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BADAL DEMANDS ONE-TIME FARM LOAN WAIVER: SPECIAL PACKAGE FOR BORDER AREAS FARM SECTOR IN ACUTE CRISIS – BADAL
CHANDIGARH JUNE 7:-
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today demanded a complete one time agricultural loan waiver for all farmers to effectively remove the problems of farm indebtedness which according to him was the ‘biggest hurdle in long term insurance on national food security’.
Taking part in the deliberations in the first meeting of Working Group on Agriculture Production here at Haryana Niwas, Mr. Badal said that the loans incurred by the farmers were the result of severe adverse economic and marketing crises as a result of inadequate attention paid to the contribution of farm sector to the national economy. Mr. Badal said; “All the figures being quoted on the resilience of national economy are dependent on the performance of the farm sector. Therefore, the GoI should treat farm loan waiver as an investment in pushing India into the top performing economies of the world”.
Mr. Badal also mentioned that rural debts had assumed the proportions of grave human tragedy. The states did not benefit much from the debt waiver scheme offered by GoI. He urged the Centre to waive all agricultural loans as one time measure regardless of the size of the land holding. He also asked the Centre to bring landless farmers and agricultural labour in the gamut of the relief scheme. Easy credit availability @ 4% rate of interest both for short and well as long term loans was mandatory for improving investment in agriculture in order to reduce the debt burden of the farmers, he added.
Mr. Badal also called upon the government of India to “drastically recast the pricing structure (MSP) of agriculture produce along Dr. Swaminathan formula” and to advance liberal and significant grants to the states to modernize farm technology marketing and irrigation infrastructure. He said that Centre must supplement the efforts of the state government to increase productivity and ensure 100% food security in the country.
The Centre must make heavy investment for revamping and rejuvenating the canal irrigation network, which was beyond the reach of the state government. He mentioned that canal irrigation system needed immediate investment for bringing it back to its full potential capacity, as now Punjab canals were irrigating an area of 16.6 lac hectares which had now come down to 11 lac hectares (about 30%). Mr. Badal also revealed that whereas in Punjab and Haryana, the irrigated Wheat yield was about 42-45 quintals per hectare, the irrigated wheat yield in some other states ranged between 16 to 28 quintals. Even 5 quintals increase in Wheat yield in these areas could produce 7.5 million tones to additional Wheat. Similar situation existed in case of Rice also. Reasons for low yields in irrigated areas must be identified and addressed to obtain optimum yields, noted Mr. Badal.
The Punjab Chief Minister also called for special agriculture package for border areas where the land of farmers lie beyond the fence along the international border and were facing great difficulty in undertaking agricultural operations. Likewise, Mr. Badal also urged the Centre for recasting the system and formula of providing compensation to farmers to secure the farm sector against natural calamities. He demanded that compensation should be provided to cover the total loss of the crop equivalent to the average yield of the crop of the state. Secondly, he also pleaded that the compensation should be linked to deficiency in rainfall instead of reduction in the yield so as to cover the additional cost in nurturing the crops.
Summing up, Mr. Badal pointed out that Punjab and Haryana contributed the maximum for food security of the country and would continue to do so in future too. However, even these states were faced with serious problems which needed to be addressed immediately to further increase the production level achieved so far. He said; “All of us know that food security is the most vital aspect for any nation, which is directly related to agriculture production and productivity”. Therefore, both, the Centre and State governments should accord top priorities to agriculture sectors and all out efforts should be made to address the problems and challenges to agriculture. Special attention should be focused for development of new technology, efficient use of agricultural inputs including water and proper marketing infrastructure.
The Central Government must support and supplement the state efforts by giving maximum grants so that states could achieve higher agricultural production to realize the cherished goal of national food security, Mr. Badal asserted.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Haryana Chief Minister and Chairman of the Working Group on Agriculture Production constituted by GoI, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda said “To feed ever increasing population, our foodgrain production has to be doubled by 2040 with consistent 2.5% annual growth”. He stated that growth in foodgrain production of the country had either declined or stagnated during the current decade. Increase in foodgrain production was not keeping pace with the population growth, which was a cause of serious concern. Mr. Hooda emphasized on the dire need of second green revolution to meet the additional demand of foodgrains which could be achieved through dynamic approach, focused strategy and application of new tools of science and technology in agriculture to address second generation problems. Mr. Hooda also called upon the states which were having productivity much below the national average to adopt improved package of practices and technological intervention to enable them to easily reach the level of national average. Similarly, some states which were harvesting above national average productivity and still had good potential for further improvement should also set a target to achieve the highest yield in the country. “If we follow these two approaches we could produce an estimated additional 83.56 million tones of foodgrains in the country likewise, additional production of 5.35 million tones of oilseed could also be achieved.
