GUWAHATI, June 24 - Nobody found involved in irregularities that took place in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in the State will be spared, said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today. He was speaking during a programme held here to distribute appointment letters to 111 Agriculture Development Officers (ADO) under the Department of Agriculture.
�The State government is striving to provide dignity to the farmers of the State and the new appointees must dedicate themselves towards making agriculture glamorous so that the young generation aspires to take up farming. Lots of irregularities took place in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in the State and no one found involved in embezzlement of the money meant for the farmers, would be spared. The new ADOs will have to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that no such corrupt practices take place in future,� said the Chief Minister.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s call for doubling farmers� income by 2022, Sonowal urged the new appointees to take up the mantle of strict and proper implementation of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card, PM Kisan and Kisan Credit Card, among others, for bringing in rapid development in agriculture and allied sectors.
Stating that Assam did business of agricultural products worth Rs 357 crore during the 70 days of lockdown, Sonowal said that due to the State government�s initiative Assam�s farmers could export their produce to the markets of London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Singapore.
He said the government has taken steps like providing Rs 5,000 each to 4.5 lakh farmers for buying agricultural equipment under the Mukhya Mantrir Krishi Sa-Sajuli Yojana, besides distributing a tractor to each of the 26,000 villages under the Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY), and providing 48,000 shallow pumps to the farmers of the State.
He called upon the newly recruited ADOs to guide the farmers and solve their problems while making them aware about latest technologies in the field of agriculture.
Congratulating the newly recruited ADOs on their opportunity to serve the farming community of the State, the Chief Minister informed that the agriculture department would recruit an additional 3,189 personnel, including Agricultural Extension Officers and Village Level Extension Workers (VLEW), while 157 technical recruitments would be made by the department, including those of junior engineers, within this year itself.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s call of �local-vocal-global� to encourage local businesses and products, Sonowal urged the new appointees to utilise their ideas and knowledge in strengthening the �production-procurement-cold storage-marketing� chain.
Recalling his visit to Vietnam with progressive farmers of the State, the Chief Minister said Vietnam could script success stories in agriculture and allied sectors because the agri-scientists and officials there worked as a team with the farmers to utilise their available resources to the maximum while adopting innovative technologies. He said the conducive climate and fertile land of Assam hold equally immense potential like Vietnam to initiate a revolution in agriculture.
Sonowal urged the new appointees to implement their ideas and teachings in the field so that Assam can chart newer territories of rapid agricultural progress.
Agriculture Minister Atul Bora talked about the department�s emphasis on farm mechanisation. He urged the new ADOs not to apply for transfer as no such pleas would be considered. He asked them to put in their best efforts to revolutionise the sector. Deputy Speaker of Assam Assembly Aminul Haque Laskar, LS Member Dr Rajdeep Roy and Principal Secretary, Agriculture Rajesh Prasad also spoke.
