At the meeting, Mann also said that he raised the issue of DAP fertiliser shortage with Union Minister JP Nadda.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the state’s agriculture policy is almost ready and his government will call stakeholders for further consultations.
The statement came amid a protest by the Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, which are pushing for the implementation of the farm policy.
Participating in the debate on the last day of the three-day session of the Punjab Assembly, Mann said that the farm policy is almost ready.
“We will speak to stakeholders, farmers’ unions and agriculture-related organisations on this issue,” he told the state assembly.
Mann said his government always supports policies being formulated with consultation of stakeholders, unlike the Union government which introduces its policies without considering or consulting the people.
He cited the example of the three farm laws which were later withdrawn by the BJP-led government at the Centre following protests by the farming community.
Farmers under the banner of BKU (Ugrahan) and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union began a five-day protest here on Sunday to press for their demands, including implementation of the farm policy.
Meanwhile, BKU (Ugrahan) leader Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said the prime minister will hold a meeting with farmers’ representatives on Thursday.
At the meeting, Mann also said that he raised the issue of DAP fertiliser shortage with Union Minister JP Nadda.
Mann further said that the state government has already implemented a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for traders in pending value added tax cases.
The state government has received Rs 164 crore through this OTS scheme, he said.
Earlier, during Question Hour, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh said he will meet a central minister on Thursday in Delhi after Congress legislator Pargat Singh pointed out the non-release of Rs 1,750 crore National Health Mission funds by the Centre to Punjab.
“They (the Centre) withheld funds from NHM because they are allergic to ‘aam aadmi clinics’,” the health minister said.
Singh further said that he will meet the concerned minister along with his staff in Delhi on Thursday.
The AAP government in the state has been at loggerheads with the Centre over NHM funds.
The Union Health Ministry had earlier accused the Punjab government of converting Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) into “aam aadmi clinics”.
Punjab’s health minister said: “Health is predominantly a state subject. They (the central government) insist on branding while we talk about co-branding (of aam aadmi clinics).”
In July this year, the Centre had told Parliament that Punjab had not adhered to the branding guidelines for Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centre, now known as Ayushman Arogya Mandir, violating the guidelines of the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment Scheme 2023-24.
Shiromani Akali Dal legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali said that residents of Bhundri, Akhara, Muskabad in Ludhiana district have opposed the setting up of three biogas plants.
They claimed that an unpleasant smell will emanate from these plants, the MLA said and demanded that the installation of these plants should not be allowed.
The President later adjourned the House sine die.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: September 4, 2024 | 22:16 IS
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