The Hindu Business Line : Nabard offers AP Rs 500-cr loan for farmland development

`The Government and NGOs could work together in educating people in rural areas, particularly with regard to utilisation of power and adoption of cropping patterns.'

Hyderabad , Oct. 14

THE State Government will get a Rs 500-crore loan from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) for development of farmlands in the State.

Disclosing this at a `State-level workshop on NGO-Government partnership' here on Thursday, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said that apart from distribution of land to the landless, it was essential to develop and make the land productive. His Government was trying to identify and resolve the various land-related problems.

The Chief Minister said that both the Government and non-government organisations (NGOs) could work together in educating people in rural areas, particularly with regard to utilisation of power and adoption of cropping patterns.

He said that when Congress came to power in the State, there were around 23.5 lakh authorised agricultural connections.

Following the announcement of free power supply to the farm sector by his Government, an additional 4 lakh unauthorised power connections came into existence affecting the distribution system.

Similarly, he said, farmers were cultivating paddy in upland areas, which would be not only non-remunerative but also result in depletion of groundwater table and excess consumption of power.

The Government and NGOs could work together in educating the farmers on cultivating patterns. Besides, there were many social stigmas and problems, which have to be addressed jointly.

Call to naxals: Dr Reddy reiterated that his Government wanted the naxalites to come into the mainstream of society. "The gun is not relevant now. A private gun is no answer today. The Government also should be ashamed if it has to use its gun," he said, pointing out that even Dr Nelson Mandela, who wanted to wage an armed struggle, had later chosen the course of non-violence to liberate South Africa from the hegemony of white people.

The Chief Minister said he would consider the major recommendations of the two-day workshop organised by the Mahila Abhivridhi Society, Andhra Pradesh (APMAS) at the instance of the State Government.

Earlier, APMAS Chief Executive Officer, Mr C.S. Reddy, said that the workshop had made nine major recommendations. The recommendations included bringing out a policy paper by the State Government on NGO partnership, enacting the right to information bill, establishment of NGO ombudsman, constitution of state, district and mandal level committees for NGO-Government partnership and constitution of working groups on major development sector.

Our Visakhapatnam Bureau adds: The farmland development programme, to be launched on November 19 to mark the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, aims to render the 3.5 lakh acres of land assigned to it fit for agricultural operations, said Mr D. Srinivas, Minister for Rural Development.

After reviewing the performance of the District Rural Development Agencies in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts here on Thursday, the minister said that irrigation and other facilities would be provided in lands assigned to SCs, STs and BCs to improve their socio-economic condition. The scheme would be launched simultaneously in all districts as part of the Congress' pre-poll promise to provide Indiramma rajyam.

The review meeting approved development of 27,000 acres in Visakhapatnam district, 5,000 in East Godavari, 27,349 in Vizianagaram and 12,400 acres in Srikakulam at a total cost of Rs 112 crore to benefit nearly 65,000 people.

Reiterating the Government's commitment to land reforms, Mr Srinivas said that the Government had earmarked Rs 200 crore for purchasing agricultural land to distribute it among the landless. On an average, one to two acres would be distributed among landless families.

He said he would examine all legal implications with regard to sale of the assigned land by some beneficiaries.

More Stories on : Agricultural Institutions | Andhra Pradesh

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