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SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES* (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______

Tuesday, July 16, 2019 / Ashadha 25, 1941 (Saka) ______

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

(1) SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE laid a statement regarding

regularisation of services of 'Shiksha Mitra' in Uttar Pradesh.

(2) SHRIMATI SANDHYA RAY laid a statement regarding

development of facilities and beautification of 'Pitambara Devi'

temple in Datiya, Madhya Pradesh.

(3) SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR CHAUDHARY laid a statement

regarding need to run long distance trains on -Shamli-

Saharanpur railway route.

(4) SHRI laid a statement regarding grievances of

Accredited Social Health Activists in Uttar Pradesh.

* Hon. Members may kindly let us know immediately the choice of language (Hindi or English) for obtaining Synopsis of Lok Sabha Debates. * Laid on the Table as directed by the Speaker/Chair. (5) SHRI laid a statement regarding

remedial measures for protection of crops damaged by wild animals in

Uttarakhand.

(6) SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL laid a statement regarding

widening of Rail under Bridge No. 98/2 in Bhiwandi parliamentary

constituency, Maharashtra.

(7) SHRI GOPAL SHETTY laid a statement regarding need to provide

civic amenities in slum areas in , Maharashtra.

(8) SHRI SURESH PUJARI laid a statement regarding abnormal rise in

cancer cases in Bargarh Parliamentary Constituency of Odisha.

(9) SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL laid a statement regarding need to

facilitate availability of Kashmir Willow wood to Sports Industry of

Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

(10) SHRI laid a statement

regarding damages caused by mining activities in Bhilwara district of

Rajasthan.

(11) SHRI laid a statement regarding

villages situated on vacant land of Bokaro Steel Plant, Jharkhand. (12) SHRI MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY laid a statement regarding

need to provide irrigation facility in Dewas Parliamentary

Constituency, Madhya Pradesh.

(13) SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI laid a statement regarding need to ensure

timely issuance of NoC to development projects in the country.

(14) SHRI MANOJ KOTAK laid a statement regarding need to frame

rules and regulations for Pre-Primary Schools in the country.

(15) SHRI GUHARAM AJGALLEY laid a statement regarding need to

augment rail facilities in Janjgir-Champa Parliamentary Constituency,

Chhatisgarh.

(16) SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY laid a statement regarding need to

develop Sohgibarwa wildlife reserve in Maharajgaj Parliamentary

Constituency, Uttar Pradesh as a wildlife safari.

(17) DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT laid a statement regarding

need to introduce irrigation projects/schemes in Nandurbar

Parliamentary Constituency under ISBIG Scheme.

(18) SHRI T. N. PRATHAPAN laid a statement regarding concern over

increase in customs duty of Newsprints.

(19) SHRI H. VASANTHAKUMAR laid a statement regarding supply

of water from Nayyar river to . (20) SHRI HIBI EDEN laid a statement regarding upgradation of Cochin

University of Science & Technology.

(21) SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI laid a statement regarding need to

give crop insurance claim to all farmers.

(22) SHRI laid a statement regarding

Greenfield Airport in Vizianagaram district of .

(23) PROF. SOUGATA RAY laid a statement regarding tackling

unemployment problem in the country.

(24) SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT laid a statement regarding

steps to prevent LED light-fishing in the Konkan region of

Maharashtra.

(25) SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV laid a statement regarding need to set

up a blood bank in Banka district of Bihar.

(26) SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU laid a statement regarding

desilting of irrigation projects in Odisha.

(27) SHRI JAYADEV GALLA laid a statement regarding plight of tenant

farmers in the country.

(28) SHRI K. SUBBARAYAN laid a statement regarding setting up of

Kendriya Vidyalayas in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. (29) SHRI P. RAVEENDRANATH KUMAR laid a statement

regarding setting up of Kendriya Vidyalaya School in Theni Lok

Sabha Constituency, Tamil Nadu.

(30) SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN laid a statement regarding

utilization of HPCL property.

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UNION BUDGET 2019-2020

DEMANDS FOR GRANTS 2019-2020

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways- Contd.

SHRI S. C. UDASI: The Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkariji has laid

Foundation stone in the year 2018 for augmentation of NH-218 from Bijapur to

Hubballi which is being grounded and also announced in principle approval of new

National Highways. The present status of these projects is presented below:

MORTH approved in principle the declaration of the Sankeshwar - Yaragatti -

Munavalli - Nargund Road Junction of NH-48 (old NH 4) near Sankeswar connecting Gokak, Yaragatti, Munavalli, terminating at junction with NH-52(Old

NH 218) near Nargund; Naragund - Belavanki- Gajendragad - Kushtagi-

Tavargere - Sindhaur on NH 150 ANH Division, Hubballi; Naragund-Gadag- Mundaragi-Itagi-Jagalur Road in the State of Karnataka and Karwar-Kaiga-

Mundagod-Savanur-Gadag-Gajendraghad Road in the State of Karnataka. The positive steps should be taken to accord approval for these projects at the earliest.

Request your kindself to reduce the length of approach embankment from

Ranebennur side to under pass work going on at chainage 313+473 of NH-

4(AH47) near Chatra village in Haveri Distt. Karnataka state. Request your kind self to construct one underpass of two bays of 12 mts width on Hulihalli-kunbev district road at change 305 Km in Haveri district. Further Ranebennur town

APMC Mega Market is also coming up at this chainage. Keeping in mind development within span of six to eight months and also to avoid traffic jam, accidents it is most necessary to construct one underpass. Reconstruction of existing Vehicular Under Pass(VUP) at Chalageri Village, Haveri District should be undertaken for solving present water logging problem. Construction of an underpass at Ejarelkamapur, Devihosur Road, Haveri 335.00 Km. area of NH-4 should be undertaken.

SHRIMATI GITABEN VAJESINGHBAI RATHVA: There is no national highway in tribal dominated area of my parliamentary constituency.

Through you, I would like to request the Hon'ble Minister that in view of heavy public demand, our area should be connected with National Highway number 8.

That road from Ankleshwar National Highway No.8 to Rajpipla is being constructed. It should be connected with Tankhla Kawat and Kukshi National

Highway of Madhya Pradesh via Statue of Unity, Sardar Sarovar. National

Highway 8 Halot to Alirajpur to Pavagarh Shivrajpur Bodeli, Chota Udaipur,

Madhya Pradesh should be upgraded to National Highway. The road is being constructed from Vadodra to Padra, the work on 35 Kilometres stretch from Padra to Jammu Sar is still pending, work related to widening of road is still to be completed. It should be completed at the earliest.

SHRI RATANSINH MAGANSINH RATHOD: Network of National

Highways has rapidly expanded since Modi Government came to power, hence, I expect that this momentum will be maintained. Ahmadabad- Indore National

Highway No. 47 is in dilapidated condition between Ahmadabad and Godhra, therefore, repairing work of this stretch of National Highway should be undertaken to check accidents.

SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE : Network of roads has rapidly expanded during last five years. Sanction for construction of flyover from K.K.

Wagh College to Jatra Hotel crossing in Nasik city and four laning of Sinnar-Shirdi

Road has been given. Work of six laning of Vadape – Gonde road should be started at the earliest. There is a missing length of National Highway No. 3 and old

National Highway from Dwarka to Datta Mandir. Upgradation of this missing length of 5.9 kms to National Highway and construction of flyover there have been announced. This work should be included in Programme on priority basis and its work should be started at the earliest. Sinnar - Ghoti-

Trimbakeshwar – Jawhar –Mokhada – Palghar State Highway has been upgraded to National Highway No. 160. Work on this project should also be started at the earliest. Wadivarhe- Sakur-Shinde-Sayyad- Pimpri State Highway should be upgraded to National Highway. It will facilitate construction of ring road of

National Highway 848 in outskirt of Nasik city as a result of which traffic will be reduced and pollution will be checked in the city.

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: For the development of a country, its road network must be strong and each region of the country must have road network. Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways declared 2018-19 as 'Year of

Construction' and has been making constant efforts to expand and upgrade the network of National Highway as a result of construction in kms grew at the rate of

30 kms per day in 2018-19 as compared to 12 kms per day in 2014-15. My

Constituency is a tribal area and this Government sanctioned a number of National

Highways there. Under Bharatmala Project, National Highway connecting Dhule to Nandurbar should be extended to Shahada-Dhadgaon-Pimpalkhuta-Vadfali-

Dediapada-Baroda. Ankaleshwar-Burhanpur road should be upgraded as National

Highway. It is most important road for my Constituency and also for Raver,

Burhanpur and Bharuch Constituencies. A four-lane bypass road for Nandurbar city should be sanctioned. Work on Shevali-Nandurbar-Taloda-Ankaleshwar

National Highway, Visarwadi-Kalamba road, Kalamba-Kolde road and Sakri-

Pimpalner Satana road should be started at the earliest. Work of Surat-Amravati

National Highway was started three years back but from last one year, the construction work is stopped. This issues may be solved at the earliest. Roads under Central Road Funds scheme should be sanctioned in my Constituency so that people have good connectivity there.

