February 4, 2019
Income of farmers in Bangla tripled in seven years: Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee today addressed the Krishak Samabesh at Netaji Indoor Stadium via Facebook live from her dharna site. She is on dharna at Metro Channel to save the Constitution.
Highlights of her speech:
I was supposed to attend the Krishak Samabesh organised by Krishak O Khet mazdoor Samiti at Netaji Indoor Stadium. But an unprecedented, emergency-like situation has been created.
The Narendra Modi Government at Centre is trying to destroy every institution of the Bangla Government. They want to usurp power. This is a destructive mindset.
They are practising politics of vendetta. Even civil services officers have not been spared. This has been the case for the last five years in India.
People are afraid to speak out. The democratic rights of people are under threat.
Farmers are spending sleepless night because of the policies of Centre. More than 12,000 farmers have committed suicide. Farmers have been cheated.
I had been on a hunger strike for 26 days in 2006 on the same spot where I am sitting today. My struggle was to safeguard the rights of farmers.
Many farmers lost their livelihood post demonetisation. Many farmers have become helpless.
We returned the agricultural land in Singur and Kawakhali.
We have waived off khajna tax and mutation fees on agricultural land.
We have launched a new scheme ‘Krishak Bandhu’. Farmers will receive Rs 5,000 per year for every acre of land. Small farmers will receive commensurate amount of money, not less than Rs 1,000.
If any farmer, between the age of 18-60 years, will get an one-time grant of Rs 2 lakh.
The State Government bears 80% of the cost of crop insurance scheme. We also pay the full premium for the farmers. But Modi Babu is sending letters with his photo, claiming credit for the scheme.
We have spent Rs 652 crore for the crop insurance scheme in Bangla last year.
We have decided to bear the entire cost of the scheme. We will not take a penny from the Centre.
Nearly 70 lakh farmers have received Kisan Credit Cards.
We are working with the cooperative banks to ensure farmers get credit.
The amount of monthly pension for farmers has been increased from Rs 750 to Rs 1,000. The number of beneficiaries has increased from 65,000 to 1 lakh.
We have started Krishi Ratna awards, Mati Utsav. We have set up custom hiring centres and soil health cards to help farmers.
That apart, children belonging to farmer families also get the benefits of Kanyashree, Sabuj Shree, Sabooj Sathi, Khadya Sathi, free healthcare.
We directly procure paddy from farmers. The procurement price has also been increased from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,750. Our slogan is ‘dhan din, cheque nin’.
We procured 40 lakh MT paddy last year.
We have constructed check dams. We have created more than 2 lakh ponds under Jal Dharo, Jal Bharo.
We have given financial compensation to more than 30 lakh farmer families during natural calamities.
We have included farmers and khet mazdoor under Samajik Suraksha Scheme. More than 1 crore people have been registered.
We started Mati Utsab, the concept of which was adopted by United Nations.
Bangla has won Krishi Karman award five years in a row.
Promises before elections and lofty speeches are of no use. One has to help the farmers all the year round.
I want farmers to prosper. Our administration will offer all help.
The average annual income of farmers has trebled in Bangla in the last seven years.
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