Rajnath stresses on hiking ryots' buying power

Chinor, MP, June 1 (UNI) Emphasising on enhancing farmers' purchasing power, BJP President Rajnath Singh today said the country's development would otherwise be impossible.

''In our country, successive regimes never took serious steps regarding the profession on which more than 70 per cent of the workforce is dependent,'' he said in his address at the inauguration of the Harsi dam's main canal restructuring project over the Parvati river.

Pointing out that peasants would also have to be provided adequate water, power and proper roads, Mr Singh claimed that the previous NDA government had taken several decisions in cultivators' interest and implemented the same. He stressed on water conservation.

''Certain regimes that assumed the reins after independence first followed the Soviet Union and after its break-up toed the US line without trying to comprehend the country's temperament,'' he alleged.

Presiding over the function, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that every rule that proved a hurdle in development of villages, the poor and ryots would be amended.

''As many as 16,000 km roads have been laid and 30 km are being added on daily basis. In the next two to three years, a further 30,000 km will be laid. The Centre has approved a Rs 18,000-crore package for rural roads,'' he added.

Pointing out that Rs 1,783 crore worth of farmers' electricity bills were waived and a Rs 51-crore subsidy provided, the Chief Minister said a Farmers' Welfare Commission has been constituted.

''The minor irrigation projects formulated by the government will open new vistas of prosperity,'' said BJP state President Satyanarayan Jatia who was chief guest.

Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Anup Mishra said his department's budget was enhanced from Rs 455 crore to Rs 1,909 crore for enhancing means of irrigation.

UNI MKS-AC ARB RK2108