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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Chhattisgarh had clarified that it had no plan to give bonus to the farmers over the paddy procured in the kharif marketing season 2014-15.
The ruling BJP had announced in its state election manifesto (2013) that it would give a bonus of Rs 300 per quintal to the farmers for the paddy it would purchase from them at minimum support price (MSP). Last year, the farmers had received bonus from the state government.
"This year, the state government had taken decision not to give bonus to the farmers," state's food and civil supplies minister Punnulal Mohile said. The minister said the government had also not set any target of procuring paddy in the kharif marketing season 2014-15. The authorities had procured over 8 million tonnes of paddy in the last kharif marketing season. Mohile said there was only an estimate set and no target was given to the authorities for the quantity. "In the kharif marketing season 2014-15, the authorities had procured over 6.3 million tonnes of paddy," the minister said, adding that Rs 1360 per quintal was paid for common grade and Rs 1400 for A grade paddy.Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo, who raised the issue during Question Hour in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, said it was unfortunate that despite announcing bonus, the state government had been denying it.
He said the BJP government in Chhattisgarh had cheated the farmers. Senior Congress legislator Bhupesh Baghel said that the Chief Minister, Raman Singh had announced in his budget speech that the state government would give Rs 300 per quintal as bonus to the farmers.