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: Road transport is vital to ’s economy. Road network in India is critical to the country development, social integration and security needs of the country. Comprehensive restructuring of

National Highways Programme has been done to ensure creation of National

Highways Grid of desirable capacity. For infrastructure sector, it has been proposed to increase special additional excise duty, and road and infrastructure cess. This will generate more funds for infrastructure investment. NHAI is also expected to raise equity by monetizing more assets. The ambitious programme of

Bharatmala would help develop national road corridors and highways. Government has streamlined the exit policy, land acquisition has been expedited, and one-time fund infusion scheme has been introduced. The government has revived the highway sector . Sagarmala is another ambitious programme of the Government under which an investment of Rs 8 trillion is envisaged until 2035. SHRI SANJAY SETH: National highways play an important role in the socio-economic development of the country. I would like to draw the attention of the Government towards the following Highways connected with my parliamentary constituency Ranchi. The work of four laning on NH-75 from

Ranchi to Kudu should be completed by National Highways Authority of India

(NHAI). Also, four laning of road from Kudu to Latehar, Latehar to Padwa Mor,

Padwa Mor to Garhwa and Garhwa to Wyndhamganj should be done. I urge that in view of the importance of NH-75, it should be converted into four lane. An elevated road should be constructed from Hehal to Zakir Hussain Park in Ranchi.

The work of four laning of NH-33 in Jharkhand should be speeded up.

SHRIMATI SHARDA A. PATEL: Better roads are the reflection of the better infrastructure. The Government is laying emphasis on the construction of highways since the beginning. Setting the target for expansion and development of roads under Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana shows the determination of the

Government towards the development of roads. I request the government to have such construction technology which will create employment opportunities at local level. Also, economical and well maintained rest rooms should be constructed on the highways for the vehicle drivers.

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL - I support the demands for grants of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. I urge that in my parliamentary constituency Maharajganj, Bihar the road from Siwan to

Paigambarpur, Manjhi to Barauli, Tajpur to Mashrak via Ekma and Taraiya to

Satjora via Panapur may be upgraded to the status of national highway and should be constructed at the earliest. Also, the sub-standard work done at National

Highway No.101(old No.) should be enquired into by a high level team and strict action may be taken against the concerned contractor and engineers.

SHRI : NH-75 which passes through Padwa in my constituency to Wyndhamganj is in dilapidated condition. I request you to repair it at the earliest. Construction work on Garhwa bypass should be started as soon as possible. Compensation should be paid for the land and houses acquired for the construction of four lane road on NH-98 between Sildag to Hariharganj. It should not be separated from the Bharatmala project and construction work should be started immediately.

DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHYAL: All over the country, national highways are being constructed. The people of the country could never have imagined such good roads. I am grateful to the Hon. Minister for sanctioning six national highways in my Constituency. The road distance from Bhavnagar to

Surat or Mumbai is 450-600 kms. If the government develops the waterway from

Ghoga Port, Bhavnagar to Surat and Mumbai, the distance would only be 35 kms. Bhavnagr-Somnath highway is being constructed very slowly. I request that necessary directions be issued to the concerned company to expedite this.

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: The budget aims to construct 1.25 lakh kms. of road at a cost of Rs. 80,250 crores. Bharatmala project will help the states to develop roads. To make electric vehicles cheaper, GST has been lowered from

12 per cent to 5 per cent. Concrete steps be taken to complete the National

Highways in my Constituency. A bypass on NH-75 can be constructed from

Kinamod to Hautwag, as no major river or rail line falls on this route. Latehar bypass be sanctioned and its construction should begin. There is a need to construct a bypass at Chatra district headquarters. Ranchi ring road, Ratu-

Thakurganj-Piparwar-Tandwa-Simriya has been recommended. This route should not be changed, as this would serve two Lok Sabha Constituencies – Ranchi and

Chatra. Rail overbridge should be constructed at the earliest in Latehar district at

Tori – Chatra, Dobhi road near Tori station.

SHRI AJAY BHATT: The work done by the Minister of Road and

Highways in connecting remote areas, border areas and strategic places is unprecedented. After some years travel to Kailash Mansarovar by road would be possible. My Lok Sabha Constituency faces massive jams. The government should make plans to prevent jams in cities, and bypasses be constructed around such cities for which the Centre should provide CRF funds. The road to Haridwar under construction since several years is yet to be completed. The all weather

Chardham road and Tanakpur to Pitthoragarh road is being constructed very slowly. There is a long pending demand for a Kandi road through Corbett National

Park to link Kumaon and Garhwal. The company which is constructing NH-74 in district Udham Singh Nagar has not constructed any service lanes along the sides of the flyover constructed over the railway crossing from Rudrapur towards

Kashipur. Due to the utter negligence of this Company and the officials, twelve passengers have lost their lives and several were injued. Toll is being levied on this national highway at Kichcha road, whereas not even 50 per cent work has been done for which NOC was issued. This should be investigated and all concerned including officials be punished for causing the death of more than 12 persons.

SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE: Please consider the following demands, Bhandaro-Tumsar to be declared as National Highway and Parni

(Sindpur) to Lakhandare Road (MDK) to be declared as State Highway.

SHRI AJAY TAMTA: The announcement in principle has been made for

(1) Ranikhet, Bhatroujkhan, Mohan (2) Ranikhet, Khairna; please make formal sanction thereof at the earliest. Three bypasses for Champawat bypass, Lohaghat bypass and Pithoragarh bypass are required to be constructed urgently. The proposal and DPR for this is pending with the . Funds should be released on priority for the purpose. Inclusion of bypass from Lodhiya to Pandekhola on NH -109 is also required. The proposal and DPR for improvement and widening of NH-309-B from Almora to Dhar, NH-109 from Kwakh to

Dwarson, NH-109 from Choukhutia to Panduwakhal is pending with the

Government of India, which may please be sanctioned. A bridge is required at

Dhangari Nala and Panor Nala near Ramnagar Garsiya on NH-121.

SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI (BARABHAI) PATEL : You are requested to change route from Khambat-Kavi-Jambusar instead of Khambhat -

Gambhira bridge - Karjan (on NH 48) and approve the same bridge with a joining coastal Highway please.

SHRI RAKESH SINGH: The four laning work of NH-7, NH-12 and NH-

12A passing through Jabalpur is in progress. The construction work of the said three roads should be completed in the stipulated time period. The concerned department should be given directions in this regard and along with it necessary action should be taken for making CRF fund available for upgradation of main roads of my parliamentary constituency Jabalpur. Earlier, the Government had given approval to the longest proposed 112 kilometres of ring road in Madhya

Pradesh. Therefore, the State Government should be directed to fulfill the required formalities of the said ring road so that the construction process of the said road may be initiated. THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS AND

MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI

NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) replying said: Our Government has accorded priority to infrastructural development during the last 5 years. My department has awarded works amounting to approximately Rs. 17 lakh crore during the last five years of which Rs. 11 lakh crore is in road sector. During that period, the contribution of my department to the GDP has been 2.75 to 3 per cent. The ambitious program of Bharatmala Pariyojana will see the development of roads of more than 65,000 kms on which my Ministry has already begun work. Now, we are also thinking to go into the capital market and take the money from the common people for financing this project. We are constructing 22 green express highways. Mumbai-Delhi Highway is one of them. This highway will pass through the backward and tribal areas. We are undertaking a pilot project in which trucks will be operated on electricity, initially for 10 kms. . On successful trial, the trucks will run at the speed of 100 kms. per hour and the cost of transportation will be very less. If the State Governments make land available after acquisition, we can issue work orders after tendering for road construction. These projects are financed on BOT basis entailing inevitability of toll. Besides this, we have adopted Hybrid

Annuity Model (HAM). Projects worth Rs. 2 lakh crore have been sanctioned under HAM. We have adopted an innovative method of mobilising funds. We are monetizing assets too. If toll is charged on the roads, roads will have to be maintained in good condition. Now, Fast Tags will be made compulsory for all vehicles as a result of which the vehicles will not have to wait at toll plazas. Road safety is also a major concern. I have warned the officers in my department that our roads and road engineering are responsible for the deaths on roads. We are improving the 'Black Spots' on the roads. I am pained to accept that though my department has been successful on every front, yet, sadly, we have not achieved the desired target in reducing the number of road accidents. There is a shortage of

25 lakh drivers in the country. I have formulated a scheme of Driving Training

Centres. I want to tell all the hon. Members that I am ready to give you all one

Driving Training Centre in each constituency especially in tribal and backward areas. People are in possession of 3 to 4 licences. They neither visit the RTO office, nor do they take tests yet their licences are issued. This way, unskilled persons manage to obtain driving licence. We must enforce the rules and laws for the safety of the people. The new Bill provides that in case of road accidents, the kin of the victim will get a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh within 3 months. If someone wants higher compensation, he can move to the court. Additionally, provision has been made for cashless treatment within the Golden Hour. National

Highways have been constructed complying with the IRC standards. Today, the

ADB has accorded in-principle approval to the projects worth Rs. 7000 crore. In the next few days, World Bank clearance is also likely. Encroachment along the roads is also a threat to road safety. Our Government has enforced BS-4 norms for vehicles and BS-6 norms will be enforced with effect from 01 April, 2020. This is helping us reduce pollution. There are 400 buses of Nagpur Municipal Corporation which are being converted to run on Methane extracted from sewage. Now, non- polluting vehicles are being promoted. Air conditioned electric bus costs Rs. 50 per kilometer. If we reduce the fare by 25 per cent, we can enable the poor to travel by air conditioned buses. We want to adopt London Transport Model for the entire country. India is set to become number one automobile manufacturer in the world.

