Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Delhi govt reluctant, farmers losing out on central schemes: Agri minister

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Tuesday criticised the Delhi government for not implementing several central schemes meant for farmers, calling it "extremely unfortunate" that farmers in the region were being deprived of crucial benefits. Responding to a query in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour, Chauhan urged the Delhi government to prioritise the welfare of farmers and implement beneficial schemes, particularly in areas surrounding the national capital. "I request the Delhi government to implement farmer-centric schemes for the benefit of farmers as there is agricultural land and farming activity around Delhi," he added. "The Centre works in coordination with state governments to ensure its schemes reach farmers. It is extremely unfortunate that the Delhi government is not availing of the benefits of many schemes, which is ultimately affecting the farmers," Chauhan said. Referring to the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism for organic fertilisers, th

Centre committed to purchase all farm produce at MSP: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The Narendra Modi government will purchase all farm produce at minimum support price, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Rajya Sabha on Friday. He gave the assurance while answering supplementaries during Question Hour on the issue of MSP to farmers. The assertion came on a day when farmers embarked on a foot march to Delhi with a charter of demands, which includes a legal backing to MSP. "I want to assure the house through you that all produce of farmers will be purchased at minimum support price. This is the Modi government and the guarantee to fulfil Modi's guarantee," Chouhan told the house. "When our friends from the other side were in power, they had stated on record that they cannot accept the M S Swaminathan Commission recommendations, especially on giving 50 per cent more than the cost of produce. I have the record," he said. He cited former MoS Agriculture Kantilal Bhuria, Agriculture Ministers Sharad Pawar, and K V Thomas to back his claim. After

Modi govt will purchase all farm produce at MSP: Agri minister Shivraj

The Narendra Modi government will purchase all farm produce at minimum support price, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Rajya Sabha on Friday. He gave the assurance while answering supplementaries during Question Hour on the issue of MSP to farmers. The assertion came on a day when farmers are planning to embark on a foot march to Delhi with their demands. "I want to assure the house through you that all produce of farmers will be purchased at minimum support price. This is the Modi government and the guarantee to fulfil Modi's guarantee," Chouhan told the house. "When our friends from the other side were in power, they had stated on record that they cannot accept the M S Swaminathan Commission recommendations, especially on giving 50 per cent more than the cost of produce. I have the record," he said. He cited former MoS Agriculture Kantilal Bhuria, Agriculture Ministers Sharad Pawar, and K V Thomas to back his claim. After his remarks, Chairman Jagdeep ..

Activists counter govt claims of timely MGNREGS payments, demand a raise

Countering the Union rural development ministry's claims of MGNREGS wages being paid on time, the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha on Wednesday alleged the payments to workers' accounts were being delayed by "weeks or months". The organisation -- a national platform of workers' collectives, unions, organisations and individuals working on the flagship rural employment scheme -- also announced a two-day protest at Jantar Mantar, starting Thursday. In a statement, the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha said economist Jean Dreze had pointed out that it was only Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs) that were generated on time, even as crediting of workers' accounts was delayed by weeks or months. The statement said Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers debunked the government's claims that the budget for the scheme had been hiked. They also demanded that wages under the scheme be increased to Rs 800 per day. According to the statement, Jharkhand NREGA Watch's Afsana Khatun said

More funds sought for MGNREGA if budget falls short: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Civil society says claims of timely release, funds increase misleading; threaten protest from December 6

Bengal giving central welfare scheme funds to 'undeserving' people: Chouhan

Declaring that the government would not allow the misuse of resources, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday alleged that the West Bengal government was diverting central funds and making "undeserving" people beneficiaries of welfare schemes. As Lok Sabha proceedings began in the morning after six days of disruption, his junior Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani also spoke in the House and dismissed the suggestion that the government has reduced funds for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). He said the budget allocation for MGNREGS has been increased by Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore every year -- in comparison to the previous year -- and it has not been reduced at all. Chouhan strongly refuted Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee's allegation that Central funds of various welfare schemes had not been released to West Bengal. He said during Question Hour that the West Bengal government has made "undeserving" people ...

Chouhan calls for strict action against sale of spurious seeds, fertilisers

He pointed out that "farmers often complain about receiving poor-quality inputs, resulting in significant losses"

Ladli Bahan scheme not aimed at getting votes, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the "Ladli Bahan' scheme launched during his tenure as the Madhya Pradesh chief minister is aimed at empowering women and not at getting votes, as he launched the third edition of a national campaign against gender-based violence. Speaking at an event here to launch the third edition of "Nayi Chetna -- Pahal Badlaav Ki", a national campaign against gender-based violence, Chouhan talked about the women-centric schemes launched during his tenure as the Madhya Pradesh chief minister, including the direct-benefit-transfer scheme "Ladli Bahan", which was a game-changer that helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win another term in power in the state. Similar schemes launched in Maharashtra and Jharkhand recently were also a major factor behind the incumbent regimes retaining power in those states. Chouhan, however, said the scheme is not intended at getting votes. "The Ladli Bahan yojana was not brought to get votes. I ..

Shivraj to launch campaign against gender-based violence on Nov 25

Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the third edition of Nayi Chetna-Pahal Badlaav Ki, a national campaign against gender-based violence on November 25, an official statement said. Minister of Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi will also be present at the event in "a collective effort of the government to eliminate gender-based violence", the Rural Development Ministry said in a statement issued on Saturday. The month-long campaign, organised by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development, will run across the country until December 23. This initiative, led by DAY-NRLM's extensive Self-Help Group (SHG) network, embodies the spirit of Jan Andolan. The campaign is a collaborative effort and will witness participation of nine ministries and departments, including Ministry of Women and Child Development; Health and Family Welfare; ...

