In the ongoing budget session of the Gujarat State Legislative Assembly, the discussions on the provisions of the demands of Ports, Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Sports, Youth & Cultural Activities departments were held on Tuesday.
Participating in the discussion, Congress MLA from the Lathi constituency, Virjibhai Thummar said that India is an agriculture-based country and our farmers are the major contributors to the growth of GDP and eventually to the progress of the country. The ruling – BJP party just pretends to be constantly worrying and working for the farmers, but the truth is that farmers under their government are choosing to end their lives. Also, the agriculture sector contributes 18 per cent to the GDP and only 3.74 per cent of funds is allocated to this sector in the Budget.
Showing his party’s concern for the farmers of the state, the Congress MLA further said that when the government failed to address the concerns of the farmers, our party stood by them. In fact, the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government had brought in a policy to provide a short-term credit at 7 per cent interest to the farmers, of which 3 per cent is to be provided by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and 4 per cent by the state government. The state government does not implement the scheme and for the last two years, farmers have not received the 4 per cent subsidy due from the state government, he further added while demanding the immediate payments of dues to the farmers of the state.
Farmers are the collective responsibility of the state and the Congress party is cooperative and supportive of the welfare of the farmers, Virjibhai Thummar said and added that the state government’s double-sided approach cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, the government will have to make firm decisions and firm approach towards the farmers, or else they will be compelled to sell their land.
