The Hindu Business Line : Manmohan sets store by second Green Revolution

THE Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said the new Planning Commission, when it is in place, will look into the option of writing a new chapter in Indian history that would usher in social and economic change and eradicate poverty, hunger and disease in the country.

Emphasising the need for ushering in a second Green Revolution that would bring in a new element of dynamism in the country's agriculture, the Prime Minister hoped that the Committee headed by Dr M.S. Swaminathan would look into this aspect. Apart from bringing forward a new Seed Act to regulate the quality of seeds, the Government was also taking steps to strengthen the system of crop and livestock insurance to insulate farmers from the vagaries of drought.

Dr Singh, who visited Mahaboobnagar and Kurnool districts on Thursday to personally look in to the crisis faced by farmers in Andhra Pradesh, saidthere was a need to explore all options to alleviate poverty. He called for a direct cooperation between the Centre and the States, which would be partners in the process of development.

Sympathising with the families of the distressed farmers, who committed suicide, he announced the release of Rs 60 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund. He also instructed Andhra Bank to coordinate with the State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of India, Indian Bank and Syndicate Bank to visit all families which have lost their breadwinners.

Dr Singh told newspersons before leaving for Delhi after a day's visit to the State, that these banks would extend support to the families of deceased farmers for economic activities that would ensure steady income. "This will be done within the next 30 days. This will be monitored by the State Government as well as my office."

He urged the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to consider a system of issuing entitlement cards to all these families for their basic needs. This was to monitor regular availability of food through public distribution system, nutrition, safe drinking water, health cover and employment.

The Prime Minister said the Centre would provide immediate cash relief to start food-for-work programme to provide employment in affected villages. In addition to 6 lakh tonnes of foodgrains already made available, an additional 1.82- lakh tonnes would be provided for the programme. He was also initiating steps for simplifying the drought assistance procedure and programme for watershed management.

Stating that the Centre would strengthen the hands of the State Government in providing relief to the farmers, Dr Singh said that this was an on-going process. Some of the measures announced were Centre's immediate response, while some were part of a long-term strategy to revitalise the farm sector.

More Stories on : Agriculture | Agricultural Policy | Andhra Pradesh

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