Budhni bypolls: Shivraj Chouhan's aide rallies ahead after initial setback

The bypolls in Budhni were necessitated after Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan vacated this seat following his victory in the Lok Sabha elections of June

Soyabean, cotton farmers to be given Rs 5,000 per hectare: Shivraj

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday expressed concern over soil degradation affecting 30 per cent of India's land and stressed the need for urgent measures to maintain soil quality for sustainable farming. Addressing a global conference on soil through video conferencing, Chouhan said improving soil health is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to zero hunger, climate action and life on land. "We are producing more than 330 million foodgrains annually and exporting worth USD 50 billion. This success however comes with concerns, especially regarding soil health," the minister said. According to Chouhan, about 30 per cent of India's land is experiencing degradation due to rising fertiliser consumption, imbalanced use of fertilisers, exploitation of natural resources and wrong soil management practices. The minister highlighted various government initiatives, including the distribution of more than 220 million soil health cards to farme

BJP will get two-third majority in Jharkhand, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday expressed confidence that the BJP will get two-thirds majority in Jharkhand, where the first phase of polling is underway. He also said that people will vote for his party in order to end the "corrupt" rule of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alliance. Chouhan is Bharatiya Janata Party's assembly election in-charge in Jharkhand. "I am continuously keeping a tab on Jharkhand. The way polling is going on there, BJP is getting more than two-thirds of majority in the first phase of voting," the Union Agriculture Minister told reporters after casting his vote in his native village Jait under the Budhni assembly seat. Voters supporting the BJP are coming out to vote in large numbers, he said. "Not only BJP supporters, but common people also want a change in the regime. The people of Jharkhand will defeat the corrupt and dishonest alliance of JMM, Congress and RJD, which has supported the Bangladeshi ..

Shivraj urges Madhya Pradesh residents to vote for suitable representative

The Budhni assembly seat is the bastion of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

J'khand polls: India not 'dharmshala' where anyone can settle, says Shivraj

Asserting that "state-sponsored infiltration" was a serious threat to Jharkhand, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said India was not a 'dharmshala' where anyone can come and settle. Addressing an election rally in Ranchi, he accused the JMM-led ruling coalition of patronising infiltrators, and alleged that they were coming to the state, marrying tribal women by "trapping them in the web of illusion". "India is not a dharmshala where anyone can come and settle. Foreign infiltrators pose a grave threat to Jharkhand. This country is ours -- our land, water, forests, rivers, mountains, and fields. We will not let anyone else take those from us," he said. "The JMM-led alliance considers these intruders as its vote bank. In their greed for votes, they are protecting them, getting them enrolled on the voters' list, and helping them get Aadhaar and ration cards. The situation is such that tribal population in Santhal Parganas has come down from 44 per cent to 28 pe

Centre forms panel to reduce gap between farm to fork in perishables

Agriculture minister suggests shared transport costs between Centre, states to reduce consumer prices for perishable goods like tomatoes, while also proposing agricultural reforms for small-scale farm

Farmers suggest govt to create 'model farm' to showcase profitable farming

A group of farmers on Thursday suggested the government to create a model farm giving information on ways to make farming profitable even in one to two-and-half acres land. These suggestions were made to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a weekly interaction with the farmers and farm bodies here at the Pusa campus. "Farmers also gave examples of farmers doing profitable farming in one-acre farms," an official statement said. They discussed providing water, use of fertilizers, making the soil healthy, problems due to losses in natural disasters, closure of sugar mills and problems of stray animals, etc. Farmers have also given suggestions for promoting Srianna (millets). The Union Minister promised to consider the suggestions seriously and try to resolve them. He said the matters related to the state government will be sent to the states and the departments will take action on the matters of the central government. Chouhan also thanked Haryana Chief Minister Nayab

Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh holds meeting with farmers' union

Discussion was aimed to address crucial issues that affect the farmer communities and analyse the challenges faced in agriculture sector

Farmers to get free seeds under new NMEO-Oilseeds initiative: Chouhan

Agri minister said govt would procure farmers' entire production of oilseeds

Shivraj expresses confidence, says BJP will form govt in J&K, Haryana

Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday expressed confidence that the BJP will form a government in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in Haryana after the assembly elections. He also said that although elections have not been declared in Jharkhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party's ongoing 'Parivartan Yatra' in that state is getting a good response. "I have been to Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana amid the assembly polls. I am totally confident that the BJP is going to form governments there. The atmosphere in Haryana is very good and we are going to form a government there as well," Chouhan told reporters at his residence here. "Though elections are not declared in Jharkhand, we are working there and the party's 'Parivartan Yatra' is getting a huge response in that state," the Union Agriculture Minister said before leaving for Jharkhand from Bhopal. The three-phase elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly were held on September 18 and 25 and on October 1, while the ...

Massive corruption in Jharkhand, nothing moves without money: Shivraj

Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday accused the JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand of misusing central funds sent to the state for various schemes and said that a probe will be launched into MGNREGA fund utilisation. The Union Agriculture Minister launched a frontal attack on the JMM-led dispensation, calling it a "paper leak government" and accused it of playing with the future of the youth. "There is massive corruption in Jharkhand, nothing moves here without money. Central funds meant for various schemes were grossly misused by the Hemant Soren-led government. We will initiate a thorough probe into the irregularities in MGNREGA," Singh said while addressing BJP's 'Parivartan Rally' in Latehar. People will never forgive the JMM-led coalition for its misrule, he said, urging voters to oust the "corrupt" government in the elections to the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly due later this year. "Sixteen youth died during an excise police recruitment drive due to ...