______SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE ______(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) ______Thursday, December 11, 2014/ Agrahayana 20, 1936 (Saka) ______

Felicitations to Visually Impaired Indian Cricket Team

MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon. Members, as you are aware, the visually impaired Indian cricket team won the Fourth Cricket World Cup for the Blind, held at Cape Town on 7th December, 2014. On behalf of the whole House and on my own behalf, I congratulate the entire team for their achievement. I wish the Indian visually impaired cricket team many more successes in the near future. ______

MATTERS RAISED WITH PERMISSION OF THE CHAIR

I. Need to Give National Honour and Build a Grand Memorial of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi

SHRI P.L. PUNIA: There is a demand since many years that a grand memorial should be built on this Mahanirvana Sthal and the surrounding bungalows should be acquired for this purpose.

______This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. 212

We demand that funds should be sanctioned for the construction of grand memorial at this place and construction work should be started.

(Dr. Vijaylaxmi Sadho, Shri Ali Anwar Ansari, Shrimati Rajani Patil, Shri Husain Dalwai, Shri Parvez Hashmi, Shri Jesudasu Seelam, Shri Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu, Shri Meghraj Jain, Shri Tarun Vijay, Shri D. Raja,shrimati Wansuk Syiem, Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar and some Hon'ble Members associated.)

II. Shortage of Fertilizers Affecting Farmers

SARDAR SUKHDEV SINGH DHINDSA: There is scarcity of manure not only in Punjab but the entire country. The Punjab Government had given an estimate for urea to the Central Government and the Government had promised its delivery by 30th November but Punjab has not got it till date. I request you to kindly deliver the same at the earliest.

SHRI TAPAN KUMAR SEN: At least seven fertilizer- producing units in the public sector and five more in the private sector are not being revived.

(Shri P. Rajeeve, Shri Ritabrata Banerjee, Shri Bhupinder Singh, Shri Ram Nath Thakur, Shri T.K. Rangarajan, Shri C.P. Narayanan, Shri Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu, Shrimati Sarojini Hembram and Shri Madhusudan Mistry associated)

III. Poor Air Connectivity to North-Eastern States

SHRI KHEKIHO ZHIMOMI: The Government of has granted in-principle approval for setting up 15 Greenfield airports in the country, but Nagaland was dropped from that list. Hence, I urge the hon. Minister for Civil Aviation to include it in the list. The connectivity in the North-East and more so, in the State of Nagaland, is horrible.

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IV. Revival of Nokia Factory in Chennai

SHRI T.K. RANGARAJAN: It is reported in the Press that Foxconn has plans to buy Nokia Chennai plant by investing 2 billion dollars. All-out efforts must be made to reopen the factory as the closure has affected about 30,000 employees, including those in the ancillary industries. Even though Nokia announced suspension of production from November 1, it amounted to closure of the factory. The factory had lured the young workers, majority of them ladies, who were in the midst of their studies with lucrative job. Now after seven years, they have been asked to go home. The ancillary units which were supplying parts to Nokia have also closed their production, thus rendering about 30,000 people jobless. In view of this, the economy of three districts of Tamil Nadu has been badly affected. The Government should ensure that all the workforce which has to leave Nokia may be taken back. The Government should also pave the way for an early revival of the factory.

(Shri P. Rajeeve, Shri Tapan Kumar Sen, Dr. K.P. Ramalingam, Shrimati Kanimozhi, Shri Ritabrata Banerjee, Shri C.P. Narayanan and Shri S. Thangavelu associated.)

V. Naxalite Attack on C.R.P.F. Camp in Chhattisgarh and Disrespect Shown to Dead Bodies and their Belongings

SHRI PRAMOD TIWARI: On 1st December, naxalites savagely and brutally killed 14 soldiers of CRPF in Chinta and Sukma region of Chhattisgarh. This incident occurred due to the weak and poor policies of this Government. But, what is more shameful and a matter of concern is that the body of martyr Mukesh Kumar, who laid down his life for our security, the security of the country, was sent to his house in a parcel van and in Sarnath Express. The uniform and the belt of the martyrs were thrown in the dustbin. These people do not respect either the martyrs or their uniforms. This Government should be given a strict message that a soldier killed in such incidents should be given the status of a martyr, his family members should be given at 214 least Rs. one crore, their family members should be provided with jobs and in future, the last rites of the soldiers should be performed with full honour and their uniform should be given the respect it deserves.