Besides, we will be a major hub of electric automobile manufacturing. As far as fuel and vehicles are concerned, it is my duty as minister of transport to ensure that imports are less, pollution is also less, safety is taken care of, comfort level is good, it is cost effective and job opportunities for youth are also created and that is what we have done. As many as 62 hon. Members have put across their projects here in the House. I am not speaking in detail about all projects as it will consume a lot of time. However, I have directed my Secretary to prepare a list of all the projects of all Members and resolve their problem within a 15 days time period and then report back to me. In fact, I dream of a Session of Parliament when no Member will approach me with any problem. The issue relating to CRF has also been raised. A provision has been made in this year's budget that the entire fund under the CRF will be given to the State Governments. However, I cent per cent agree with the sentiments of hon. Members on this issue. I have spoken to the hon. Minister of

Finance and the hon. Speaker in this regard. I will request them that the Member must have his/her say for allocation under this fund as most of their works are carried out on the basis of allocation under this fund. Now, we have changed the model for construction of roadside amenities. Earlier, we used to earmark seven acres of land but now we have set aside 10 acres of land on both sides of the road and a glass building will be constructed in the middle of the road with a 30-40 thousand sq. ft. area. Plot of land will also be earmarked for restaurant, landscaping, garden, parking, helipad, handloom and handicraft shops in this area. Such buildings will be constructed in every district. Tenders will be issued and it will also create job opportunities. There is no dearth of funds. Funds are available for all the development works we intend to carry out. I would request you all that you may keep record of what I say here today and if any of the development work I talk about here today, is not completed within time schedule, then you can move a motion against me. I, therefore, state with all the authority at my command that I will fulfil all the promises I make here on the floor of this august House. Our country had 96,000 kms. of national highway, now we have one lakh thirty seven thousand kms. of national highway. Knowledge and technology is very important but conversion of technology into wealth is the future of the country. We intend to carry out development works in the country keeping in mind the welfare of village, poor, labourer and farmer while using the best available technology. As far as lithium battery is concerned, ISRO has also undertaken some research and has come out with some models. ARAI has done testing in this regard and further research is going on.

The cost of the lithium battery is on higher side for its use in the buses. The weight of the lithium battery is also very high. The Government is formulating a policy to encourage the Indian manufactures for manufacturing of lithium batteries in India. A lot of research is going on in this field and I am quite hopeful that our scientists will surely come out with some alternatives to lithium in next one or one and a half year and the cost of this battery will come down. One hon. Member talked about investment. Mode of investment varies from project to project. Bharatmala project is worth Rs. 8.5 lakh crore. Out of it, 40 per cent is hybrid project, 60 per cent funds will be made available by banks. If some project is under BOT, then 100 per cent investment will be made by them. If some project is carried out under EPC, the

Government will raise the funds and make the funds available to them. Overall methodology is clear in this regard. We have also prepared a new model for banks in this regard. I would, therefore, request all the hon. Members to pass the Demands for

Grants of my Department.

All the cut motions moved were withdrawn. All the Demands for Grants were voted in full.

UNION BUDGET -2019-2020

DEMANDS FOR GRANTS-2019-2020

Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Agriculture and

Farmers Welfare

SHRI UTTAM KUMAR REDDY initiating said: The Ministry of

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was expected to spend Rs.75,753 crore in 2018-

19 as per the Revised Estimates. However, the provisional accounts maintained by the CGA suggests that the Ministry’s expenditure in 2018-19 was Rs.53,000 crore which is Rs.22,000 crore less than the Revised Estimates. I would like the

Government to let us know as to how a 29 per cent shortfall could have taken place in the Ministry of Agriculture. The present Government’s low priority to agriculture, inadequate support price, inefficient procurement systems and flawed crop insurance mechanism have resulted in the Indian farming community being pushed into an existential crisis. This Government, instead of addressing the issue of farmers’ suicides, prevented NCRB from giving data on farmers’ suicides after

2016. Besides, I would urge the Government to bring in a law so that tenant farmers can be eligible for bank and institutional finance. In September, 2018, the

Government announced PM-AASHA scheme, whose purpose is to ensure that everyone of 14.50 crore farmers in India is able to get the benefit of MSP. But the allocation for PM-AASHA in this Budget is only Rs.1500 crore. With Rs.1500 crore, does the Government expect to make sure that the benefit of MSPs reach

14.50 crore farmers in this country? I wish to bring into the notice of the

Government that in the State of Telangana, thousands of cotton, chilly and turmeric farmers have committed suicides in the last so many years. There is a long-pending demand for setting up a Turmeric Board in Nizamabad area, a concentrated area for growing turmeric. I wish to remind the Government that the assurance of the Government must be kept up and the Turmeric Board must be set up in Nizamabad. I also wish to suggest that the Government could use NREGA labour in agricultural works like for sowing, etc., it would bring down the cost of farmers. So far as the calculation of MSP is concerned, they are not taking the

‘C2’ costs into account, they are taking the cost of inputs as ‘A2’ and cost of farm labour as ‘FL’ and only giving ‘A2’+’FL’. So, they should include ‘C2’ cost also.

At last, I wish to appeal to the Government that items like fertilizers, pesticides, tractors and other agricultural machineries used for agriculture must be on the lowest slab of GST.

DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI: I rise to speak in support of the

Demands for Grants Number 1, 2, 3, 9, 30 and 84 enumerated in the Budget relating to Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Agriculture and

Farmers Welfare. The farmers used to produce foodgrains but they were not able to get the benefits of their produce for want of the resources. Today, the Government has addressed the problem of the shortage of the resources.

Moreover, our Government has made efforts to enhance the income of the farmers.

The procurement centres have been determined for the procurement of their produce. Today, I can say that the way the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and the Minister of Rural Development have brought the Budget will certainly go a long way in making the farmers prosperous and self-reliant. It is the stewardship, farsightedness and the intention of the Prime Minister which will establish our country as ‘Shrestha Bharat’ and make us successful in doubling the income of farmers by the year 2022. The Government has also made an announcement that each farmer will be provided an amount of Rs.6000 under the Pradhan Mantri

Samman Nidhi Yojana. Similarly, through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Nidhi Yojana, farmers would be able to meet the expenses of their domestic needs and with the help of this scheme they can also be saved from the clutches of moneylenders.

Also, pension benefits to the elderly farmers have been ensured by the Government through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana. The Government has also launched a very ambitious scheme namely Soil Health and Fertility Scheme for farmers which has proved very beneficial for the farmers. Government has also launched a new scheme namely Zero Budget Natural Farming and farmers can double their yield by adopting this form of farming. Similarly, steps are being taken to set up a common E-mandi platform across the country. Apart from that, Government has increased the Minimum Support Price with regard to 22 crops.

Today, urea is easily available to the farmers on time at an affordable price.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana have proved very beneficial for the farmers at grass root level. The Government has also given more emphasis to agriculture research and agriculture education.

This Government is committed to increase the income of farmers. So, Government has made endeavours for infrastructure development in the agriculture sector.

Similarly, a separate new department called Department of Fisheries has been constituted by the Government to promote fisheries. In this Budget, all the schemes have been formulated with a great focus on the development of villages.

So, Budgetary allocation for MNREGA has also been increased. For Pradhan

Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Rs.19,000 crore have been allocated in this Budget.

Under the second phase of Gramin Awas Yojana, approximately 1.95 crore new houses are likely to be built. Now, I would like to mention about some of the problems of my area. I represent Deoria Parliamentary Constituency which is an agriculture-based area. Unfortunately, there is no institute for agriculture-related research, education and technical know-how in this area. So, I would like to urge upon the Government that Baba Raghavdas Post-graduate College should be accorded the status of University to promote agricultural development. Secondly, I would also like to say that there was a sudden heavy downpour in our Eastern district due to which farms were inundated and crops were damaged. So, I would like to request that this type of loss should also be covered in the insurance scheme. I have a firm belief that India will gain a new height in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry and rural development through these efforts.

*SHRI S. S. PALANIMANICKAM: I wholeheartedly remember

Muthamizh Arignar Dr. Kalaignar who had identified and nurtured me and my

Gnanaguru Shri Murasoli Maran who guided me to Parliament holding my hands and my mentor and guide on Parliamentary practices and procedures. Our poultry research organization should compete with other MNCs in this field. Government should go for fixing of price for eggs. We are the third largest producer of fish in the world. Through international law of sea, the lives of fishermen be protected ensuring their security. Our fishermen and their lives should be protected by our

Army and Navy. Our fish exports will then improve leading to more foreign exchange. The nationalized banks and private banks should give at least 18 percent of their loan disbursal to farmers. Dairying, poultry and fisheries should also be given importance. By preserving the perishable items we can help in increasing the income of farmers. Farmers should get remunerative prices for their agricultural produce. We should mitigate the sufferings of the farmers.

* Original in Tamil. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL: India lives in its villages because rural India comprises of 67 per cent of the total Indian population. This majority population lags far behind the urban standard in all terms. Farmers' income witnessed a record 14-year low in October to December 2018. Agriculture sector could have found its benefit in this Budget but it has failed to do so. Allocation for the Ministry of Rural Development has fallen from 4.7 per cent in 2018-19 to 4.4 per cent in 2019-20 in terms of its share in the total Budget. Pradhan Mantri

Ujjwala Yojana Scheme is not as bright as depicted because the Government added existing BPL subscriber number of almost 1.7 crore people just to create a hype.

