NITI Aayog meet: Capt bats for farm debt waiver : The Tribune India

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NITI Aayog meet: Capt bats for farm debt waiver

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today pitched for financial assistance from the NITI Aayog to mitigate farmers’ distress through a one-time debt waiver, even as he sought a special package from the Centre to boost the state’s industrial hubs.



Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today pitched for financial assistance from the NITI Aayog to mitigate farmers’ distress through a one-time debt waiver, even as he sought a special package from the Centre to boost the state’s industrial hubs.

The CM’s statement was circulated and taken on record at the third Governing Council meeting of the Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. Capt Amarinder did not attend the meeting as he was said to be unwell.

Lauding the Centre’s Smart City initiative, he mooted the establishment of Smart Villages for the development of Punjab’s rural infrastructure. He asked the Centre to launch a Mission with adequate funding to upgrade rural infrastructure and bring the benefits of technology and markets to the rural areas.

Citing the Rs1,82,000-crore debt inherited by his government, the Chief Minister requested the Centre to consider a one-time debt waiver and debt swap as a special dispensation for the state.

Referring to the state government’s plan to promote employment and micro-enterprises in its endeavour to fulfil its promise of “Ghar Ghar Mein Naukri”, he urged the Centre to provide direct subsidy of Rs1 lakh to all youth seeking to engage themselves in self-employment after skill development.

In his speech, the Chief Minister also sought from the Modi government a one-time infrastructural development package for the border areas of the state. These areas should be given the same level of tax incentives and promotional schemes as provided to the hill states and the north-eastern region, he added.

Other demands included the setting up of a Deficiency Price Payment Support system to provide farmers with crop remuneration on a par with the MSP for crops in addition to wheat and paddy, besides technical support in preparing a roadmap for realising the PM’s vision of doubling farmers’ income and a special dispensation for the original Green Revolution states.


What he sought 

  • Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh mooted the establishment of Smart Villages for the development of Punjab's rural infrastructure
  • Urged the Centre to provide direct subsidy of Rs 1 lakh to all youth seeking to engage themselves in self-employment after skill development
  • Sought a one-time infrastructural package for state’s border areas 
  • Also demanded support in preparing a roadmap for realising the PM’s vision of doubling farmers’ income 

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