(Shri Bhupinder Singh, Shri Ishwarlal Shankarlal Jain, Shri Motilal Vora, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Shri Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu, Shrimati Vijila Sathyananth, Shri Madhusudan Mistry, Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar, Shri Shantaram Naik, Shri V. Hanumantha Rao, Shri Ritabrata Banerjee, Shri Mukut Mithi, Shrimati Wansuk Syiem, Dr. C.P. Thakur, Shrimati Kahkashan Perween, Shri Husain Dalwai, Shri P.L. Punia, Shri Parvez Hashmi and Dr. Vijaylaxmi Sadho associated.)

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD), responding to the matter, said: We all share the anguish expressed by the Hon'ble member. Hon'ble Home Minister has talked to the Chief Minister. He has given orders for the magisterial inquiry and it is being considered to fix responsibility in this regard. Our Government has full respect for the martyrs.

VI. Irregularities in the Payment of Wages to the Job Card holders under MGNREGA

DR. SANJAY SINH: The Act related to Mahatma Gandhi Rashtriya Gramin Rojgar Yojana (MGNREGA), one of the biggest welfare programmes of the world, was enacted in 2005 and I regret to say that the objectives of this Act have not been achieved. Injustice is being meted out to the lakhs of workers. Under this Act, all the workers, who have a job card, are given opportunity to work for hundred days and their full payment should be made within fifteen days. The payment of Rs. 70 crores is outstanding for the year 2013- 14 for the state of only and Rs. 700 crores is outstanding for the year 2012-15. Government should conduct an inquiry into it. The Central Government should ensure that the guilty officers and 215 those have are doing injustice with the lakhs and crores of workers should be punished. In addition, arrangements should be made for direct payment to the workers.

(Shri Husain Dalwai, Shri Pramod Tiwari, Shri Madhusudan Mistry, Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar associated.)

VII. Honouring People of Eminence on the Eve of Subramanya Bharathi's Birth Anniversary

SHRI TARUN VIJAY: Today is the birth anniversary of Subramanya Bharathi. He was one of the greatest revolutionary poets of Tamil language. He gave a new direction to Tamil language. The Government of Uttar Pradesh must declare his home in Varanasi as a national heritage. There is a great unrest in Tamil Nadu and they feel that Tamil language and great heroes of Tamil language are being ignored in North India and some language is being imposed on them. Even if Tamil is made a national language and introduced in North India, we would welcome this. Let there be an inclusive approach. Let us have statues of Subramanya Bharathi and Thiruvalluvar in Parliament. Let us start learning Tamil in North India. That would be the best tribute to Subramanya Bharathi.

SHRI D. RAJA: Subramanya Bharathi and Thiruvalluvar are greatest poets that the country has every produced.

(Shrimati Kanimozhi, Shri A. Navaneethakrishnan, Shri Dilip Kumar Tirkey, Shri A. K. Selvaraj, Shrimati Vijila Sathyananth, Dr. V. Maitreyan, Shrimati Sasikala Pushpa, Shri Paul Manoj Pandian, Shri S. Thangavelu, Shri A. W. Rabi Bernard and Shri T.K. Rangarajan associated.)

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN), responding to the matter, said: Tamil is also a national language. Tamil is already a national language. 216

VIII. Celebration of Nathuram Godse's Death Anniversary as Shourya Divas

SHRI HUSAIN DALWAI: I want to talk about a serious incident. In Maharashtra, the death anniversary of Nathuram Godse, the killer of Mahatma Gandhi, was celebrated as 'Shourya Divas'. Two former MLAs also participated in it. The Government should give a reply in this regard. This is absolutely wrong.

