Chhattisgarh CM Baghel holds discussion with Nabard Chairman via video conferencing

Raipur: Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel held a discussion with the Chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. G.R. Chintala over various activities related to agriculture, rural development and development of infrastructure in Chhattisgarh through video conferencing. Chief Minister said that with the cooperation of NABARD, many development works have been done in Chhattisgarh, in various sectors including agriculture and rural areas, which have proved to be milestones. A lot of work has been done for the development of rural economy of the state through NABARD, a lot still needs to be done. The event was organized on the occasion of Foundation Day on 12 July of NABARD. Chief Minister congratulated the officers and employees including the Chairman of NABARD Shri Chintala on the Foundation Day. Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey was present on the occasion. Chairman of NABARD Mr. Chintala and Deputy Managing Director Mr. PVS Surya Kumar joined from Mumbai through video conferencing.

Chief Minister sought cooperation from NABARD for multipurpose Bodhghat Irrigation Project of Bastar Zone and to connect youth of Bastar Zone with employment. The Chief Minister said that the Bodhghat irrigation project will prove to be a lifeline for Bastar, through this project costing about 22 thousand crores, the entire Bastar zone will have irrigation facilities with drinking water and water for disposal. Presently, the percentage of irrigation in Bastar region is 0 to 5 percent. The entire Bastar will be irrigated through this project, which will improve the standard of living of the people there. He said that Naxal problem is a major challenge in Bastar, which is abundant with many natural features. Employing youth of Bastar will help in connecting them with the mainstream.

Mr. Baghel, while giving detailed information about Narva, Garuva, Ghuruwa and Bari scheme under Suraji village scheme, sought cooperation from NABARD for this scheme. He said that the state government has prepared a plan to set up small plants for the processing of small forest produce and forest medicines through the women self-help groups in the Gothans being constructed in the villages. This will provide good employment and income to the women of the group. Discussions are on with big companies for marketing of products manufactured by women. Chief Minister said that one acre of land in Gauthan of every village will be reserved for village industry activities. Through this, there will be an industrial park in every village of Chhattisgarh. In Gauthans, vermi compost from cow dung will also be made by women self-help groups. He urged NABARD to provide financial assistance for this scheme.
Mr. Baghel also sought cooperation in various parts of the state for the construction of cold storage, food processing plants to protect agricultural and horticultural crops. Mr. Baghel said that tomatoes are supplied to neighboring countries from Chhattisgarh. Good quantity of fruit and horticultural crops are produced in Durg, Raipur and Jashpur. Pear, cashew, strawberry, coffee are cultivated in Jashpur. With the development of cold storage chain, they will be kept safe for a long time and farmers will get help in getting good prices. He informed that chilli is produced on a large scale in Bastar. It has a big market in Nagpur. If an air-conditioned transport vehicle is available with the help of NABARD for transporting Mirchi, then the farmers of Bastar will get good price of Mirchi. He thanked NABARD for the loan assistance provided in paddy procurement.

NABARD officials told Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel on this occasion that an amount of Rs 700 crore has been sanctioned by NABARD for giving agricultural loans to farmers. In the current financial year, NABARD has disbursed agricultural credit of Rs 450 crore so far. On demand, an agricultural loan of Rs 1500 crore can be given by NABARD. NABARD officials also informed that loan assistance of Rs 192 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of one ward each for treatment of patients of infectious diseases and Covid-19 in hospitals of all districts of Chhattisgarh. Similarly, loan assistance of Rs 792 crore was sanctioned for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana. NABARD officials handed over a letter of approval for a grant to the Chief Minister for the establishment of 37 Covid Sample Collection Centers (Kiosks) in the state, which amounts to Rs 9 lakh 93 thousand. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also released the booklet ‘NABARD 2019-20 in Chhattisgarh’ published by NABARD Regional Office.
The Chief Minister, while stating the need for development of health infrastructure in the state, urged NABARD to provide more financial assistance for this. He said that Rs 500 crore assistance should be given for this. Chairman of NABARD, Mr. G.R. Chintala said that on receiving the proposal from NABARD from Chhattisgarh, financial assistance of 20 to 25 thousand crores can be made available for development works in various areas. He assured to provide assistance for the multipurpose Bodh Ghat project of Bastar Zone. He said that maximum number of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) should be formed in Chhattisgarh. With this, grants-in-aid will be made available to the farmers from NABARD for increasing business, horticulture and marketing of vegetable crops.
Chief General Manager of NABARD, Chhattisgarh, Mr. M. Soren said that in the financial year 2020-21, NABARD a provision has been made for providing financial assistance of Rs.10 thousand crores and grant assistance of Rs.20 crores for the works of agriculture and rural development in Chhattisgarh. has gone. On this occasion, Agriculture Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary Agriculture of Chhattisgarh Dr. Smt. M. Geeta, Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi and officers of NABARD were present.