03-Dec-2024 05:13 PM
2919
New Delhi, Dec 3 (Reporter) Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan slammed the West Bengal government for allegedly diverting central funds and making "undeserving" people the beneficiaries of welfare schemes.
Replying to a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Minister said the government of West Bengal has "committed the crime" of benefiting certain people by reducing big works to small ones.
"Under this scheme, ineligible people were made eligible and eligible people were made ineligible and alleged that the government have changed the names of rural development schemes', he said.
The Minister alleged that the Mamata Banerjee have committed the crime of changing the name of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and keeping their own name.
"Even under the same scheme, ineligible people were given benefits and eligible people were left out. This amount is not for misuse, it is not for benefiting ineligible people" he said.
Chouhan strongly refuted Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee's allegation that central funds of various welfare schemes had not been released to West Bengal.
He said the budget allocation for MGNREGS has been increased by Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore every year in comparison to the previous year and it has not been reduced at all.
The Minister said the West Bengal government didn't take any effective action but we will not allow the misuse of funds."
In another reply, the Minister has said the Minimum Support Price has been increased by nearly three times by the Centre.
Replying to a supplementary question in the house, Chouhan said that the NDA government has fixed the MSP by adding a 50 percent profit on the cost.
He said that during the UPA government, the MSP of rice was 1,310 rupees per quintal, which has been increased to 2,300 rupees per quintal.
The Minister added that the MSP of Jowar was 1,500 rupees per quintal, which has been increased to 3,371 rupees per quintal, while that of Bajra was raised from 1,250 rupees to 2,625 rupees per quintal, and Ragi from 1,500 rupees to 4,269 rupees per quintal...////...