Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel addressing the Bharose Ka Sammelan at Sankara village under Patan Legislative Assembly of Durg district on Sunday said that the Congress Government in Chhattisgarh is continuously working to strengthen the farmers of State. CM said that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was of the view that India will not be strong until the economic condition of the farmers of the country does not improve. If India is to be made strong, then the farmers of India have to be made strong. Today, farmers in Chhattisgarh are getting maximum respect in comparison to other states. Along with paddy, the farmers of the state are getting Kodo-Kutki Ragi Samman Nidhi. Chief Minister Baghel said that the first Bharose Ka Sammelan was organized in Sargaon of Mungeli district. The second such event was held in Bastar. The third Bharose Ka Sammelan was held today in Sankara of Patan area of Durg division. Remembering former Prime Rajiv Gandhi on his martyrdom day, the Chief Minister said that Rajiv Gandhi had worked to take the country to a new direction. He had worked for the country’s upliftment and sacrificed his life for the country and the people, Baghel added.

 

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Baghel said that the BJP leaders were constantly opposing the farmers, and they created obstructions in development works and even procurement of paddy. The Congress government is working in the direction of uniting the people while the BJP is trying to create rift, he added. Baghel said that due to paucity of funds during the Corona period, it was decided to give money to the farmers in four installments under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana. For the first time , Rs 500 crores were released to the farmers. Not only this, 26 lakh families were given employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The Chief Ministers of other states used to question that they do not have money to pay salaries to the employees and how Chhattisgarh is giving money to the farmers. Bhupesh Baghel said, “The BJP leaders accuse the Congress government of making it bankrupt. But we did not take out a loan last year. In the first year, 12 lakh farmers were registered to sell paddy. Today the State government is giving assistance to more than 24 lakh farmers. Earlier, the State government used to buy 50-55 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. Today 107 lakh metric tonnes of paddy is being procured. Now it has been decided to take 20 quintals of paddy and it will go up to 1.25 lakh metric tonnes. Rs 111 crore has been given to 53,263 labourers. In total, Rs 2,088 crore has gone into the pockets of people from different sections, he added. Chief Minister Baghel inaugurated and performed bhoomipujan of 88 works costing more than Rs 443 crore. This includes the inauguration of 17 works worth Rs 68,26,79,000 and bhoomipujan of 71 works worth Rs 374, 87,51,000. Apart from this, the first installment of paddy sold last year was transferred to bank accounts under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana.

 

The Chief Minister said that today Rs 1894.93 crore was transferred to the bank accounts of 24,52,992 farmers of the state who sold paddy last year as the first installment of the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana. Chief Minister Baghel also laid the foundation stone of the building for Mahatma Gandhi University of Horticulture and Forestry. A magnificent building for Mahatma Gandhi University of Horticulture and Forestry will be constructed in Sankra Patan at a cost of Rs 120 crores. Chief Minister Baghel along with Kumari Selja and other leaders visited the stalls set up by various departments, interacted with the attendees, and gathered the necessary information. A total of Rs 445.14 crore has been disbursed to the beneficiaries of the scheme so far. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel disbursed the first installment of the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana to 24.5 lakh farmers. Chief Minister Baghel also transferred the funds to Rajiv Yuva Mitan Clubs during the ‘Bharose Ka Sammelan’. Addressing the gathering, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary for Chhattisgarh Kumari Selja praised the works of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr Charan Das Mahant also praised the works of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. State Congress President Mohan Markam also spoke. Earlier Durg District In-charge and Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar gave the welcome address. Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu proposed a vote of thanks.

 

AICC Secretary Dr Chandan Yadav, Joint Secretary Vijay Jangid, Cabinet Ministers Dr Premsai Singh Tekam, Dr Shiv Kumar Dahariya, Guru Rudra Kumar, Anila Bhendia, Durg Town MLA Arun Vora, State Congress Treasurer Ramgopal Agrawal, State Mineral Development Corporation Chairman Girish Dewangan, State Congress Media Chief Sushil Anand Shukla, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr Kamalpreet Singh, Durg Divisional Commissioner Mahadev Kawre, Inspector General of Police Anand Chhabra, Chief Conservator of Forests Durg Circle B P Singh, Durg Collector Pushpendra Kumar Meena, Superintendent of Police Dr Abhishek Pallava, other officials, public representatives and people in large number were present.