Uttarakhand to extend MNREGA benefits to farmers

DEHRADUN, 23 OCT: In a bid to improve the condition of small and marginal farmers in Uttarakhand the state government has decided to give them the benefits of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) and increase the monetary relief from Rs 120 per day to Rs 200 per day. So these farmers would now avail dual benefits from the government. 

“We are sending a proposal to the Union government seeking permission to increase the relief money under MNREGA from Rs 120 to Rs 200 which would be given to the small and marginal farmers keeping in view their poor economic condition and declining productivity in the state,” said Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat.

Now the small and marginal farmers in the state would try to improve their productivity and avail the benefits of MNREGA simultaneously.  

“Earlier the benefits of MNREGA was given to the farmers only to build boundaries around the farm but now the benefits will be available for growing and sowing as well,” said Mr Rawat, adding this would help in improving the condition of farmers in the hill state which is in shambles at present. 

Agriculture had always been one of the most neglected sectors in the state. Special attention is needed to improve this sector, particularly in a state like Uttarakhand where farming is scattered and is considerably less. Here the percentage of barren land is greater than that of the fertile land. About 7 lakh hectares is used for farming in Uttarakhand, while 8 lakh hectares is barren. In the past few years, the percentage of barren land is increasing while it should have been the other way out. Three lakh hectares has become barren in the hill areas in the past. 

Farmers here are leaving farming and migrating in search of better options of earning their livelihoods which is leading to this situation. 

Now this initiative of the state government is expected to put a check on this rising trend of migration and encourage the small farmers to involve in agriculture. Besides it would improve the financial condition of those small farmers who have not yet given up farming inspite of facing all odds. 

Govt selling fertile land at throwaway prices: BJP

DehraDun, 23 Oct: BJP today accused the Uttarakhand government of selling farmers' land at throwaway prices in the name of industrial development and demanded a white paper on the activities of a project before second phase is launched. “The Bahuguna government is selling off precious agricultural land to investors in the name of industrialisation. This is not acceptable. We are for industrialisation but not at the cost of farmers' land,” Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Bhatt told reporters here. Claiming vast tracts of land under phase-I of State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited were yet to be utilised, he demanded a white paper on the first phase of its activities with details of money invested during the period and how many factories were set up. 

 

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