Friday, September 28, 2012

Hooda promises farmer friendly agricultural policy


 by Haryananewswire (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, SEPT 28
The Haryana Government will soon announce its new Agricultural Policy which would be farmer friendly. This was stated by Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda while talking to media persons at Meet-the-Press programme at Chandigarh Press Club here today. Mr Hooda said that the state government has already constituted Farmers’ Commission in the larger interest of the farming community in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has hailed the decision of the Central Government to implement Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector as it would benefit both the farmers and consumers and quality products would be made available to the consumers. Small shopkeepers would not be adversely affected, he added.
He said that opposition parties and their leaders were opposing the FDI in retail sector. He reminded that such parties had themselves declared introduction of FDI as one of the  agenda items in their election manifesto. He said that initially it would be implemented in the towns having population of 10 lakh like Faridabad and Gurgaon. He said that the Central Government had allowed investment under FDI upto 51 per cent in the country, but in countries like China, Thailand, Brazil and  Argentina there was no such limitation. He said that FDI would prove very useful for agriculture producers as it would attract investment in infrastructure. It would also reduce post harvest  losses in agriculture. He said that those who were opposing FDI in retail, were the well wishers of those indulged in hoarding. The FDI would minimize the difference in prices  between sale and purchase of commodities. He quoted an example saying that  potatoes were being purchased by traders at a rate of Rs.two per kg from farmers but consumers were getting these at the rate of Rs.14 per kg. FDI would bridge this gap, he added.      
Mr. Hooda said that Haryana has witnessed all round growth in the all spheres including per capita investment, per capita income, financial management has improved, industrial exports have increased, industrial investment has also increased. There has also been significant achievements in areas of agriculture, power, infrastructure, education, health and sports. He said that Haryana has achieved industrial export to the tune of Rs.48,530 crore during year 2010-11. Besides, Haryana has catalysed an investment of about Rs 61,000 crore since 2005 and an investment of Rs 97,000 crore is in pipeline. Contrary to it, upto 2005, since the formation of Haryana in 1966, the state had attracted investment of Rs.41,000 crore. As per ASSOCHAM report, Haryana achieved 81 per cent implementation rate of pledged investments, which is the highest in the country and is ahead of states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The Chief Minister said that state government had also implemented industrial friendly Industrial Policy in year 2005 which had been reviewed and now we have a new policy in 2011 which also benefited industries in backward areas. He also highlighted the various decisions of the state government taken for the welfare of farming community during last seven-and-a- half years including reducing interest on crop loans of cooperative banks from 11 per cent to four per cent, abolishing black law of arresting farmers for non - payment of agricultural loans, exemption of stamp duty on loan, waiving of arrears of electricity bills amounting to  Rs.1600 crore, abolishing black law of auction of land for non-payment of loans of land mortgage banks. He said that interest on cooperative loans to the tune of Rs. 445 crore had been waived off. This step benefited 3.92 lakh farmers of the state. As a  result of the farmer friendly policy of the government, out of 12 lakh tubewell operator farmers, nine lakh were regular paying their electricity bills.  
He said that as land holdings are shrinking, in such a situation the farmers would have to adopt vertical farming. He said that Israeli technique of farming is considered as best in the world.  A Centre of excellence for vegetable had been set up on the same technique at Gharaunda and a similar centre of excellence for fruits was being set up in Sirsa.
He said that Haryana is the first State to implement land acquisition policy under which there was a provision of giving an annuity for 33 years besides compensation. Now the government has come up with land pooling scheme in which participation of farmers had been ensured in the process of development.
Mr. Hooda said that the State has also witnessed a substantial growth in the power sector. He said that from the year 1966 to 2005, the installed power generation capacity of the State was only 1587 MW.  But with the setting up of four new thermal power plants, the power generation capacity of the State has increased to 5050 MW.  Besides, Rs. 4290 crore had been spent on setting up of 1314 new sub-stations, augmentation of existing 543 sub-stations and laying of 4530 km long electricity lines.
The Chief Minister said that during the tenure of the present government, the road network in the State had been strengthened. He said that Rs. 12,750 crore had been spent on the construction of roads and bridges. Apart from this, 815 km long roads had been constructed and 26,000 km long roads were repaired. In addition, 3908 km long roads had been constructed in rural areas and 5689 km long road had been repaired. He said that from the year 1966 to 2005, there were only 16 Railway Over Bridges in the State and since the year 2005 till date, 29 RoBs have been completed whereas work on six RoBs was in progress. Also, three new railway lines have been approved for the State, he added.