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SHORT DURATION DISCUSSION Prevailing Agrarian Crisis in the Country SHRI ANAND SHARMA, initiating the discussion, said: India is an agrarian country and its about 65 percent population is dependent on the agriculture. Land holdings of farmer are decreasing and their problems are increasing. Agricultural land is being acquired for infrastructure and developmental projects therefore the policy should be drafted with a view to protect the interests of farmers and availability of foodgrains problem in the country. India ranks second in production of foodgrains in the world. There is shortage of some pulses and edible oils in the country so these are imported in the country.MSP is increased to encourage farmers. Falling prices make an impact on farmers and their families. We had purchased cotton directly from farmers to save cotton growers when prices of cotton were fallen in our Government's regime. Today, prices of cotton have gone down drastically because now China is exporting the cotton instead of importing the same. Textile sector is also not able to support cotton growers due to crisis in prices. Hundred of farmers have committed suicide during the last three years due to this crisis and Government have increased on Rs. 50 in the MSP of cotton. Even purchased done by CCI directly is negligible as compared to last year. Export target for cotton cannot be achieved due to falling prices. I want to ask from the Government that whether there is no sensitivity for farmer in the Government? What steps Government have taken for

217 farmers? Government have taken a decision that farmers will get loan on 7 percent interest. This decision should be corrected by reducing the rate of interest.

Governments have increased the prices of rice and wheat. The price of petrol and diesel has come down in the international market. But your current deficit is increasing, what is the reason behind this? Farmers ensure the food security of the country. We cannot depend on the import. Government has increased the excise duty on diesel and it directly affects the farmer. This year we will not be able to export and it is directly affecting farmers of the country. It is the matter of national concern and Government should consider on it and give relief to the farmers by increasing MSP. Why Government has reduced the procurement? Farmers are committing suicide and Government is answerable to people. The interests of the farmers and poor should be safeguarded and the interest on their loan should be waived off. As per consumer price index farmers and consumers are not getting the benefit of reduced prices of edible oil. So, Government should do something in this regard as it is the matter of concern.

SHRI RAM NARAIN DUDI: We are the agro based country and 75 percent of our populations consist of farmers. It is very unfortunate that the condition of farmers is not good even after the 67 years of independence. Proper attention has not been given towards farmers. Landless farmers and marginal farmers are reeling under the debt and their debt forced them to commit suicide. You have not implemented the suggestions of the commissions to improve the economic condition of the farmers. Farmers would be benefited by the policies made by this Government and will get the remunerative price of their production.

PROF. RAM GOPAL YADAV: Farmers are in distress because agriculture sector is being neglected very much and farmers are not getting the appropriate price of their production. Even sometimes they do not get the cost price of their crop. The cost of production is more than the MSP. Farmers are forced to commit suicide as they have no other option. FCI has stopped procurement of 218 rice and levy has been reduced from 67 percent to 25 percent and rice mill owners have stopped the procurement of paddy from Uttar Pradesh and some other states. As a result, farmers are suffering loss and it is the problem of all the farmers. Fluctuation in the prices of crop should be removed. You can increase the animal husbandry and fisheries as there is no limit in this. Proper arrangement should be made for food processing. I request the Minister that the rate of interest on loan for the farmers should be 4 per and an insurance scheme for farmers should be introduced.

SHRI SUKHENDU SEKHAR ROY: The unbearable burden of debt and increased competition from imports has led to farmers' suicides. The farmers who grow cash crops as well as the marginal farmers are at highest risk. These are the areas which are the cause of rampant suicides by farmers. The farmers or the rural people of India have not benefited from the economic growth of the past 20 years. Because of the protest raised by Swadeshi Jagaran Manch the Government has presently deviated from introducing this GM test trial. If you look at the suicides by farmers in 2014, the State of Maharashtra is heading the list. In West Bengal we are trying to help the farmers in many ways so that they can earn their livelihood. I would appeal to the hon. Minister of Agriculture and the Government to make serious efforts so that farmers' suicide can be combated without any further loss of time.

