Just two months ahead of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, the BJP government on September 4 announced to give bonus of Rs 300 per quintal along with the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the paddy farmers in the state. Chief Minister Raman Singh during a cabinet meeting at his residence told reporters that paddy procurement for Kharif season 2018 will begin from November 1. Singh also announced cancellation of around 20,000 petty cases against the tribal people under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
It must be noted that the Chief Minister was under attack from the opposition party for non- payment of bonus to the paddy farmers for the last two years.
Singh said the bonus distributed this time will be around Rs 2,400 crore. He mentioned that the central government in the Kharif season obtains ‘A’ grade paddy at Rs 1770 per quintal and ordinary paddy at Rs 1750 per quintal. And by adding the bonus during procurement, farmers will get 2,070 and 2,050 rupees.
