STATE TIMES NEWS
R. S. PURA: Lashing out at the successive governments at the Centre since the time of independence, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Congress claims to follow Gandhi, but ignored villages and farmers, whose concern was close to Gandhi’s heart and Bapu had clearly laid out his priorities when he said that true India lives in India’s villages.
Speaking at the day-long Kisan Kalyan Karyashala organised today as part of the ongoing Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that in the last four years, the lapses of the last 65 years had been sought to be corrected and even though the Congress-led governments claim to follow Gandhian principles, it is, in fact, the Modi Government which has sought to vindicate Gandhi’s idea of reaching out to the remotest of the remote villages and to work for the upliftment of the farmers even in the most far-flung and peripheral parts of India.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is for the nation to ask, if the Modi Government could, in just four years, roll out a series of innovative farmer-friendly schemes, why could same not be done by the earlier Governments.
Soon after this Government came, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the decision of Neem-coated urea was taken. This was followed by announcement of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card, MoU for utilisation of Space Technology in Agriculture, e-nam and the target to double the farmers income by 2022.
Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that a Seed Processing Plant (SPP) has been approved by the Govt of India to be set up at Kathua soon.
The North India’s first-ever Bio-tech park is already coming up at Gatti at Kathua, he said. As for irrigation, the Shahpur-Kandi Dam which had been stalled for 40 years is being revived, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Jammu region has immense potential for agricultural entrepreneurship which is unexplored. Among other things, he suggested the branding of R.S. Pura Basmati Rice with promotion of its sale in regions where rice is a staple diet. He also called for promoting Start-Up ventures in agriculture and farming.
J&K State Irrigation Minister Sham Chaudhary, local MLA Gagan Bhagat, Vice Chancellor SKUAST Professor P K Sharma, Dr R K Arora, Dr H K Razdan and Dr Ashwani Jojra also spoke on the occasion.