SHRI K.C. TYAGI: Agriculture used to be considered the best profession in India. But as this sector has been neglected for the last 60-65 years, the farmers of the country are living a very pitiable life. The fortune of the farmers does 'not change with the change in the Government. MSP of the crops has not been raised by the Government as per the commitment made at the time of elections. In comparison of the last year, total three percent increase in MSP with regard to all crops has been made. Sugar cane and cotton growing farmers are agitating for increase in MSP in Nagpur. It is the sugar cane growing farmers who are committing suicides and not the mill owners. But the Government is bailing out the sugar mills by granting loans. With this

219 money the mill owners are living a luxurious life and they are not paying the balance amount of the farmers. Likewise the earlier Government this Government should also waive off the loans of the farmers. About 60 percent land of the country is non-irrigated. More money should be earmarked for the purpose in the Budget. In case a farmer commits suicide because of starvation or debt the direct responsibility of District Magistrate should be fixed. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices should be dissolved and a new Commission consisting of representatives of the farmers and agriculture scientists should be constituted.

SHRI T. RATHINAVEL: When the service sector is emerging to be the engine of our economy, we cannot ignore agriculture sector. Agrarian crisis arise due to various factors like nature's fury and the human indifference. The Government should follow a uniform pattern of 50 per cent subsidy to small and marginal farmers and 35 per cent to other farmers in all blocks. The subsidy for the farmers has been reduced affecting agriculture in a big way.Urea manufacturers in Tamil Nadu may be allowed to continue. Farmers face financial crunch. The Agriculture Insurance mechanism must be strengthened. I urge upon the Centre to take up the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture vigorously. We need the Centre to be liberal with funds to Tamil Nadu.

SHRI RAJPAL SINGH SAINI: It is a very important subject. Farmers are getting disenchanting with agriculture. People are migrating in the cities from villages. Today, the farmers are in diplorable condition. Loan of crores of ruppess was given without interest but the farmers are not getting the proper price of the sugarcane. You have to do something for the welfare of the farmer. An industrialist gets loan even if he has any amount of debt over him but if a farmer has debt, he is put in the jail. No good of the farrmer can be done, till this double policy exists in India. The compensation fixed for the crop is very meagre. The cattle destroy the crops in the field. The unproductive land should be given for setting up industry. It will save the productive land of the farmers.

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The agriculture development centres have to be strengthened. New technologies have to be introduced in the agriculture. The farmer has to be paid remunerative prices of his produce in time. In view of their pitiable condition, do justice with the farmers.

SHRI BHUPINDER SINGH: Why a farmer is not called at the time of fixing the minimum support price? The farmers deposit money for insurance for 3-4 years but what he gets? Make insurance liberal for the farmers. The centre should provide assistance to the States where the State Governments are providing subsidy to the farmers in energy sector. Let a Bill should also come for the welfare of the farmers. If a farmer is paid less, there should be jail for it. The Kalahandi district of Odisha has the best cotton growers. The cotton Corporation of India should purchase all the cotton from my State. The FCI should purchase the discoloured rice. The efforts should be made to save the marginal farmers also.

SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL: The agrarian crisis has not spared any State. The unprecedented crisis has put farmers in acute distress and it is manifested in unfortunate escalation of farmer suicides. Plantation crops should also come under the Ministry of Agriculture. There is a serious crisis in rubber plantations and jute. The rubber price has been reduced so a farmer cannot survive with the rubber farming. There is a serious situation about rubber, tea, jute and other plantation crops. I am requesting to give subsidies to them. The Government is not supporting farmers. Some states are giving bonus to the farmers but the government has directed the State Governments not to give bonus price to the farmers. This will affect the market and farmers in a serious way. Neo-liberal policies have affected agriculture badly. Sugarcane and jute farmers in India are facing acute distress. Thousands of cattle died in many States due to diseases. There is no proper insurance policy. Giving MSP, avoiding middlemen and constructing refrigerated godowns are very important for protecting the farmers' interest. Input prices must be regulated and fertilizer prices be frozen. A comprehensive social

221 security scheme for agricultural workers and strengthening of the MNREGA is also required. All trade negotiations must be transparent.

SHRIMATI GUNDU SUDHARANI: The issue relating to farmers is very important. Telangana is facing agriculture crisis resulting in suicides by farmers. The reasons for agrarian crisis are low rainfall, poorly irrigated regions, consistent failure of the Government to supply power to farmers, non-availability of seeds and fertilizers in time and increase of debt burden on farmers. The Government is not giving farmers remunerative price. The Government should implement the recommendations made by Swaminathan Commission. I urge upon the government to pay more attention to Telangana.

