This story is from May 18, 2020

Chhattisgarh to launch Kisan NYAY scheme on May 21

Chhattisgarh government’s Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, being launched by the chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from May 21, is almost akin to Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), proposed by the then Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the last Lok Sabha polls for ensuring minimum income availability of the poor through direct bank transfer.
Chhattisgarh to launch Kisan NYAY scheme on May 21
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh government’s Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, being launched by the chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from May 21, is almost akin to Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), proposed by the then Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the last Lok Sabha polls for ensuring minimum income availability of the poor through direct bank transfer.
Launching on May 21 the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the scheme envisages direct transfer of funds for paddy, maize and sugarcane (rabi) crops to the farmers' account on the basis of the area registered and acquired in Kharif year 19.
The scheme is expected to directly help more than 20 lakh farmers.
An official spokesman said a provision of Rs 5,100 crore has been made in the budget for the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana.
After coming to power in December 2018, the Congress government, as promised, had waived loan amounting to Rs 8,800 crore of about 18 lakh famrers besides promising them to introduce a new scheme to lift the farmers out of agrarian crisis.
Elaborating on the steps being taken by the government for the farmers and the poor, the spokesman said steps like four times compensation on agricultural land acquisition, irrigation tax forgiveness have also been taken. During the lockdown period, the Chhattisgarh government has generated massive employment under the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme and directly benefited 23 lakh villagers.
As forest produce is the major source of income for millions of families in the tribal state, the government has also taken steps to eliminate middlemen from the market system so that tribal population could get fair price for forest produce. Tendu leaf collection rate increased to Rs 4,000 per standard bag. Besides, 25 forest produces are being purchased under minimum support price.

Even during the ongoing lock-down, the spokesman said forest produce was extensively collected in the forest areas of the state, which accounts for 98 per cent of the total forest produce across India.
In the current season, a target of collecting 16.71 lakh thousand standard sacks of tendu leaves (beedi leaves) has been fixed. More than 12.53 lakh tribal tendu leaf pluckers will be benefited as Rs 649 crore would be paid directly to them as remuneration.
Besides, the state government is giving an additional incentive of Rs 13 per kg for the fixed support price of Mahua flower at Rs 17 per kg. Similarly, in addition to the support price in the purchase of Kusumi Lakh, Rangini Lakh and Kullu Gum, additional incentive is being given by the state government.
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