Mr. Hooda said the State was fast emerging as an education hub of international standard. A number of new institutes have been set up whereas many institutes have been upgraded to the level of university. Rajiv Gandhi Education City would cater to the education need of 1.5 lakh students under one roof. This would be the biggest hub of education in the world, added Mr. Hooda. First Women University of north India had been set up at Khanpur Kalan in district Sonipat. National Institute of Design is being set up in Kurukshetra, Sainik School had been set up in Rewari, a Central University at Mahendergarh. Extension centre of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi is coming up and first Defense University is also being set up at Gurgaon. Another university would also be set up in Gurgaon. In addition, private universities were also being set up in the state.  
The Chief Minister said that the Sports Policy of the State Government is being appreciated all over the world. Our players have brought laurels not only to the State but also to the country. It is clearly evident from the performance of State players in Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and recently concluded Olympic Games. He said that out of Indian contingent of 83 players, 19 players were from Haryana which was a big achievement. Mr. Hooda said that to ensure a secure future to the players, the State Government has implemented ‘Padak Lao Pad Pao’ scheme  in its sports policy. He said apart from Government Jobs to the level upto Deputy Superintendent of Police, the State Government had give cash awards of Rs. 50.85 crore to the outstanding players of the State. The State Government has so far provided jobs to 424 players in recognition of their performance. Mr. Hooda said that the State Government has  already increased the amount of cash prizes for the winners of 2016 Rio Olympics. He said that the gold, silver and bronze medal winner would get Rs. 5 crore, Rs. 3 crore and Rs. 2 crore respectively.
Mr. Hooda said that Haryana is the first State where after the independence in the year 1947, first women medical college in Government Sector had been set up at Khanpur Kalan in district Sonipat. Apart from this two more medical colleges was being set up in the State. He said that Haryana is the first State where free medicines and economical surgery package was being provided to the patients in all government hospitals. He said that special emphasis was also being laid on rural development. A sum of Rs.500 crore had been spent on rural development. Under Mahatma Gandhi Grameen Basti Yojna, free residential plots of 100 square yards had already been given to 3.85 lakh beneficiaries. Social security pensions and allowances of more than Rs.1500 crore per year were disbursed among 20.63 crore beneficiaries.
Mr. Hooda said that Haryana is first state in the country where the children belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and those living below poverty line were given regular scholarship. About 20 lakh such children were being given scholarship ranging from Rs.75 to Rs.400 per month.
He said that during last seven year, drinking water supply schemes had been augmented in 6110 villages and 28 cities. Besides sewerage facility had also been provided in 24 towns. As many as 9.85 lakh families had been given free connection under Indira Gandhi Drinking Water Scheme.
The Chief Minister said that state government was observing year 2012 as ‘Year of the Youth’ under which special emphasis was being laid to ensure all round development of youth and make them more employable. In this direction, intake capacity of technical institutes had been increased from 23,000 to more than 1.25 lakh.
Mr. Hooda said that senior officers of Railways, who met him during the inauguration of Lakhanmajra halt recently, had also appreciated unprecedented development taken place in the state and said that they had never seen such development like Haryana in the country.
In reply to a question concerning provision of six LPG cylinders, Mr. Hooda said that Haryana would provide three more LPG cylinders on subsidized rates on the pattern of Delhi Government.
On being asked to comment on the issue of recent rape case in Hisar, Mr. Hooda said that crime against woman is a heinous crime and nobody would be spared. He said that some of the accused in this case have been arrested and the remaining would soon be arrested. He said that law and order situation is better in Haryana and as a result of this, investment in the state had increased. Some untoward incident could   happen anywhere and prompt action was  taken by police in such cases.  The moment any incident is brought to the notice of police, First Information Report (FIR) is registered and action is taken accordingly. The law and order situation had   improved in the state. Criminals have no caste and every criminal, who so ever he might be  would get  punished, he added.
He made it clear that the police had been taking prompt action against criminals, especially in Hisar and Jind rape cases and law would take its own course. 
In reply to a query regarding separate Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee in the state, Mr. Hooda said that Chattha Committee had already submitted its report which was being legally examined.When his attention was drawn towards the transfer of land under Consolidation Act by two senior officers of state government, Mr. Hooda said that whosoever committed this and whatever action is required, would be taken.
On the issue of separate High Court for Haryana, Mr. Hooda said that he was trying to get the same for the state.
Earlier, Mr. Hooda also greeted the people on the birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and paid rich tributes to the great martyr. He recalled Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s  contribution to the  freedom struggle. He said that his family and that of Shaheed Bhagat Singh had close bonds.
He also announced to give discretionary grant of Rs.31 lakh to Chandigarh Press Club.

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