Shinde directs formation of state-level committee on farmers’ woes

Mumbai, May 10 (FN Bureau) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday directed that a state-level committee be formed to find a solution to the problems faced by the farmers as well as the measures to be taken to reduce their production cost. Shinde was speaking on the various demands of the farmers during a meeting with a delegation led by Vinayakrao Patil at the Sahyadri State Guest House. Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar, Ports and Mines Minister Dadaji Bhuse, MLA Gyanraj Chaugule along with Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department Dr. Nitin Karir, Principal Secretary Agriculture Department Eknath Dawle, Principal Secretary Energy Department Mrs. Abha Shukla, Principal Secretary Relief and Rehabilitation Asim Kumar Gupta, Secretary Social Justice Department Sumant Bhange were present on this occasion. Shinde said 6,000 agricultural feeders will be brought on solar energy through the Chief Minister Solar Agriculture Vahini Yojana, which was started with the aim of providing eight hours of electricity to farmers a day.

The aim is to provide 2.5 lakh solar agricultural pumps and last year 75,000 solar agricultural pumps have been installed. It is the policy to provide solar agricultural pumps to those who do not have electricity connection and to prepare a detailed program to provide solar agricultural pumps to those who have electricity connection if they demand, said Shinde. It has been decided in the budget that the farmers can participate in Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme by paying only one rupee and the government is going to pay the amount of the insurance installment, for which a provision of Rs 3312 crore has been made. The Chief Minister said his government is implementing various schemes like Magel Thyala Shetale, Magel Thyala Thibak. Gopinathrao Munde Shetkari Accident Insurance Scheme will provide a grant of up to Rs. 2 lakh to the families of accident victims, he added.