Also, 13 per cent or 3.25 crore LPG consumers are inactive. Under Pradhan

Mantri Awas Yojana, no block or district level reporting on the Scheme exists.

Only State level data is available. Till December 2018, only 8 per cent of the target was achieved. 'Housing for All by 2022' is an absolute political gimmick. It is a great initiative that Jal Shakti Mantralaya has been constituted. In agriculture, we were expecting structural changes which amounted to be nil in this Budget.

PDS system does not undertake procurement operation for 24 crops for which the

Minimum Support Price is announced. Loan waiving and economic support is not the key to resolve the problems of this sector. Had it been so, we would have witnessed a decrease in suicides of farmers. Without any reform in fertilizer subsidy scheme, it is unrealistic to expect the farmers to switch to organic farming. SHRI : Being a first time Member, this is my maiden speech in the House. Rural India is suffering from chronic economic distress, high rate of unemployment and farmers' suicide continue to rise.

The Government has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana and has proposed to allocate Rs. 50,000 crore. However, in the last five years, actual allocation made was only Rs. 9,050 crore. If really farmers' income is doubled, their children will not have to look for jobs outside and thus migration will be reduced. I hail from Rayalaseema, which is a drought prone and rain shadow area with insufficient water resources due to which people are migrating to other States.

I would request the Government to allocate PMKSY funds to modernize canals and construct Siddeswaram weir and a reservoir at Gundrevula in Kurnool district on Tungabhadra River to provide water facility so that the distressed migration and water crisis can be reduced. I request the Central Government to locate the office of Krishna River Management Board in Kurnool. My constituency, Nandyal, is one of the biggest seed production centres in India. Rayalaseema is blessed with all diverse kinds of soils and crops and with the help of Centre, we can do wonders in seed production. Nearly 1000 acres of land is available in my constituency. We want an agriculture college and a research centre there. Government should consider commissioning agriculture specific satellite. SHRI DEVENDRA SINGH BHOLE: There has been large scale exodus of rural youths to cities and metropolitan cities in absence of employment. Being a representative of Kanpur Dehat, I have felt this plight of villages. Arga, Etawah,

Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Fatehpur and Allahabad districts have similar conditions as to Bundelkhand but these areas do not get equal allocation for drought relief and other facilities. I have raised a demand to provide equal facilities like Bundelkhand to these areas but the said areas are still to be put in the category of Bundelkhand and these are deprived of benefits. Kindly provide facilities similar to Bundelkhand to the districts mentioned above.

SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH: The Government has accorded greater importance to the agriculture sector in the budget and put its consistent effort to strengthened the agricultural economy by making the food- giver farmer as energy-giver, Zero Budget Agriculture and Soil Health Card

System. Long term schemes have also been put in place with a view to double the income of farmers by the year 2022. Setting up of a large number agriculture production organizations will provide greater opportunities for the farmers to market their produce. The Government has already made the country self-sufficient in production of pulses. The Government is trying to resolve the irrigation problems of the farmers by constituting the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The

Government is also putting efforts to bring drastic changes in the villages by the schemes such as Ujjwala Yojana, Saubhagya Yojana and Tap For Every

Household And Water For Every House scheme targeted upto 2024. The

Government is also determined to construct a house in a period of 140 days to provide houses for all. Under the rural digital literacy scheme 2 crore villages are likely to be covered which will connect them at the country level and globally as well.

SHRI NARENDRA KUMAR : I would like to give some suggestions for doubling the income of farmers. Support price for all the crops growing in the state should be announced. The support price should be announced before sowing of crops. Procurement process should be simplified. Farmers should get the payment of crops procured on time. There should be a provision for punitive action against buyers buying below the MSP. Certified and high quality seeds of

Kharif crop should be made available as per demand to farmers on time. A rake point should be made for fertilizers in Jhunjhunu so that fertilizers could be made available before sowing season. A provision should be made to provide grants on seeds to private sector so that there should be uniformity in rates of seeds in the market.

SHRI BHAGIRATH CHAUDHARY: Government is making constant efforts to double the income of farmers by 2022 during the 75th anniversary of

India’s independence under which Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Aasha Yojana, Kisan Pension Yojana, Mrida Card Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal

Bima Yojana, Zero Budget Farming Scheme, Prdhan Mantri Matsya Sampada

Yojana, Pashudhan Bima Yojana, M.S.P. Yojana etc. are included. Increasing the

M.S.P. of 22 crops of Kharif and rabi by one and a half times is favourable for farmers. Cultivation of moong, moth, gwar and oil seeds should be included in

M.S.P.. Provision of Canals should be made for providing water to the farms of each farmer by connecting rivers of the country. There are only two sources of the income of farmer i.e. agriculture and live stocks. So their loss should be fully compensated.

I request that the limit of minimum support price on purchase should be abolished; the grants on fertilizer and seeds should be directly provided to farmers in their accounts; Food processing system should be developed strongly; grants and targets for solar pumps should be increased; damage to crops by the locust attack should be controlled in ; the grants and targets for hauz and diggis constructed on the tube-well of each farmer should be increased; simplify the process of providing electricity connection to the farmers in Rajasthan and announcement of providing grants on each Bill of farmers should be adhered to and grants should be increased also.

SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT : India is an agricultural country and there is significant contribution of agriculture sector in Gross Domestic Product. In this Budget the allocation for fertilizer subsidy has been enhanced to

Rs.79,996 crore from Rs.70,090 crore. There is proposal to implement the nascent pilot project of ‘Zero budget farming’ throughout the country. In this budget

Rs.3,737 crores has been allocated to enhance the infrastructure, modernization, production, productivity and quality control in the field of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying. The Government is committed to make farmers energy provider and self-reliant. 10,000 new Farer Producer Orgnaisations (FPO) will be constituted. The budget is pro-village, poor and farmer. In my Parliamentary

Constituency, Vadodara, 1 lakh 42 thousand farmers have been benefited by

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. I would like to say that an Organic

University should be set up in my Parliamentary Constituency, Vadodara for its all round development.

SHRI K. SUBBARAYAN: The Union Budget 2019-20 has failed to address the looming drought situation in the country and deep crisis in the agriculture sector. There is no mention even about the rural credit, remunerative prices for crops, farmers suicides etc. 50 percent of our population depends on agriculture but their contribution to GDP is steadily declining due to slow growth rate of agriculture. The loan waiver scheme should be applicable for the loans taken from institution other than banks also. The Prime Minister Kissan Scheme should be applicable for tenant farmers. The Minimum Support Price for crops should be fixed as per recommendations of the M.S. Swaminathan Committee

Report. The present crops Insurance Scheme should be reviewed and revised so as to benefit the farmers and not the Insurance companies.

Another problem the farmers are facing is laying of the high-voltage power lines over the farm lands. It should not be allowed and alternate methods should be adopted like laying underground cables through National Highways. Government has no policies to create jobs in the rural India. There are thousands of villages which are still not provided with electricity in their houses. More than 50% of the villages do not have road connectivity with the cities. Many villages in India do not get good potable water. Therefore, I appeal that instead of celebrating only the schemes as achievements the Government should allocate adequate funds and create infrastructure for the implementation of the schemes.

SHRI S. GNANATHIRAVIAM : Agriculture is backbone of our economy. Farmers face hardships in getting bank loans. I urge the Union

Government to improve the prevailing situation. The Government should ensure hassle-free bank loans especially for the small, medium and marginal farmers. The

Government has announced a plan for doubling the income of farmers in next 5 years and for it practical difficulties should be identified and rectified. The long term measures should be taken to solve the problems like continuous drought, depletion of ground water table, inadequate supply of water at the appropriate time of cultivation.

Last year Tamil Nadu faced floods and incessant rain. This year it has been affected of severe drought. In such a situation some relief measure should be taken to protect the interest of farmers of Tamil Nadu. All the rivers of country should be interlinked. Nationalization of rivers would be permanent solution for problems arising out of inter-state water disputes. The Government should allocate more funds for proper maintenance and use of existing dams and water reservoir in the country. The deepening and de-silting of local water bodies and lakes is crucial.

The cost of agricultural inputs is increasing, so remunerative price should be provided for their produce. The professions like cattle rearing, dairying, poultry farming and fishing should encouraged. I urge the Government to take all possible steps to improve the socio-economic status of farmers in the country.