Finance and Excise Minister West Bengal Mr. Asim Kumar Dasgupta and Agriculture Minister Bihar Dr. Renu Kumari Kushwaha represented their Chief Ministers in the meeting and presented their views on the conservation of land and water resources, production and distribution of seeds, creation of minor irrigation facilities and farm mechanization and technology dissemination.
Highlighting the current status of agriculture production in the country, Principal Secretary Agriculture Haryana Mr. Roshan Lal made a presentation thereby explaining the view point received from different states including Punjab and Haryana.
It was also decided in today’s forum that the next meeting of the working group on agricultural products would be held in Patna and another in Kolkata for which the dates would be finalized later on.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Haryana Agriculture Minister Mr. Sukhbir Kataria, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Chairman Punjab Farmers’ Commission Dr. GS Kalkat, Vice Chancellor Ch. Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University Hisar Mr. KK Kokhar, Secretary Agriculture & Cooperation Ministry of Agriculture, GoI Mr. PK Basu, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab Mr. DS Guru, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Haryana Mr. Chattar Singh and Financial Commissioner Development Mr. NS Kang, besides senior officers from the GoI, governments of West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana and eminent agriculture, scientists and other dignitaries.
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PUNJAB INTRODUCES CENTRALIZED ONLINE COUNSELING FOR LAW COURSES-
DR UPINDERJIT KAUR 5% WAITAGE IN MARKS FOR RURAL CANDIDATES
Chandigarh June 7:-
Punjab Government has decided to conduct the centralized online counseling for the first time for the selection of students for admissions to various law courses in the colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Panjab University Chandigarh and Punjabi University Patiala and situated in the State of Punjab.
Disclosing this here today Dr Upinderjit Kaur Education Minister Punjab said that Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar has been authorized to conduct online counseling for the five years B.A. L.L.B. (Hons.), five year B.A. L.L.B. and three years L.L.B. courses for the academic session of 2010-11 in the law colleges situated in Punjab. These three Universities of Punjab have 380 seats for B.A L.L.B (Hons.), 1520 for B.A L.L.B and 1900 seats for L.L.B courses in the affiliated 22 law colleges of the state, she added.
She further clarified that during this academic session, out of 80 seats of Army Institute of Law SAS Nagar, 12 seats for Punjab residents of civil category would be filled through this centralized online counseling. "The remaining 64 seats for wards of army personals and 4 seats of all India general category, would be filled by Army Institute of Law, through their centralized counseling", he said.
The Minister categorically said that the merit of each candidate would be determined on the basis of marks secured in the qualifying degree and there would not be any entrance test. After normalization of marks, 5% marks would be given to candidates who have passed their 8th and 10th class examination from schools situated in rural areas of Punjab. Adding further she said that for this, they would have to submit a certificate of that school falling in rural area at the time of passing 8th as well as 10th class issued by the Head of the School, duly countersigned by the concerned D.E.O.
She further added that the admission to the respective law colleges affiliated with the universities would be done strictly as per norms laid down by Bar Council of India (BCI) and by the admission committee to be constituted by the Vice-Chancellor of GNDU. Eligibility regarding education qualifications would be prescribed by the respective affiliating university, keeping in view the regulations of the BCI.
Dr Upinderjit Kaur said that candidates would be admitted on the basis of the seats allocated through centralized counseling by the university. The reservation of seats would be strictly adhered to. However, in case seats in a reserved category remain vacant on account of non-availability of qualified candidates, such seats could be filled up from the general category candidates, she added.
In Punjab, 85% of the seats would be reserved for the candidates from within the State and 15% would be open to candidates of other States/UTs on all India basis. The admission to NRI seats would be as per direction of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
The Education Minister further clarified that the procedure and dates for online submission of the application forms for counseling would be notified by the GNDU and merit list of the candidates regarding allocation of seat for admission in the Law Course would be displayed on the web site of the GNDU. "There would be three counselings for admission and total process of counseling would be completed within a period of six weeks. The shifting of seats would be allowed during the second and third counseling only", she said.
