NITI Aayog meeting: Capt urges PM to form national panel on farm debt waiver

Ravi Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 16

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to constitute a national committee, including representation of Chief Ministers, to prepare a blueprint of a National Debt Waiver Scheme for farmers.

He underlined that process should be in consultation with the states.

Presenting the Punjab case during the fourth meeting of NITI Aayog’s Governing Council Meeting, which was presided over by Modi, Capt Amarinder urged the Centre to include rivers of Punjab for capital assistance on the lines of Ganga Action Plan.

He reiterated state’s demand for approval of projects for upgradation of irrigation system, and speedy approval to Shahpur Kandi Dam projects on river Ravi.

He batted for debt relief for the farmer and sought procurement of alternate crops such a maize, oilseed and pulses by Central agencies.

He yet again asked the Centre to incentivize farmers through a conditional cash transfer by way of non-burning bonus of Rs 100 per quintal on paddy to checkmate burning of straw and stubble in fields.

The Chief Minister rooted for special one-time infrastructure development package for border areas for Punjab, which has an active International Border with thickly populated border districts.

He drew Prime Minister’s attention to the allocation of funds under Border Areas Development Programme, which he alleged was unfavorably to the state.

He made a case for review of the new system of reimbursement of Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste students to ensure that the intended beneficiaries are not put to disadvantage.

He reiterated the state’s request for central assistance to celebrate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar next year.