DR. ASHOK S. GANGULY: The farmers of India are the invisible defenders of this nation. Minimum Support Price is legitimate due, not a favour for farmers. India is the second largest producers of fruit and vegetables in the world. Yet, because of the absence of cold-storage tonnes of fruit and vegetables are wasted every year. The biggest challenge that we are facing today is the uncertainty of climate change. I request the government to encourage weather forecasting, which is important to the farmers. If we don't sow and reap in time, everything else falls by the wayside. The biggest dangers facing India is the rapidly-depleting water table. Technology for rejuvenation of water table requires major investment. I request the government to look into this serious issue.

DR. K.P. RAMALINGAM:

SHRI DIGVIJAYA SINGH: During the reign of the UPA government, first time in the country the buying capacity of the rural areas have gone up than the urban areas. The MSP for farmers was increased and loan of farmers was waived off. Today, the farmers are forced to sell their crops on such rates which is far less then minimum ______ Spoke in Tamil 222 support price. The Government has taken a decision that the state which will give the bonus, there MSP would not be apply and there would be no market purchase. Under what law are you stopping them? The farmers are facing lot of difficulty in purchasing the fertilizer. Today there is open black marketing of the fertilizer. It should be controlled. There is lot of difficulty in implementing crop insurance. You need to pay attention on its implementation. I am in favour of bio-organic. If attention is not paid on organic -farming, condition of farmers can not improve. There is need to investigate the causes of suicide by the farmers. I request that full attention should be given on the seeds certification agencies. The training programmes of the farmers need to be increased aggressively. During the last seven months there is loss to the farmers but businessman and traders have earned profit.

DR. SATYANARYAN JATIA: The farmers have been commtting suicide continuously. This is not normal thing. It should be stopped. The labour should not result in death. There is problem of fertilizers, seeds, power and water. What is all your scheme doing? In M.P. the farmers have been given interest free loan. Now the facilities and concession are certainly being given to the farmers there. We have increase the irrigation capacity. We have developed a defensive measure to fight with the draught in Malwa. The Government of has worked to make Narmada-Shipra linkage scheme fruitful. This new Government is making all possible efforts. Due to non-availability of other employment opportunities in the villages, large number of population is leaving the farming and number of the labour is increasing. The people who are being unemployed in the agriculture, there should be arrangement for their rehabilitation. They are getting engaged in construction and labour works, there should be arrangement for such type of training for them. We should do social, economic and political justice with them so that they can live their lives with respect. DR. CHANDRAPAL SINGH YADAV, making his maiden speech said: To make the country self-sufficient, the farmers of the country have to be made self-sufficient. The climate of our country is 223 very good for agriculture. The farmers are continuously trying to get good production in their fields through crop cycle but the poverty of the farmers is increasing day by day. The Governments have made many policies but no one was implemented and the farmers are being deprived because of that. The number of agriculturists is decreasing day by day and therefore more number of people are coming under below poverty line. Today a family of labourers is earning more than the family of farmers. The farmers are forced to migrate to metro cities and doing labour there. The Government should pay attention towards them seriously. I request the Government to provide loans to the farmers at cheaper rate. The Government of Uttar Pradesh has provided loans to the farmers at cheaper rates. The cost on agriculture has to be reduced if we want to strengthen the farmers. Putting all the cost of agriculture together, the Government should take the responsibility of providing at least fifty percent remunerative prices to the farmers. Production and processing centres should be developed at village level. The Government should make arrangement to provide MSP rates to the farmers. The products should not be sold at the rates lower than the stipulated MSP at any cost. The Government should take the responsibility of the survey of availability of ground water and water supply. There should be proper management of surface water also. Proper arrangement of irrigation should be ensured. Today, there is a need of chemical fertilizers and there is shortage of Urea because of wrong policies of the Government. The import from other country should be minimized. There should be proper management of chemical fertilizers and urea. There is need of agricultural research and sufficient budget should be provided for that. Certainly there should be testing of soil so that fertilizers can be used in balanced quantities. The farmers should be provided good seeds. I request the Government that the farmers should be given social security and the Government should make an arrangement of giving pension to the people of above sixty years. Uttar Pradesh Government has implemented accident insurance scheme.