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: Good schemes have been formulated for the farmers, but the constraints which the farmers face in getting the benefit thereof, need to be reviewed. Crop loans should be provided to the farmers before the sowing season so that they could sow their crops with the seeds and fertilizers of their choice. Only 12-13 per cent farmers have been able to get crop loans in my Parliamentary Constituency of Buldhana. In order to double the income of farmers by the year 2022, the Government must support the farmers. During the last 2-4 years, Marathwada and Vidharba areas have witnessed severe droughts. In such a condition, the crop loans of farmers must be reconstituted. Till date, such loan reconstitutions have benefited only 3-4 per cent farmers. If the farmers are provided with water for irrigation, quality seeds for sowing and remunerative prices for their crops - these three things, the Government will not need to give any aid or package for the farmers. I would urge upon the Minister of Agriculture to link the MNREGA Scheme directly with agriculture and farmers. The crop insurance scheme for farmers is very good, however, this scheme needs to be reviewed. This scheme is benefiting the insurance companies more instead of the farmers. The risk level for crops of farmers must be covered up to 90 per cent instead of 70 per cent. If 'Ayushmaan Bharat' card is provided to the farmers also, a number of suicides could be prevented. If the inter-linking project of rivers is fulfilled through the Jalshakti Ministry, it will give benefit to the farmers. In my constituency, under survey for inter-linking of rivers project, survey work from

Bainganga to Nalganga is in progress. It is my request that this may be extended up to Painganga as it will benefit the 7 districts of Marathwada and Vidarbh and could bring out all these 7 districts from the scourge of drought. If instalments are deducted from the Kishan Samman Yojana for the Kishan Pension Yojana, it will give benefit to the farmers in the longer run. Soil health cards may be issued in local languages so that the farmers could understand them. SHRI KAUSHLENDRA KUMAR: Agriculture in our country is dependent on Nature. Natural calamities such as excessive rain and floods etc. causes huge damage to life and property. Therefore, special attention should be given to disaster management. Agriculture Sector should be developed like industries to promote the agriculture development rate up to 7 per cent which was

2.9 per cent in the year 2018-19. Irrigation, the major problem of farmer should be resolved by linking the rivers. The problems of farmers like not getting the remunerative price of their crops, lack of storage facilities and connecting sparsely populated towns to cities through roads should be best dealt with. The villages left out in Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana should be immediately included in pilot project. The Phasal Yojana brought by the Government should be converted to

Shatipurti Phasal Yojana and the premium of Phasal Bima should be reduced.

SHRIMATI POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM: The Budget focuses on 'gaon, gareeb and kisan' and it reflects the increase of 72-75 per cent in budgetary allocation for agriculture over the interim budget for agriculture sector.

The Government has been connecting Indian towns and villages in this era of global village through its Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Substantial allocation has been made in agriculture sector and rural development. The

Government has come up with mechanisms and new policy in the interest of farmers and their welfare. The Government is planning to build 1.95 crore houses under PMAY-G. I urge upon the Government to provide more funds for agriculture based states like which are affected by drought. There is a need to address the problems of irrigation and drinking water in Saurashtra region of Gujarat

Technological intervention through '' is playing a new and pivotal role through e-NAMs; where 585 mandis have been linked with e-NAM and 22,000 mandis across the country will be linked by Financial Year 2022. In my

Constituency Jamnagar and Devbhoomi Dwarka district a large number of farmers are benefitted from Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. I urge the

Government to release subsidy through the State Government to assist farmers in times of distress due to drought and there is a need to make the premium under the Prime Fasal Bima Yojana farmer friendly. The Budget is a "Green Budget" with focus on reforms in agriculture sector. There is a need to improve the PMFBY by putting a control on Private Insurance Companies. The budget should provide ecosystem support and incentivize the universities and companies that are willing to focus on R&D and innovations in the agriculture sector. Focus is required in the deployment of IT and technology based solutions for procurement, development of high-quality seeds, efficient modes of irrigation, better farming practices and online platform to connect farmers and consumers. India has acquired a new image at global level due to which our relations with other countries have become stronger. DR. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA : The Prime Minister has taken a new initiative of doubling of farmers income. The Government has proposed to provide six thousand rupees to farmers per annum. The Government has not only made announcement for the irrigation scheme but made provision for it in the budget.

Today there is no pulse crisis in the country and the Government has taken important steps to promote research in agriculture sector. Soil health cards are being provided to 14 crore farmers. Solar water pumps are being installed in every village to meet the shortage of power in villages. Neem coated urea has been developed and the Government has revived the factories which were closed earlier.

The problems of sugarcane growers have been resolved. Krishi Unnati Melas were organized in various States to bring awareness among farmers. For the welfare of poor, affordable housing will be provided to them under Pradhan Mantri Awas

Yojana. The Government has started Ujjawala Yojana to provide gas cylinders to poor women and also announced piped water connection to all households.

Monthly pension of Rs. 3000 for informal workers has been announced in the budget and free treatment will be provided to poor people in hospitals under the

Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE: We should look at the farmers as the asset producers of the country as there is immense potential to turn farmers into exporters. In the direction of “Zero Budget Natural Farming” the use of cow dung, gau-mutra and sheera mixed manure instead of chemical fertilizers will help in releasing farmers from the trap of debt and increased yield production will become possible. Setting up Utpadak Sangha for farmers; enhancing income opportunities; reaching bigger markets; setting up cold storages and processing facilities; development of fodder production infrastructure; and attention should be paid on milk processing. Provisions for rural roads; construction of houses in rural areas; providing electricity and gas connections; under ‘Reform-Perform-

Transform” paying attention on farmers, fishermen and rural artisans will boost the rural economy. For providing direct annual benefit of Rs. 6000 /- to farmers under

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana, the state governments should expedite the procedure of identifying the beneficiaries.

SHRI VIVEK NARAYAN SHEJWALKAR: India is predominantly an agricultural country. Seventy per cent population of the country resides in villages.

Government under leadership of hon. Modiji had taken remarkable steps for development of agriculture and rural areas during the last five years. For the first time in the country Modi Government had given Minimum Support Price more than one and half times of production cost to the farmers. This budget will help in doubling the income of farmers. The Government plans to establish 100 clusters for Bamboo, Honey and Khadi. It would be a praiseworthy step. Farmers would be benefited under Kisan Samman Nidhi and Pension Schemes. The relief given to rural areas, poor and farmers will increase consumption and generate employment opportunities.

SHRI ANURAG SHARMA: Agriculture sector alongwith giving employment to 50 per cent population provides food for entire population of the country. The contribution of this sector in our GDP is 18 per cent. The

Government has taken a number of steps to double the income of farmers such as

Minimum Support Price, Soil Health Card, establishment of new Mandis and e-

Mandis etc.. Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana every farmer will be provided

Rs. 6000 per year for purchase of seeds etc. and subsidy is also provided for irrigation. Besides irrigation farmers are facing problems of unavailability of good quality seeds, adequate funds for purchasing seeds and fertilizers, lack of irrigation facilities and irregular monsoon, lack of agriculture equipments, unavailability of soil testing facilities, lack of training in new scientific methods of farming, lack of storage facilities, lack of uninterrupted power supply, problem to transport their produce to mandis, role of middlemen in selling agriculture produce and not getting remunerative price for their produce. Bhundelkhand is one of the most backward regions in our country. There is extreme climate conditions here.

Average rainfall is 800 mm their but for the last few years this region is not getting even this rainfall as a result farmers of Bhundelkhand are in a miserable condition and are facing a lot of difficulties due to water shortage. There is 9,42,742 hectare cultivable land in my Parliamentary Constituency out of which only 5,84,151 hectare land is under irrigation and rest of agricultural land is dependent on rain water. I demand from the Government that free seeds and training for Zero Budget

Farming may be provided to the farmers. An agriculture research institute should be established in Lalitpur. Government bodies should be sensitive towards farmers demands and needs. Soil testing and training facilities should be provided to the farmers and clusters for production and marketing of agriculture products should be established. Farming of Ayurvedic herbs should be promoted and upto 90 per cent subsidy on irrigation and agricultural equipments should be provided to the farmers.

SHRI RITESH PANDEY: The Government has provided sufficient funds for agriculture and farmer welfare and for this purpose an allocation of Rs.

1,38,564 crores has been made in the budget. But there is only 1.6 per cent increase in budget of agriculture research and education. Only 0.37 per cent of agriculture

GDP is spent on research and development in India and even budget allocation for agriculture and research is not fully utilised. The biggest challenge in doubling the income of farmers is use of agricultural land for urbanization and industrialization.

Water level has depleted. Climate change is occurring and unemployment is increasing in agriculture sector. Some of welfare schemes are only for electoral benefits and for these schemes allocation of thousands of crores of rupees has been made which will not benefit farmers. Farmers are not getting benefits under

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

Farmers are not getting full benefits of huge subsidies given on agriculture loan and fertilizers. Animal Husbandry and Dairy are also part of agriculture but in this budget the Government has levied 2 per cent TDS on cash withdrawal over Rs. 1 crore which will result in huge loss to Dairy sector because people purchase milk products in cash and when they pay 2 per cent TDS on cash withdrawal over Rs. 1 crore, they will suffer loss and face a number of problems.

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL : The Government has formulated an explicit policy for doubling of farmers’ income. The Government by launching a campaign decided to open bank accounts of farmers to protect them from middlemen. The Government has taken a decision to open 35 crore Jan Dhan accounts in the country and subsidy under any centrally sponsored scheme reaches directly to these accounts. The farmer could avail overdraft facility of Rs.5000 from his Jan-Dhan account. It is proposed to enhance minimum support price to make farmers self-reliant. 6000 rupees per annum will be deposited in accounts of farmers as per their requirement under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

Yojana. 60 thousand crores have been earmarked for MGNREGA for the current year and outlay of 19 thousand crores has been made under PMGSY. Soil health cards will be provided to farmers after conducting soil tests. The crops of farmers are being covered under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Fasal Bima to give protection to them. The 4.4% outlay of total budget has been allocated for rural areas. The

Government aims to provide housing to all by 2022 under the Pradhan Mantri

Awas Yojana. Individual household toilets will be constructed and free electricity connections will be provided. Free gas stoves will be provided to poor under

Ujjwala Yojana. Coverage area is proposed to be increased under Pradhan Mantri

Irrigation Yojana.

SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY: As far as Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is concerned, there is a need to increase the number of days from 100 to at least 150 in a year in rural areas to benefit every rural household, particularly in the backward States like

Telangana. biometric authentication failure rate in the ambitious rural job guarantee scheme is as high as36 per cent in Telangana. So, there is a need to plug the leakages at all levels. The funds under PMKSY were sanctioned to Telangana

State in the year 2014 itself. I have already requested the Union Government for restoration of five Watershed Projects at Siddipet district which falls in my parliamentary constituency, Medak. The work was sanctioned under watershed projects and would be taken under PMKSY scheme. The allocations from the

Centre under PMGSY should be increased in future. In this Budget, there is no specific allotment for the State of Telangana for the development of rural areas. I would like to state that even though our newly formed Telangana State is implementing these prestigious projects for the overall welfare of the poor people, the Union Government should come forward with budgetary support to enable the

State to take forward these schemes.

SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA: Over 60 per cent of the population depends on agriculture. Karnataka has always been reeling under vagaries of natural calamities.One farmer committed suicide every 12 hours in Karnataka.

There is no adequate infrastructure such as fodder banks and cattle camps. They should be set up at all levels in the state. The Government should extend all necessary help to the state to tackle the problem of drought. The plan for doubling the income of farmers by 2022 is commendable. The Union Government should address the concerns of arecanut growers in the country, particularly in Karnataka.

I also request the Government to kindly take necessary steps to put an end to illegal import of arecanut to save the domestic areca nut growers. I again urge upon the

Government to put an end to the adulteration and malpractices in areca nut trade.

Coffee growers are demanding to abolish the rule 7B(1) of the Income Tax Rules to enable the small scale coffee growers to sell their produce directly after curing.

Greenhouse farming is gaining popularity in the country including my state of

Karnataka. I request the Union Government to take all necessary steps to encourage our youth by providing financial assistance including subsidy to set up greenhouse. The entire country is facing water scarcity. This Government has taken a timely decision to make arrangements to supply safe and quality drinking water to tackle the water crisis in the country. The Government should focus on recharging the ground water, which is depleted to more than 1000 feet in many regions. This can be done by taking steps for rejuvenation of lakes and ponds in the country. There is also a need to take steps for Re-use of grey water for agricultural activities. Apart from this there is also an urgent need for de-silting the water bodies to increase the water storage capacity.

SHRIMATI : Monsoon is critical for overall development of agricultural sector in view of most of the agricultural area in India remaining unirrigated and as such the reliability of rural economy on monsoon cannot be neglected, therefore, our government has focused on building artificial ponds for water harvesting in rural areas and the coordination with state governments is being developed in this regard. The government has focused on villages, poor and farmers in the budget. The government has also announced to bring new education policy which will benefit the youth. The government will run skill programme for one crore students whereas “Study in India” programme will be launched to attract foreign students to study in India. An amount of 400 crore rupees has been announced for top most institutions and at the same time announcement has been made for setting up National Research Council. MGNREGA and other schemes of the government have increased the employment opportunities on a wider scale. In the last few years, there has been a rapid development in our economy. Whereas in the year 2014, the economy of the country was placed at 1.58 trillion dollar, it has increased to 2.7 trillion dollar in the year 2019 and it will reach 10 trillion dollar mark in the next 55 years. Our government has made a lot of efforts to address agriculture related problems in the country and focused more on the industrial development rather than agricultural development. Our government has conserved and developed natural resources.

Mainly, a lot of efforts are being made to preserve the resources related to irrigation. Tourism sector has immense employment opportunities. The government is promoting handicrafts, knowledge, culture etc. in the country in view of immense potential of rural tourism in the country. The government is imparting training to the rural people through various schemes and programmes.

The government is giving wider cooperation in telecom, medical, education and repairing works sector. There is no dearth of challenges in the rural areas coupled with new possibilities. Our government is making efforts for promoting education- training for industrial training, non-agricultural works training and skill development necessary for employment related to information technology, services sector etc. Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 97% villages have been linked with perennial roads so far. On the occasion of 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, 1.5 crore houses have been built under Pradhan Mantri Gramin

Awas Yojna. The government has given special focus on villages, poor and the farmers in the budget. By 2022, every rural person will get gas and electricity connection. This budget also includes the scheme of preparing 75 thousand new entrepreneurs in the agricultural rural industry. Our government has promised to double the farmers’ income.

SHRI : The growth in agriculture and allied sectors is declining for the last 4 years. Low growth in agriculture has an impact on employment and rural poverty. One prominent reason for this low growth is low budget provisions and public investments in agriculture. Government priorities have shifted from core to non core support in agriculture over the last 5 years.

Agriculture will be badly affected with low budget allocated in the core areas.

More funds should be allocated to Horticulture, blue revolution, white revolution and livestock. Agriculture research and education should be given adequate priority. Public investment is critical to manage soil health, innovating water harvesting techniques, viability of quality and improved variety of seeds. More funds, schemes, investment and interventions for building agriculture infrastructure, promoting crop diversification, productivity should be given high priority. Recommendations of Swaminathan committee should be implemented.

The plight of the farmers needs to be given special attention. The planning commission has approved ‘Project Ananta’ for the drought prone area of

Anantapur district. This project should be included in the Agriculture and Farmers welfare budget from this financial year itself and ensure that the funds, to be allocated are released at the earliest.

SHRI SAPTAGIRI ULAKA: Similar to PM-KISAAN, KALIA Scheme launched by the Government of Odisha failed to reach the farmers as the State

Government doesn’t have list of farmers or their income details. We should baseline the details of farmers if we want them to avail benefits under various schemes. Farmers’ suicide is an area of grave concern. The minimum support price for paddy needs to be increased to at least Rs. 2950/- per quintal. We would request the Government to waive off farmers’ loan at the earliest and provide financial support to farmers for a period of 5 years. I would request the

Government to provide solar water pump to the farmers so as to provide uninterrupted water supply. I would like the Government to declare special compensation to the State of Odisha as we have been constantly devastated by floods, cyclones, draughts etc.

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: Hon. Finance Minister mentioned about many initiatives for agriculture sector, like 100 new livelihood clusters,

10,000 FPOs etc. While all the ideas seem to be impressive, the ground level implementation needs to be more focused because there are few challenges which we are going to face in recent or distant future. A clear roadmap to meet the challenges is needed. In 2025, our requirement of food grains is going to be 360 million tonnes. So, we have to increase our food production by 100 million tonnes in five years only. Do we have a clear roadmap to address this demand? Finance

Minister has spoken about zero farming budget. It requires 3-5 five years to become self sustaining but during this period how this increasing demand can be fulfilled, it would be better if the Government make a mention in this regard. We hear that 6000 rupees annually would be granted, but whether we are gracing or disgracing the farmer by giving him 17 rupees per day. MSP should not be State- wise. It should be localized. Keeping in view the food grains production, the MSP should be increased by 150-200 per cent. We are talking about 5 trillion economy but a shameful situation is that only in the state of Maharashtra 12021 farmers suicide took place during 2015-18. We are taking about doubling the farmers’ income but to double the farmers’ income we need to have cold chain, cold storage, pre-cooling vans, early transport to the market and measures like frozen vegetables and access to the open market are necessary. At the same time, import and export policies of the Government should be in favour of the FPOs or individual farmers. Import and Export Policy should be in favour of farmers. One most important issue is about crop insurance, I want to raise an important issue which according to me has got no mention in the budget is about agro-tourism. Agro-tourism is such a method through which our rural youth’s employment can be increased manifolds. If we introduce the festivals and customs related to farmers at international forum, it can result in an increase in tourism. The ‘bullock cart’ is an important component of it. It can increase not only national but also international tourism.

SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI): The ever increasing population of the world is a serious problem, it puts pressure on the resources, affects ecological system and fertility of soil is affected. In ancient times the animal husbandry was done alongwith agriculture. Agriculture and Animal

Husbandry collectively was much more beneficial. In the changing times the animal husbandry became less popular. We are using fertilizers and pesticides as a result the organic and inorganic balance is dwindling. Agriculture is the main vocation of rural economy and the main source of income for farmers. It is necessary to increase the agricultural production to sustain increasing population.

The department of Agriculture has promoted this special kind of agriculture, which is known as organic farming. Hon’ble Prime Minister has fixed target to double the farmer’s income by the year 2022. To meet the target number of schemes are being run by the Government.

