BHOPAL : The Central Government plans to utilise the expertise of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s in the agriculture sector, which helped the state achieve 25 per cent growth rate in farm production. Chauhan has been invited to come to Delhi on Tuesday for a discussion on Crop Insurance Scheme, to be implemented across the country.
The meeting, with Crop Insurance Scheme as its sole agenda, will be attended by Union Home, Finance and Agriculture Ministers and officials. Chauhan is the only Chief Minister who has been invited to the meeting.
BJP central leaders too have urged the Central government to consult Chauhan on issues related to farmers. Chauhan counsel has also been sought on how to counter the campaign launched by Congress against the Land Acquisition Bill. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders too have advised Modi to put Chauhan at the forefront, as far as clearing the air on the Bill is concerned.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Chauhan enjoy the image of being farmers’ leaders in BJP. Chauhan initiated several agricultural reforms in the state too. It was on Chauhan’s demand that Central government, in the recent past, decided that even 33 per cent loss to crops would qualify the farmer to get compensation. Earlier, compensation was paid only in case where the crop loss was fifty per cent and higher Chauhan has pointed out discrepancies in the Crop Insurance Scheme proposed by the Centre. He has termed it beneficial only for the Insurance Companies. He intends to implement a different Crop Insurance Scheme in the state. Preparations are on to invite agricultural experts from across the country on June 15 and 16 to Bhopal for consultation on the proposed scheme.
