On the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi's 77th birth anniversary, the Chattisgarh government on Friday transferred Rs 1,522 to bank accounts of 21 lakh farmers farmers cunder the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana.

Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel also transferred online Rs. 3 crore 49 lakh for the cow dung purchased from cattle rearers and to the Gauthan committees and women self-help groups under the GodhanNyay Yojana.

Baghel said that the government has adopted the vision of Rajiv Gandhi to eradicate poverty and build a self-reliant India in Chhattisgarh.

Ministers during Friday's events Telegraph Picture

"Following the path shown by him, the state government has started many welfare programs and schemes for all sections of the people including the poor, farmers, tribals. 'Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana' has been started to provide remunerative price to the farmers for their produce," he said.

"The government has expanded the scope of this scheme from Kharif season 2021 to include paddy as well as other Kharif crops. Along with this, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen BhoomheenKrishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana is being started to provide financial help to the landless agricultural laborers of rural areas of the state. Under this scheme, 6000 rupees will be given annually to such families of rural areas, who do not have agricultural land and are associated with MNREGA or agricultural wages," a press release from the state government read.

Under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, in 2020-21, an amount of more than Rs 5,600 crore was given to about 21 lakh farmers in four installments as crop production incentive input assistance. More than Rs 1,525 crore was paid to the farmers as the first installment in their account, the government said.

The scheme was implemented in 2020 with the objective of providing a fair price to the farmers for their produce, promoting the productivity of Kharif crops and crop diversification, but with a retrospective effect, its benefits from the Kharif marketing year. In 2019-20, provision was made to give to the farmers selling paddy on support price and Rs 5628 crore was given to the farmers.

The number of farmers has increased from 15 lakh to 22 lakh and the area under paddy cultivation has increased from 22 lakh hectare to more than 27 lakh hectare. People who have turned away from agriculture have also started joining agriculture again.

Under the GodhanNyay scheme, one crore rupees to the cattle owners, villagers as the 26th installment of the Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel on August 20, one crore 3 lakhs as dividend to the self-help groups and Gauthan committees. 1 crore 46 lakhs, thus paying a total of Rs 3 crore 49 lakhs. It is worth mentioning here that under the GodhanNyay Yojana started in the state from July 20, 2020, cow dung worth Rs.99 crore 8 lakh has been purchased so far.

This amount is mostly contributed by cow dung sellers, cattle farmers, villagers, people belonging to backward classes, scheduled castes and tribes. About 45 percent of the benefitted cow dung sellers are women. Among the beneficiaries, more than 78 thousand people belong to landless families. directly transferred to the account of So far, Rs 18 crore 49 lakh has been paid to self-help groups associated with Gauthans and Rs 26 crore 75 lakhs to Gauthan committees.