SHRI RAJU BISTA: This is a budget which has laid down the foundation for our nation to become a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2025. This budget seeks to integrate economic growth with rural development. is home to some of the best Mandarin Oranges in the world – yet today the orange growers are suffering due to diseases and pest problems. Kalimpong is a hub of floriculture and other cash crops like cardamom and ginger – yet nothing much has been done to provide marketing avenues for the promotion of floriculture here. Pineapples from Phansidewa and vegetables from Naxalbari and Chopra have the potential to cater to an international market – yet the government has not taken a single step to promote international marketing of these products. Darjeeling used to be a hub of milk production –HIMUL formed along the lines of AMUL in

Darjeeling region was one of the earliest Milk Cooperatives in India. Yet due to utter neglect and apathy from the succeeding West Bengal governments, HIMUL shut down in 2014. Darjeeling constituency shares border with four different countries. Funds provided under BADP are not adequate to cater to the infrastructural needs of the villages that are on the border. I therefore request that

BADP and Rural Development projects be integrated, so that more funds can be allocated to meet the special development needs of the people living in areas near the international borders to develop essential infrastructure here. The allocation for rural roads development under the PMGSY in our region should be increased so that by the year 2024 there won’t be a single village in our region that does not have road connection. DR. AMAR SINGH: We all agree that agriculture itself is in problem and that farmers are under distress. The Economic Survey itself tells us that average annual growth rate of agriculture from 2014-15 to 2018-19 was only 2.88 per cent.

We are not able to put a stop to the tragedy of farmers' suicides. I think that there are some structural issues which we should have taken in the Budget and we should consider them after discussion. The Economic Survey 2019 says, "By 2050,

India will be a global hot spot for water insecurity." I would request the

Government to take the issue of climate change, water insecurity and water scarcity for discussion once again. There are other issues, which should be discussed. There are some structural issues related to agriculture which have not been touched upon or moderately touched upon in the Budget. We have totally left the landless farmers and tenant farmers in all the schemes. This Budget has totally ignored this issue. The other issue relates to falling prices of vegetables. Farmers get MSP for only two crops. What about other crops? One more thing, which I feel that we have not taken almost all the issues related to the environment in the

Budget as climate change is taking place and scenarios are changing rapidly, I think we need to discuss these issues a lot. I feel that the Central Government and the State Governments should work together to deal with the issues related to farm sector. I suggest that an agricultural reform commission should be set up under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of all the States should be part of that committee.

SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH: Unless there is no discussion or focus on agriculture and rural development, the country will not be able to progress. NDA

Government has started working by keeping this in mind. The budgetary allocation for various agriculture schemes shows the Government’s concern for the farmers and they are working by focusing on the farmers. Previous year,

Rs.67,000 crores budget was allocated for agriculture. This year it has been raised to Rs.1,30,000 crores. Budget of Rs.1,84,000 crores was for rural development which has been raised to Rs.191 thousand crores this time. Our Government has raised the budget for these two areas. UPA Government has waived off the loan of

Rs.75,000 crores. But, every year, we will give Rs.78,000 crores to Kisan

Samman Nidhi. Imagine the amount that will be given to the farmers in five years.

Our Government has continuously talked about doubling the income of farmers.

Ten new farmer production centers have been opened to double the income of the farmers in the country. Earlier, no Government paid attention towards fisheries.

Our Government is focused on fish production. Unemployment is becoming a major problem in rural areas. The issue of unemployment has became worse by the decline of rural industries. The Government has started a scheme to promote the agro based industries under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana. The Government’s decision to double the income of farmers is based on the progress of the village and the availability of electricity. Our Government is the first

Government which has worked in the field of electricity by focusing on the village.

Electricity is a state subject, but, the Government has worked to encourage the states in the field of electricity by continuously generating funds. The land holding of the farmers has been decreasing because population has been increasing continuously. The House should collectively think about this issue. Now, the time has come to make a law on population in this country. The whole country may be unanimous. The population may be controlled in this country. The support price of the pulse crops should be high as it takes more time to cultivate. The

Government should also be concerned about this. It is necessary to increase the organic farming which we have been doing. Our Government has identified 115 districts as model districts. It is important to increase the farming with the use of cow dung and organic fertilizers. There should be such a mechanism developed in the country that the crops must be sold at support price under every circumstances.

To conclude, I would like to say that, it is important for the collective effort and thinking to increase the production of the farmers in the country and to make them stronger. I think that first of all, it is important to think about population and after that it is necessary to work by focusing on the environment. We should work more for the cash payment of agricultural products. There is a need to work for the conservation of water.

SHRIMATI APARUPA PODDAR: Since Independence, Indian agriculture continued to be the backbone of the country's economy. But the condition of the farmers in India is deplorable. Farmers are at huge risk due to the extreme weather conditions, which has an impact of climate change. There is a slow implementation of Government schemes which do not reach even to all small and marginal farmers. There should be effective implementation and proper follow up and evaluations of the schemes so that they reach to every farmer. In my

Parliamentary constituency, jute farmers face a lot of problems. Government wishes to encourage and facilitate the role of gramin women, but it has not specified and suggested how to eradicate malnutrition and anemia from which

Indian mothers are suffering a lot in rural India. In our country, we have a very limited people who are doing aquaponic farming. The Government has to take initiative towards ensuring that they get price for their production. The

Government should set up Export Research Hub in West Bengal from centrally sponsored scheme towards Blue Revolution in the country as the small fishermen are going through the worst crisis of their time throughout the country. We should vitalize the women power of the rural India through house-oriented domestic productivity schemes. SHRI HASNAIN MASOODI: The Budget, as it relates to agriculture and farmers’ welfare, is a second most disappointing feature of the Budget. The first being the unwarranted and unjustified increase in prices of diesel and petrol. About

22 crore people of our country are directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture but very little has been done to ameliorate their lot. Out of Rs. 1,30,485 crore earmarked for agriculture and farmer’s welfare, Rs. 75,000 crore are to be eaten up by PM-KISAN Yojana. 55 per cent of farmers engaged in agriculture do not have any holding at all. It does not touch the lives of those 55 per cent of the farmers.

There is no plan to rescue farmers from the clutches of money-lenders. There is a failure in respect of Fasal Bima Yojana also. In case of failure of crop, one has to prove that the crop of the entire area has failed. Irrigation is restricted to only 49 per cent of the entire land. There is a decrease of 3.7 per cent in the allocation of

ICAR. We should take the results of research from lab to land. All those sectors are ignored in this Budget. Only 0.3 per cent of the Budget has been earmarked for research. Now, I come to Jammu & Kashmir. We produce 2.5 million metric tonnes of fruits. We can only preserve five per cent of commodities in cold- storage. Our fruit industry is right now confronted with a loss of Rs. 2,000 crore.

We are not able to export fruits because of the restrictions on the Highways.

Saffron, our best cash crop is on a downslide. Fruits and Saffron would earn foreign exchange for the country. There is 90 per cent downslide in the production. The Government has miserably failed to focus on thrust areas and to give some kind of relief to the farmers.

SHRI SHOK MAHADEORAO NETE: This Budget focuses on agriculture, farmers, the poor and middle class people. The plan of doubling the income of the farmers is highly commendable. It has been announced to promote

“Zero Budget Farming” i.e. the conventional type of farming depending fully on natural resources which is in farmer’s interest. It has been proposed to set up 10 thousand new farmer producer organizations for the farmers and make huge investment in agro infrastructure. It has been proposed in the Budget that the villages will be rejuvenated by strengthening Panchayati Raj system, making the villages smart and prosperous, constructing good quality roads there, providing clean water, clean schools, Panchayat Bhawans and Community halls and providing employment avenues also in the villages through MGNREGA. It will also check migration of people and villages will be equipped with all facilities. The problem of naxalism can be addressed to a large extent if efforts are made continuously to connect the people of tribal dominated areas to the mainstream of the nation by making all-round development in those areas. Tax holiday package should be announced for Gadchiroli-Chimur Constituency which is badly affected by naxalism and small and large industries should be set up there. Assistance should be provided immediately to the farmers of tribal dominated areas. There is a surplus land of about eight crore acre in the country. If this land is distributed among the landless people by making necessary amendments in the Forest

Conservation Act, they will be connected to the mainstream of the nation and will be able to extend their cooperation in upliftment of the country. Funds should be allocated to ensure availability of water for irrigation in naxal-affected areas by giving environmental clearance to Karwapa and Channa minor irrigation projects at the earliest. Funds should also be allocated to complete Gosi Khurd Irrigation project at the earliest. Besides, all the irrigation projects of Gadchiroli district should be given approval at the earliest and funds should be allocated for the same in the Budget.

SHRI ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA: The person who has seen poverty can think about poverty, and that is what Prime Minister has done. The slogan of the Government is ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas’. Pradhan

Mantri Awas Yojna is our government’s scheme. Every poor has a dream to own a home. Our government has decided to construct one crore 95 lakh pucca houses by the year 2022. If we talk of good governance, today the progress of each house is being monitored through Geo Tagging. Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana villages have been connected with cities. Our government has provided road connectivity even to villages with a population of hundred persons. Proper arrangement of solid waste management has also been made in each village. The most important thing for farmers is water. Satluj-Yamuna link canal is an important issue ever since came into existence. Haryana government has followed the programme of skill development. At Palwal of Haryana a skill development University has been set up.

