Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Rs. 23248 crore set aside to ensure timely payment to farmers
*24 hours control room set up monitor procurement
Chandigarh, Paddy procurement operations, the biggest ever operations of Asia, for the Kharif Season 2014-15 across the State are set to begin in the state today as state government braces up to ensure hassle free procurement in the state.
The Punjab government has made arrangements for the procurement of 140 lac MT of paddy in 1802 notified mandis/purchase centers during the current Kharif season.
Disclosing this here today official spokesman of Punjab government said that Reserve bank of India has sanctioned a cash credit limit of Rs 18451crore for the month of October 2014 and remaining limit would be released next month. He said that state government had sent request for cash credit limit amounting to Rs.23248.26crore for the procurement of 126 lac MT of paddy by the state procurement agencies as FCI , a central government agency has been separately given target of 14 lac MT Paddy during the Kharif Season 2014-15.
He said that strict instructions have been issued that payments to the farmers have to be ensured within 48 hours after lifting of the paddy from the purchase centres. The state government has constituted Dispute Redressal Committees in every mandi/purchase center. Besides that food and civil supplies department has already established a 24 hours control room in headquarter and also in district offices, where farmers could contact in emergency. He said that Punjab Mandi Board also made arrangements of water and shade for farmers. He said that state government would ensure the lifting of paddy within72 hoursof purchase
The spokesman further said that to check malpractices and short or extra measurement, Punjab Mandi Board and food and civil supplies department have constituted teams to raid and Farmers could directly approach food and civil supplies department inspectors in the case of any complaint.
