Chandigarh, March 5: Punjab Chief Minister Captain AmarinderSingh on Friday announced that free power to farmers and subsidized power tothe industry will continue, as will the 200 free units of power to SC/BPL/BChouseholds and freedom fighters in the state.
Making it clear that these benefits would not be withdrawnby his government at any cost, the Chief Minister said his government wastotally committed to the welfare of all sections of the people, with focus onthe development of key sectors, including Agriculture and Industry.
There are approximately 14.23 lakh tube-wells in the State,and the total subsidy borne by the State is Rs.5733 crore for the year 2018-19,and Rs. 6060 crore for the year 2019-20, said Captain Amarinder, thusbenefitting 14.23 lakh farmers. Besides, 1.36 lakh industries had so farreceived Rs. 6010 crore in power subsidiy, while 24.31 lakh domestic consumerswere getting free power, he added.
Underlining his government’s commitment to ‘Khushaal Kissanand Kamyab Punjab (K3P)’, the Chief Minister also announced in the Vidhan Sabhathat the remaining 1.13 lakh of the 5.64 lakh small and marginal farmerseligible for the state government’s debt waiver scheme, would be covered withinthe next fiscal year. Further, his government had decided to disburse Rs. 520Crores to 2.85 Lakh landless Farm Labourers who are members of the PrimaryAgricultural Cooperative Societies, he said. He said during their tenure, theAkalis did not give even a penny to the farmers as relief.
Disclosing that farmers’ incomes have increased throughhigher quantities purchased on MSP in the state, the Chief Minister said foodgrains purchased annually were 213.5 Lakh million tones (yearly average) during2007-2017, and had increased to 285 Lakh million tones (yearly average) during2017-21. He further disclosed that total remuneration of farmers fromGovernment Procurement of food grains has gone up to to Rs 2.16 Lakh croresince April 2017 - an increase of about Rs. 90,668 crore over the earnings inthe corresponding procurement seasons of the previous Government. Thus, thefarmers' incomes through sale of food grains has increased by more than 72%ever since the Government took over in March 2017, said the Chief Minister,adding that all payments to farmers were done online bringing moretransparency.
