NewZNew (Bathinda) : The announcement of Rs 600 cr package of relief for the white fly attack affected farmers is a big step towards quenching the dire need of cotton farmers, said the Union Minister for Food Processing, Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal. She added that the compensation is speedily being distributed amongst the affected farmers and under this Rs 114 cr has been released for the Bathinda farmers, while more help is on the way.
Expressing sympathy with the landless laborers, the Union Minister directed district administration to increase quantum of work under MNREGA to provide employment to these laborers who are dependent making livelihood through picking the cotton in fields.
The Union Minister said this while talking to media persons on the sidelines of laying foundation stone of the cattle pound in village Harraipur here today. Later, the Union Minister also distributed sanctions to 919 beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Bank Scheme to the tune of Rs 3.33 cr.
Mrs Badal said that the Punjab government has always stood like a rock support besides farmers in their times of distress. She added that with the Mr Narendra Modi led government taking over the reins of country, a major change was heralded in the form of compensation amount being granted even when 33 percent of crop gets damaged. The Congress led UPA government used to award compensation to the farmers only after 100 percent of crop was damaged. However, the NDA government brought this down to 33 percent and consequently the farmers have been given compensation at the rate of Rs 8000 per acre instead of Rs 3600 per acre awarded earlier.
Reiterating the riparian rights of state on the rivers, the Union Minister said the state does not have any extra water for anybody else. She added that the state could not compromise with the irrigation needs of its own farmers.
The Union Minister Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal added that over the period of past 9 years, the SAD-BJP government has given Rs 28000 cr worth free power and water to its farmers.
Taking a dig on Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party she said that the two parties are too engrossed in their own matters than to work for betterment of the people of state. Training guns on the Congress MP Captain Amarinder Singh she said that the MP Amritsar has neither done anything for his constituency nor has ever represented his area in the Parliament.
She added that under the able guidance of the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi the nation has steered it was way towards unparalleled development. The schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra Bank et al are aimed at inclusion of common and poor man in the financial set up of country. Under these schemes, every household in country will soon have a bank account hereby propelling its overall development.
The Union Minister distributed sanctions worth Rs 3.33 cr to 919 beneficiaries enabling them to start their own ventures and turn into entrepreneurs.
The Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Sarup Chand Singla, MLA Mr Darshan Singh Kotfatta, OSD to Deputy CM Mr Mohnish Kumar and Mr Harinder Singh Sra, assistant media advisor Mr Harjinder Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Dr Basant Garg, SSP Bathinda Mr Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti, BJP city president Mr Mohit Gupta, SAD press secretary Dr Om Prakash Sharma and others.
