The Punjab government today announced a series of measures for the welfare of the farming community, including its decision to bring in a comprehensive agriculture policy for the state in the next session of the Vidhan Sabha.
The announcements came during high-level meetings convened by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh with farmers' unions and their representatives here.
The chief minister directed the settlement of claims of farmer-suicide affected families within a month, with instructions to all Deputy Commissioners to hold a meeting on the fifth of every month to resolve such cases.
The government also decided to reimburse complete expenses of the farmer activist who was hospitalised during a recent protest in Patiala, an official spokesperson said.
Reassuring them that his government had no plans to install water meters on tubewells, the CM directed concerned departments to take up the installation of pending tubewell connections on priority.
The farmer representatives raised with the chief minister issues relating to farm debt waiver, stubble burning, interest charged by commission agents on loans and issues pertaining to bank loans.
Responding to the demand for installation of tubewell connections, the state power secretary said that all pending cases would be taken up on priority and the necessary notification issued within a week. He denied any proposal to install electricity meters.
The CM said meters were being put on some pumps on the directions of the state electricity regulatory commission only to assess the quantum of usage to enable payment of subsidy to the powercoms.
He cautioned farmers against excessive use of water, urging them to preserve the precious commodity for future generations. He exhorted the farmers to go for crop diversification.
Singh assured the unions that he would take up with the central government the issue of abolition of 'kurki' (auction of mortgaged land) by nationalised banks, as the state government had no jurisdiction over them.
Responding to a demand for complete farm loan waiver, the unions were informed that the loan settlement policy approved by the previous government was being reviewed.
The chief minister said given the financial constraints being faced by his government, it was not possible to waive all loans in one go and it had been decided to first settle the loans of the small and marginal farmers.
Singh pointed out that loans up to Rs 2 lakh had been waived for small farmers with less than 2.5 acres of land while marginal farmers with land from 2.5 to 5 acres would also get waiver up to Rs 2 lakh.
The CM agreed with the unions on the need to implement the Swaminathan Committee report on MSP and said he would pursue the matter again with the central government.
Expressing concern on the problem of stubble burning, for which he has already ruled out penalisation of the farmers, Amarinder said while his government was exploring alternatives.
On the issue of jobs for the kin of farmers killed in agitations, the CM assured the chief principal secretary to look into the matter.
With regard to jobs for the kin of farmers who had committed suicide, Amarinder said those who had not already been provided employment will be inducted under the 'Ghar Ghar Naukri' programme.
The unions also raised the issue of penalties and FIRs against farmers over non-payment of electricity bills.
The power secretary pointed out that the penalties were being charged only in accordance with the provisions of the regulatory authority, the chief minister directed the department to issue instructions so that the aggrieved farmers could meet the SDM or the DC directly.
He promised to take up with the Centre the issue of cases filed against farmers by the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
The chief principal secretary assured the sugarcane farmers that their pending bills, amounting to Rs 71 crore, would soon be cleared.
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