CM orders Collectors to Ensure MSP for ryots under Rabi

Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Saturday directed district Collectors to remain on constant watch and be vigilant to ensure that farmers in the state get Minimum Support Price for their Rabi produce, which is estimated to be a record 220 lakh metric tonnes.

The rice production was an all-time high because of bountiful rains this year, the Chief Minister said.

Addressing the district collectors through a video conference from the Secretariat on Saturday, Mr Rosaiah instructed them to take steps for purchase of total rice stocks arriving into the market and ensure that there were no complaints from the farmers.

The Chief Minister said that the millers were keen on selling their rice stocks in other states and were agitating for better disposal of their stocks. The millers had already paid levy for 75 percent and were agitating for sale of the balance outside the state, he said.

Earlier, the government had imposed a ban to export of rice taking the locals' consumption into account.

Mr Rosaiah also stated that steps were being taken on priority basis to accommodate the Rabi output as the godown space was available only for just 7 lakh metric tonnes.

He stated that 34 lakh metric tonnes of produce under Kharif was required to be lifted and disposed so that enough stocking room is created for further stocks. He emphasised the need to acquire private godowns for preserving the new stocks.

MFIs

Referring to the burning problem which stems from the MFIs, the Chief Minister said that the Collectors should remain vigilant and punish the culprits as the new Ordinance empowered them to do so.

Mr Rosaiah was also of the opinion that there was a need to increase the rural credit to improve the borrowers' situation.

CURB SCHOOL DROPOUTS

The Collectors were told to implement the Jawahar Bala Arogya Raksha (JBAR) scheme, which will begin from November 14, the birthday of former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, in order to stop school dropouts as also set up health camps to check their health and ensure that the children are provided nutritious food.

Housing, local bodies

Under the Rajiv Awas Yojana, the Collectors were told to initiate action to prevent dilution of the project.

The Chief Minister reminded the Collectors that they were also special officers in the absence of representatives to the local bodies, and implement all the schemes without giving any room for any irregularities.