Education Minister, Punjab, Sikander Singh Maluka.
Seechewal (Jalandhar), May 27, 2013: To put the state’s agricultural economy on zenith especially in the wake of present slow down due to conventional wheat paddy cycle, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today exhorted the peasantry to come out of this rut to adopt crop diversification in a big way.
Addressing a mammoth gathering here at the 25th death anniversary of Sant Baba Avtar Singh here today, the Chief Minister said that State’s ambitious crop diversification program was aimed at supplementing the income of farmers especially the small and marginal ones besides checking the alarmingly depleting ground water due its ‘over exploitation’.
The Chief Minister pointed out that agriculture which once happened to be a prosperous preposition till a few years back was now on decline due to marginal profits which were further squeezing every passing day. He bemoaned that the resilient farmers of the state through their toil of ‘blood and sweat’ had made the country self reliant in food production, but were now finding it extremely difficult to meet their both ends. He said that with the Union government extending a slew of incentives to non paddy growing states, the message was loud and clear to the farmers of the state that either they should resort to crop diversification to ensure their existence or perish. Mr. Badal categorically asked the farmers to refrain from growing paddy and shift to alternative crops like Basmati, Maize, Sugarcane, vegetables and fruits, the cultivation of which was not only highly profitable but was also less water intensive than paddy.
Assuring fulsome support and co-operation to the farmers for this noble cause, the Chief Minister said that all out efforts were being made by the state government to bail out the beleaguered peasantry of the state from the ongoing crisis through crop diversification. He said that the state government has already urged the Government of India (GoI) to evolve a fool proof marketing mechanism for the promotion of Maize cultivation by announcing Minimum Support Price (MSP) on it like Wheat and Paddy. It was a high time that in larger interest of the state the farmers must opt for crop diversification for which the state government would extend all possible help to them, added Badal.
The Chief Minister further said that with the aim to increase 25% water supply in the rivers and minors by preventing its wastage through leakage or seepage, the state government has embarked a major program of strengthening the canals and minors in Punjab. He said that in the coming two years the entire canal water irrigation system of the state would be completely transformed so as to save the ground water by reducing pressure on the Tube wells. Mr. Badal hoped that this endeavor of the state government would also help in checking the depleting ground water level in Punjab
Paying rich tributes to Sant Baba Avtar Singh, the Chief Minister termed him as a great spiritual leader who had played a laudable role in religious and social service. He said that the life of Sant Baba Avtar Singh and his service of the humanity would ever act as a lighthouse for the coming generations.
Appreciating the efforts being made by eminent environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal in checking land, water and air pollution Badal said that this was a great service to the humanity, which could not be described in words. He also showered praise on Baba Seechewal for his commendable work of cleaning the holy ‘Kali Bein’.
Earlier talking to the media persons the Chief Minister, replying to a query regarding the alleged scam in Education department, said that he had already asked the officers of the Education department to submit the entire case pertaining to the alleged irregularities in the Sarv Sikhya Aabhyaan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhamik Sikhya Abhyaan (RMSA) adding that any decision regarding the Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka would be taken after the scrutiny of the official record meticulously with due care and deliberation.
Replying to another query the Chief Minister reiterated that the failure of the Union Government in checking the drug trafficking across the border was grossly responsible for the menace of drugs in the state. He said that the security agencies manning the borders were deployed by the Centre and the state had hardly any role in it. “Therefore, the entire onus lies with GoI and it could not run away from its onerous responsibility of guarding the border with diligence thereby insulating these barriers to check the menace of drug trafficking” said Badal.
However Badal said that on their part the state government had recently concluded a dedicated fund to combat the grave problem of the Cancer and drug de-addiction adding that no stone would be left unturned for curbing them.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, former MLA and Chairman of District Planning Committee Kapurthala Sarabjit Singh Makkar, Commissioner Jalandhar Division SR Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh and Joint Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sandeep Hans.
Punjab CM, Parkash Singh Badal addressing the gathering.