West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a Rs 2 per unit electricity subsidy for nearly four lakh farmers across the state. The announcement was made during an administrative review meeting in East Burdwan on Friday, where the Chief Minister outlined several measures aimed at providing financial support to farmers.
Adhikari said farmers covered under the PM-Kisan scheme would receive Rs 9,000 as annual financial assistance. The announcement comes as the state government focuses on reducing the financial burden on farmers and improving agricultural support.
Paddy To Be Bought At Rs 2,700 Per Quintal
Adhikari also announced that the state government would directly purchase paddy from farmers at Rs 2,700 per quintal. He said the procurement process would not involve middlemen and that elected representatives would help farmers access government support.
“MLAs will act as a guardian to the farmers. There will be no middleman. The state government will buy the paddy from the farmers who want to sell at Rs 2,700 per quintal. A package for potato farmers would be announced before the cultivation season in December,” Adhikari said.
The announcement covers several areas of agricultural support, including electricity costs, paddy procurement and assistance for potato growers. The Chief Minister said the government would announce the potato package before farmers begin cultivation in December.
Government Promises Direct Support To Farmers
The electricity subsidy is expected to reduce the cost of agricultural power for eligible farmers. The government has also emphasised direct procurement of paddy to ensure that farmers receive the announced price without the involvement of intermediaries.
During the meeting, Adhikari also spoke about alleged irregularities under the previous government in schemes related to rural employment and housing. He said his administration would focus on greater transparency in government programmes.
Sand Mining And Revenue
Adhikari also announced measures concerning sand mining and said the government would auction sand quarries. He said the revenue generated through the process would be used for public infrastructure.
“Now, transparency will be ensured by auctioning off all sand quarries, so that the revenue can be used to build roads, schools, and hospitals. The previous government used to smuggle sand and the proceeds were sent to Camac Street,” Adhikari said.
Focus On Child Marriage And Addiction
The Chief Minister also called for stronger action against child marriage and illegal and spurious drugs. He urged people and government agencies to cooperate in tackling these issues.
“If girls aged 12 or 13 are married off, no one will be spared, whether they are a kazi, a rogue, or a priest. The border security should be strengthened more to stop illegal and spurious addictions,” Adhikari said.
The announcements made during the East Burdwan meeting cover agricultural subsidies, crop procurement, support for potato farmers and wider administrative measures, with the government presenting them as steps towards providing greater assistance and transparency.
