Bathinda: The announcement of Rs 600 cr package of relief for the white fly attack affected farmers is a big step towards quenching the dire need of cotton farmers, said the Union Minister for Food Processing, Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal. She added that the compensation is speedily being distributed amongst the affected farmers and under this Rs 114 cr has been released for the Bathinda farmers, while more help is on the way.
Expressing sympathy with the landless laborers, the Union Minister directed district administration to increase quantum of work under MNREGA to provide employment to these laborers who are dependent making livelihood through picking the cotton in fields.
The Union Minister said this while talking to media persons on the sidelines of laying foundation stone of the cattle pound in village Harraipur here today. Later, the Union Minister also distributed sanctions to 919 beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Bank Scheme to the tune of Rs 3.33 cr.
Mrs Badal said that the Punjab government has always stood like a rock support besides farmers in their times of distress. She added that with the Mr Narendra Modi led government taking over the reins of country, a major change was heralded in the form of compensation amount being granted even when 33 percent of crop gets damaged. The Congress led UPA government used to award compensation to the farmers only after 100 percent of crop was damaged. However, the NDA government brought this down to 33 percent and consequently the farmers have been given compensation at the rate of Rs 8000 per acre instead of Rs 3600 per acre awarded earlier.
