractors instead of labourers, machines instead of workers, and in many places, the scheme had become synonymous with corruption. Therefore, under the Prime Minister’s guidance, a more perfect alternative scheme has been developed. “Now the Congress people are shedding a lot of tears, beating their chests, saying that MNREGA has been abolished. We have not abolished anything, we have started a new scheme to remove the shortcomings of that scheme and to do the work of complete development in every village,” the minister asserted.
Women’s Empowerment and Rural Development – Shivraj Singh said that Uttarakhand has received roads worth ₹1,700 crore from the Union Ministry of Rural Development. “CM Dhami has laid a network of roads in every village in the mountains of Uttarakhand, and under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we will work to connect the remaining villages.” He added, “We also have to change the lives of our sisters. The Prime Minister has done a lot for women’s empowerment, and it is our resolve that every poor sister should become a millionaire. If there is any living goddess, it is our sisters. To ensure that there are no tears in the eyes of our sisters, but a smile on their faces, CM Dhami has created the ‘Chief Minister’s Empowered Sisters’ Festival Scheme’. We will also leave no stone unturned in the ‘Lakhpati Didi Abhiyaan’ on behalf of the Government of India. This year, 43,000 didis became millionaires. Self-help groups are also doing good work here, and we will spare no effort in promoting them.”
Shivraj Singh congratulated Uttarakhand for being the first state to implement the UCC. He also said that the Chief Minister has initiated a very important initiative in the state, where every block will celebrate Farmers’ Day every month for the welfare of farmers. The government will go to the farmers’ doorsteps, all officials will come and sit in the villages to solve their problems. Farmers will no longer need to run around offices. This initiative by Uttarakhand will inspire other states.
