C’GARH LAUNCHES KISAN NYAY PLAN

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday launched the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay scheme, which ensures farmers get a minimum income, on the death anniversary of the former PM, in Chhattisgarh as “a tribute to his memory”.

RAIPUR: Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay scheme on the death anniversary of her husband and former prime minister in Chhattisgarh through video conferencing on Thursday and said the initiative was a tribute to his memory. Addressing the event, Sonia Gandhi said the scheme will change the lives of farmers in the state and help them become self-reliant.

“Such schemes should be implemented at the ground level to help bring a change in the lives of people. This is a revolutionary scheme and is a true tribute to

Rajiv Gandhi. This is a big step taken in line with the values of Rajiv Gandhi,” she said.

Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, with his cabinet ministers, transferred ~1,500 crore to the bank accounts of farmers in Chhattisgarh in the first instalment ~ 5,750 crore budgeted for it. The launch was attended by senior Congress leaders Motilal Vora, PL Punia, RS Surjewala and MPs, MLAs and beneficiary farmers via a video link. Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi, who also participated in the event, said against the backdrop of the crisis caused by Covid-19, he had requested the Prime Minister to provide financial aid to the poor instead of loans, he said.

“Chhattisgarh government has found a commendable solution to the situation. Chhattisgarh is the first state of the country to transfer financial aid directly into the accounts of farmers. Chhattisgarh government has set the example for the entire country on how to help people in the time of crisis,” he said.

Under the scheme, based on registered area and area under cultivation during the kharif crop season of 2019, ~10,000 per acre will be deposited in the bank accounts of farmers as an agriculture assistance grant through direct benefit transfer for procuring crops like paddy, maize and sugarcane (rabi), the state government claimed.

At least 1.9 million farmers will benefit from the scheme.