Shee added that in view of the interim policy regulations notification issued by the University Grants Commission, 15% of the seats out of 85% state quota seats in unaided private selffinancing institutions would be treated as management quota and be brought out of the purview of centralised counseling to be conducted by the GNDU.
Dr Upinderjit Kaur further added that the managements of law institutes have been instructed to fill up management quota seats on the basis of the normalized marks through own counseling in transparent manner. They would follow the same procedure for normalization of marks as adopted by the GNDU for allocation of seats. The managements would report to the university regarding unfilled management quota seats before the start of the second counseling and those unfilled management quota seats would be allocated through centralized counseling, she added.
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BHUNDER AND AMBIKA SONI FILED NOMINATION PAPERS FOR RAJYA SABHA
Chandigarh June 7:-
Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Smt. Ambika Soni of Congress have filed their nomination papers for biennial elections to be held to fill two vacancies from Punjab State with the Secretary Punjab Vidhan Sabha, who is returning officer for the said elections.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Electoral Officer Punjab said that scrutiny of nomination papers would be held tomorrow and the election process shall be completed by June 19, 2010.
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MANPREET BADAL PLAYS HOST TO 50 SCHOOL CHILDREN
Chandigarh June 7:
Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister Punjab today received as many as 50 physically handicapped school children from his Gidderbaha constituency in Chandigarh and took them round various places including Punjab Vidhan Sabha, High Court, Rock Garden, Lake and a few important places in and around Chandigarh. The children were accompanied by their Guardians/ Parents.
While addressing the students at Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr. Badal said that the children were especially brought from his constituency to Chandigarh with a main objective to give them appropriate platform and adequate exposure to know more about the world. They should not lag behind in any sphere because of their physical deformity, said the Minister. He hoped that this visit has certainly generated a rare kind of enthusiasm and confidence amongst the children.
Mr. Badal said that rehabilitating physically challenged children is one of the priorities of the state government. Special care should be provided to them through the administrations both at the state and district levels, voluntary organizations and NGOs. Adding further he said that he was thoroughly committed towards children and to inculcate indomitable courage and confidence in them he would sponsor more and more such visits for the students especially from the rural areas of Punjab.
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FIRST EVER CONFERENCE OF CHAIRPERSONS AND MEMBER SECRETARIES
(DY. COMMISSIONERS)OF ALL THE DISTRICT PLANNING
COMMITTEES OF PUNJAB ON 8-9 JUNE,2010
Chandigarh June 07:
Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab (MGSIPAP) is organizing the first ever two days conference of Chairpersons and Member Secretaries (Dy. Commissioners) of all the District Planning Committees of Punjab w.e.f. June 8 ,2010. Minister for Planning and Finance, S.Manpreet Singh Badal, who conceived the idea, will chair the conference on both the days. Chief Minister, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, will preside over the valedictory session on June 9 for an interaction with the distinguished delegates. Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Board, Shri Rajinder Bhandari will also participate in the deliberations of the conference.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of MGSIPAP said that the conference would cover matters like the role of District Planning Committees for effective implementation of district plans, diverse avenues of their resource mobilization, a model format of an integrated district plan and administrative issues pertinent to district planning.
The integrated district planning is an essential component of the concept of decentralized planning where the state agencies and local bodies are pooling their thoughts and programmes in order to develop the plan which integrates with the state and national priorities without losing the sight of the local priorities. Achieving this ideal of integrated planning demands planning and technical skills and meeting of minds at the state, district and local levels. The conference aims at addressing these requirements.
In order to ensure a proper interaction between the district planning functionaries and the ministers and the secretaries at the state level, their get-together has also been arranged over dinner on the first day of the conference.
The constitutional imperative of decentralized planning is mired into enumerable constraints much of which is due to multiplicity of schemes and agencies floated by the Central and State governments. The recipe as well as the menu of development is decided at higher levels leaving very little space to the District Planning Committees.
The two day conference would provide the delegates an opportunity to discuss the vital fiscal and administrative powers of the District Planning Committees to make them effective tool of economic development and social change through active participation of the people, the spokesman added.
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