Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Dec 11: The different farmers bodies of Jammu province held a meeting Here, today under the chairmanship of Tajinder Singh Wazir, president JK Kissan Council and member JK Kissan Advisory Board expressed concern over breaking of old tradition of involvement of farming community in budget preparations.
In the meeting farmers said that being left out in pre budget discussions they choose a medium of media to raise the voice of 80% population of the State which directly and indirectly is associated with farming.
Tajinder Singh Wazir, president J K Kissan Council said that presently Agriculture and allied sectors are in grim scenario due to lack of proper planning and timely release of funds and need a special package of revolving funds tune of Rs 100crores for un interrupted implementation of C.S.S schemes keeping in view the importance of time in Agriculture.
He said these schemes have not borne fruitful results in the State as compared to other states where farmers are being provided matching grants to boost their economy but in our State due to limited State share, very less Centre share is given for the State sponsored schemes. Besides the utilization certificates are not given in time and more importance to public sector funds are bigger challenge for the farmers. Moreover, J&K comes in last tally for agriculture development and GDP growth in agriculture Sector, said Wazir.
He demanded that the Government should initiate a performance audit from third party in the assets created in Public Sector to evaluate the desired objective , to safeguard the public money and fixing of responsibilities for under development .Farmers demanded that special focus is to be given on creation of permanent mandies (Markets)for grain procurement in Jammu province, skill development in agriculture, mitigating climate change impact on agriculture, utilization of proper use of cooperate social responsibility funds in agriculture and allied sectors to overcome these sectors from pathetic scenario so that schemes like Pardhan Mantra Krish Sanchai Yojna , Rastriya Krishi vikas Yojna and PMDP will not become a hallow slogans.
Farmers further demanded, All Agriculture inputs, machinery should be tax free, imposed Toll Tax on import of vegetables, flowers from other states to safeguard inters of small and marginal Farmers of State.
Special provision of insurance and pension for farmers wood be a part of upcoming budget, implement all the budget announcement of previous budgets of State.
Besides other Vijay Singh Baldev Singh Tarseem Pal, Radha Ram Ravi Kumar and Parshant attended the meeting.
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