Specifications laid down by Union Government hindrance in smooth paddy procurement

Sangrur, October 17, 2013: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the specifications laid down by the Union Government were creating hindrance in the smooth procurement of paddy in the state.

Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration of the SARAS fair here today, the Chief Minister said that the Union government fixes the criteria of purchasing the crop arbitrarily without ascertaining the ground realities in the states, which creates problems in the entire paddy procurement. Badal bemoaned that despite of being a state subject, Agriculture has been today totally taken by the centre and the state governments have virtually no role in it.

The Chief Minister further said that on its part the state government has made elaborate arrangements to procure the harvest of the farmers in a hassle free and prompt manner. Badal said that it was the foremost duty of the state government to ensure a hassle free procurement of the farmer’s produce so as to facilitate them. He said that for this purpose the state government has set up 1795 purchase centers across the state to ensure smooth procurement of the paddy.

Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that it was writing on the wall that the BJP led NDA alliance would form the government at centre after the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. He said that all the opinion polls were a clearly indicating that the Congress led UPA government has lost ground due to its failure on all fronts. Badal further said that the countrymen were fed up from the blatant corruption, inflation, unemployment and poverty prevailing in the country due to the misrule of the Congress led UPA government and were eagerly waiting for the general elections to teach Congress party a lesson for its sinister activities.

Earlier addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that SARAS festival was a healthy platform for the craftsman and artisans from across the country states to exhibit their rare talent through the handicrafts. He said that these handicrafts were the part of the rich legacy of the vibrant culture of our country and the need of the hour was to encourage this art by organizing more such fairs. However expressing concern over the vanishing handicrafts in the country, Mr. Badal said that the state government would make all efforts to preserve this depleting art in Punjab.

Exhorting the youth to develop skills for any profession or trade for getting self employed, the Chief Minister said that realising well that it was the need of the hour the state government was setting up specialized skill centers across the state to impart skill training to the youth. He said that basic thrust was being laid to impart technical training to the youth to cope up with the basic requirements of local industry.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra. www.cityairnews.com