Poors and Farmers have first right on electricity: Raman

     Dongargaon, February 23, 2009: Chhattisgarh Government today expressed its commitment for the overall development of the poors and farmers, who constitute about 90 per cent the total population, besides the rural sector.

     Launching the state wide “Kisan Mahotsav” from the Lal Bahadur Nagar of Dongargaon assembly segment in Rajnandgaon district, the Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh also said the farmers, poors and villages have the first right on the electricity.

     The villages, poors and farmers have the first right on the electricity produced from Chhattisgarh as the state government was for the “Gaon, Garib aur Kisan” (village, poors and farmers), the Chief Minister said.

     As a part of that, about ten lakh poors can light three bulbs through their single point connection, he said adding from the April 1, the state government would made that provision.

     Similarly the farmers would not only be benefitted from free power, but also the state was extending loan on three per cent rate of interest, Singh said.

     To respect the labour and also to strengthen the economic backbone of the farmers, who constitute 80 per cent of the total population, the state was extending Rs 270 as bonus per quintal of paddy, he said.

     On the Kisan Mahotsav, the farmers were provided bonus, besides free cycles to the girl students under the Saraswati Cycle Scheme.

     In all the districts and in all assembly segments such Kisan Mahotsav would be held up to Saturday next, during which health camps and complaint cell on electricity would also be organised, officials said.