Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana: Centre Limits Rice procurement from Chhattisgarh

In midst of intensifying farmer's protest, the centre has allowed the Chhattisgarh government to deliver 24 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of rice on Sunday to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under central pool during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21.

As per a letter issued by the Government of India on Sunday, “The Government of India has decided to allow 24 lakh MT of rice to be delivered to FCI under central pool during KMS 2020-21 which is equivalent to the quantity as allowed in previous years to Chhattisgarh.”

However, the state government fears that the central government will ask the state to discontinue Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana.

“The state government hopes that the remaining rice will also be taken later. But the worrying thing is that the central government has made a condition that the state government will not give any kind of bonus with the purchase of crops right now or in future. Actually, the Centre has objections with the state government’s ‘Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana’.

The BJP leaders of the state have complained to the Centre that the Congress government is giving bonus to the farmers. Whereas the truth is that after the central government’s condition of not giving bonus, the state started the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana and announced to give it per acre instead of crop,” said a senior official in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

As per the another source from the government said that “we are apprehensive that the central government will ask to discontinue the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana in the future….Actually the central government is not okay with cash going in the pockets of farmers. They want the farmer to keep going through Modi ji’s 500 rupees per month plan”.

Senior BJP leader and spokesperson Sacchinand Upasane said, “There is federal structure and every state has to follow it because we follow constitution. The central government has issued such directions to Madhya Pradesh also which is BJP ruled state. The Chhattisgarh government is doing politics by saying that state BJP unit has complained about Nyay Yojana or bonus".

Meanwhile, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel thanked the Centre and also hoped that the permission for more procurement would be granted further in the central pool.

Moreover, CM Baghel had recently spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone and requested to ensure issuance of final order from the Centre to lift rice after custom milling from the state for the central pool.

The Centre had earlier given in principle approval to take 60 lakh MT rice from the state in the central pool.