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SHRI D. RAJA: The Indian agriculture continues to be in deep crisis. The agricultural workers live in abject poverty, almost at the verge of pauperization. Farmers don't get remunerative prices. High cost of inputs. There is no credit facilities to our farmers. Natural calamities in the global market, water disputes, lack of irrigation, failure of monsoons, drought and deficit rains have bad impact on our farmers. We are witnessing extreme and acute distress of cotton farmers in different parts of the country. It is the case of cane and paddy growers also. The farm-gate prices of cotton are lower than the MSP announced. Farmers require the crop insurance. The MSP given to paddy growers was very low this year. I now draw your attention to BJP manifesto which said that 50 percent more profitability over the cost incurred would be ensured to all farmers. What is the purpose of having the Committee, which is not doing anything. There is the need to look at the income security guarantee for all farm household. This is a serious issue before us which should be addressed urgently. On WTO negotiations the Government succumbed to the American design which can impoverish our farmers and will adversely affect our agriculture. Agrarian distress will have to be addressed with a sense of urgency. SHRIMATI RAJANI PATIL: I would like to inform the House that forty thousand farmers have committed suicides in Maharashtra, , Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh regions. Only in Maharashtra and particularly in my area Marathwada and Vidarbha one hundred twenty people have committed suicide during the last month. Around 20 thousand out of forty thousand villages in Maharashtra are drought affected. Minimum support price was increased every year during the period of UPA Government. UPA Government promoted export. But today neither MSP has been increased, nor there is any export policy. Export needs to be increased in the field of agriculture and a curb has be put on the import. Today sugarcane grower is in miserable conditions. Farmers are neither getting good price for sugarcane and nor for sugar. We want that there should be a long term policy for farmers in the country. They also require pension. Farmers need to be helped. 225

SHRI NAND KUMAR SAI: Farmers are in a pitiful condition in the country. Since this fertilizer has come, farmer has become a slave. He cannot cultivate without fertilizer. He cannot cultivate without pesticide. Both of these are working as poison. Land has become barren completely. The second biggest problem of farmer is water. Water level has depleted. Attention is to be paid on how to save farmers and their land. Pesticides and fertilizers need to be phased out gradually. Biggest problem of the farmer is that there is a huge difference between the price of products produced by farmers and that of goods produced by factories and mills. When farmer sells his produce and until the product is with farmer, it is quite cheap, but after going to godown its price increases manifold. How to provide them remunerative price for their product needs to be worked out. I think that if farmer is unhappy, the country can never be happy. SHRI SANJAY RAUT: We are all responsible for the plight of our agriculture in the country. Around 3 lakhs farmers have committed suicides during the period from 1995 to 2014. More than 2 lakhs farmers have committed suicides since 2004 till now. Most of the suicides take place in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and . Agriculture Sector provides biggest employment to the country. Around 56 percent people are provided livelihood by farmers, but the same farmer has become unemployed and a beggar in the country. I would request the Government to make such a policy for the farmers that he survives. DR. SANAJY SINH: This is a very serious issue. I feel that the real development of the country will take place only when the development of farmer and agriculture is ensured. Around 2500 people are migrating to other works leaving farming every day. The ordinary farmer of the country has an average income of around 2500 today. SHRI BASAWARAJ PATIL: If there is any second God on the earth who provides food to many people, it is farmer. No country is happy without his happiness. Therefore, I request you that government should provide top priority to prevent the suicides taking place in the states. Agriculture is a subject related to State and Centre. 226

You will have to think over different issues after making a long term policy by holding discussions with agriculture ministers of states in the coming months. Farmers should adopt cattle rearing, plant trees and fruits etc. alongwith agriculture. I request the Government that in consultation with agriculture ministers of all the states and universities, it should bring a fresh scheme next year.

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SHUMSHER K. SHERIFF, Secretary-General. [email protected] ______****Supplement covering rest of the proceedings is being issued separately.

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