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: No other Government in India has done so much for agriculture as the NDA Government. From doubling farm incomes by 2022, transferring Rs.6,000 per year directly into the bank accounts of small and marginal farmers, guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) with 50 per cent additional payment, the list of agricultural reforms the NDA Government have undertaken is long. Solutions do not lie in band-aid measures like farm loan waivers. Long term solution lies in acceleration of food processing industries and a continued focus on employment generation programmes like ‘’ and

‘’. As India is self-sufficient in foodgrains, increasing productivity and output is not the solution either as it would pose a marketing challenge and depress prices. Looking at Universal Basic Income (UBI), the option of modeling the scheme on the lines of Telangana’s Rythu Bandhu Scheme is seen as most doable. Under it every farmer gets Rs.4000 per acre per sowing season, therefore,

Rs.8,000 per acre is in his bank account. Current social welfare schemes cost India about 3.7 per cent of GDP, but UBI is expected to cost 4.9 per cent of GDP.

Soultion favoured by most politicians while wooing farmers has been either the Minimum Support Price (MSP) or the loan waiver. The current thinking of a

Direct Benefit Transfer does not solve the real issues of making farming more remunerative.

SHRI JAYADEV GALLA: I request the hon. Minister to consider setting up of a Turmeric Research Centre in Duggirala. Necessary steps should be taken to set up a Chilli Board in Guntur. The Government should identify the drought- affected districts in the country and provide financial and other support to farmers.

Tobacco farmers should be given at least one hundred rupee per kg. for their low- grade tobacco. My State Andhra Pradesh is suffering from drought situation in more than 300 mandals. Additional man days should be provided under

MNREGA to the State of Andhra Pradesh. Focus should be given on improving the viability of farmers.

SHRI C.P. JOSHI : This budget is villages, poors and farmers oriented.

The crop of crores of farmers was insured under Crop Insurance Scheme. For the first time Kisan Credit Card Yojana has been implemented. Several labs have been opened under Soil Health Card Scheme in the interest of the farmers.This

Government has addressed the problems of crores of farmers through neem coated urea. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana has been implemented to increase the agro-production and make the country self-reliant. Several Krishi Vigyan Kendras have also been opened. The provision of Rs. 1.5 lakh has been made for construction of a house under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana. Electricity has been provided under Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana. Gas connections have been given under Ujjwala Yojana. I demand that criteria relating to contents of morphine in opium should be relaxed.

SHRI RAKESH SINGH : It is being felt that if India has to progress on the path of development, then bringing revolution in agriculture sector is very important and it is not possible without setting up a new agriculture environment system. Despite the agriculture being the state subject, the Union government should intervene through central sector and centrally sponsored schemes to improve the lifestyle of people. The development of any country is not possible without strengthening the farmers and rural economy of the country. We have to provide such atmosphere to the farmers, so that they may feel proud of their agricultural land and agricultural occupation, as it happened in past. Today, farmers from various areas of the country are giving up agriculture and are migrating from villages to cities for petty job. We are required to provide resources and proper remunerative prices to the farmers and encourage them to return to agriculture so that they may be able to increase their income through agriculture and make their contribution in strengthening the rural economy. The

Government should direct the States and try to obtain real time data of farmers and the provisions for agriculture budget should be made on that basis in the future. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: The PM-Kisan Scheme does not cover landless agricultural labourers who form 55% of the agricultural workers in the country. We strongly suggest inclusion of landless labourers, sharecroppers and vulnerable agriculture households under PM-KISAN. An Internal Working

Group under RBI had observed that the interest subsidy scheme has distorted the agricultural credit system. The Committee had recommended that agricultural credit must flow to the actual cultivator for which substantial reform is necessary.

I would like to know from the Government, what steps have been taken in this regard. There is a need to channelise short-term credit through Joint-Liability

Groups on a wide scale. The large number of farmers are not being covered under

PMFBY. I would urge upon the Government that claims under the insurance scheme must be settled within two months from the crop harvest. The

Government should include the risk of crop loss due to animal attack in the

PMFBY without any extra cost of premium or to share the fifty per cent cost of such extra premium. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana was launched in 2015 to increase the coverage of irrigated area. Now more stress is being given on micro-irrigation. But not much work has been done in this regard. MGNREGA stipulates wage payments must be made within 15 days of the date of closure of the muster roll. There is a necessary to have a robust mechanism of inspection and monitoring of fund utilization by the Centre. Odisha Government has requested to provide at least 5 lakh PMAY-G houses as a special case to be given to cyclone

FANI affected people and a waiverment to the previously tabulated list of PMAY-

G. The problem of kutcha houses is acute in Odisha. There is a demand more number of PMAY-G to help people build a pucca shelter. There has been underutilization of funds which in turn affects the construction of rural roads under

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana scheme. The pace of work under the scheme has been really slow. I would urge upon this government to take urgent steps for proper utilisation of allocated funds in a time bound manner.

SHRI GANESH SINGH: For the financial year 2019-20, an amount of

Rs.1,38,568 crore has been allocated which is 82.9 per cent more than that of the previous year. Agricultural produce Marketing Committee Act would facilitate the farmers to get reasonable prices of their produce. 1592 blocks of 256 districts have been identified under Jal Shakti Abhiyan. I demand that ground water crisis may be resolved so that the farmers can irrigate their agricultural fields. I want to draw the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture towards the following important demands of the people of my parliamentary constituency Satna. A Krishi Vigyan

Kendra be set up in Asrar near Amarpatan. An agriculture university should be established in Satna. All the old water bodies of the district be rejuvenated under

Pradhan Mantri Sinchayee Yojna. The Government should take necessary action to construct new dams in hilly areas for irrigation purposes, to construct cold storage in rural areas, to construct Qazi House or Gaushala and to set up food processing industry in my district. The jobs of Kisan Mitra and Didis working under ATMA Project be made regular. The Government should take action to organise national level agri-fairs (Krishi Mela) in my district, to provide solar energy operated water pumps to the farmers and to open offices under Fasal Beema

Yojana in each district headquarters. I request the Government to construct roads in the various areas of my constituency under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Besides, the road from Rampur to Charmari Janardanpur be upgraded.

SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT: The Government has taken commendable initiatives for holistic development of agriculture and its allied sectors through various schemes. It aims to increase the income of the farmers and to provide social security to them. In , farmers are facing animal menace and as a result they are abandoning farming. Some concrete policy be made to protect such farmers. There should be a separate agriculture policy for hilly areas. Besides, for hilly regions, agriculture activities should also be included under MGNREGA so that farmers and labourers may get benefitted and get back to the farming again.

SHRI RAMESH CHANDRA MAJHI : I thank the Rural Department for making a provision of Rs. 117647 crores in this budget by increasing the allocation by Rs. 5200 crores. However, the allocation for Pradhan Mantri Grameen Awas Yojana has been decreased in 2019-20 by Rs. 900 crores. Now it is Rs 19000 crores. The Odisha government’s proposal to construct 3.8 lakh houses, damaged in cyclone Fani should be accepted by the government. The Odisha government should be given more and more funds to compensate for the losses due to Fani cyclone. Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana 1.25 lakh km. of roads is to be constructed, which is a good proposal. In this regard, the Union government should bear the cost of maintenance for five years. In 2007 the Union government had created a Backward Region Grant under which a lot of work was done. There was also an Integrated Action Plan, which provided lot of funds to KBK districts –

Koraput – Bolangir – Kalahandi. Now this has stopped. I request maximum funds to Odisha as it has a lot of backward districts.

SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL: Agriculture is very important for rural

India. I demand that a National Commission for farmers having statutory status should be set up for farmers. A new concept of Agriculture Clinic should also be introduced. I also feel that some restrictions are necessary on the usage of fertilizers and pesticides so as to stop the toxication of soil. The Government should control the prices of drip irrigation system to stop the overpricing and misuse of subsidy being given to the farmers. The Government should take some steps with regard to dairy business through the farms related companies and also by providing subsidy. Standardization of cattle fodder is needed. All the important activities of farming like sowing, harvesting etc should be shown in the programme being broadcast on Kisan TV Channel according to the season. The instructions given on soil health cards should be followed. The subsidy being given on fertilizers should be given through DBT and it should be streamlined. With regard to the implementation of schemes and programmes alongwith being target oriented we should also be concerned about the need. I support the budget provisions made by this government for the farmers.

DR. T. R. PAARIVENDHAR: Water is required for agriculture. It can be done only by interlinking the rivers. This was one of the important programmes of the NDA government and the NDA government should take it up at the earliest.

Villagers need loan to buy tractors and other things but loan is not easily available to them. I demand that bank loan should be given liberally to the people of my constituency. My demand is that at least six godowns should be given to all the six

MLA Constituencies for storage of perishable produce like onion, cotton, maize and millets. At the time of selling the produce middlemen are mostly enjoying the benefits. So, the government should see that these products are directly purchased.

To improve the job opportunities agriculture should be given importance. Proper compensation should be given by the government on time. I request the

Government to see that there should be agricultural colleges in every taluka. SHRI E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER: In the third phase of PMGSY, out of the 1,25,000 kilometres of road sanctioned for the country, is getting only 1,425 kilometres of road. The total outlay of Thrissur-Ponnani-Kole

Development Project was Rs.300 crore, out of which Rs.200 crore was released. I request the hon. Minister to take interest in it and release the money without further delay. The second phase of this Kole Development Project may kindly be expedited. The PMGSY guidelines for the third phase have not been released.

There is a prestigious agriculture institute known as Kelappaji College of

Agricultural Engineering and Technology. There is a feasibility of developing this institute as a centre of excellence. I appeal to the Government to lay emphasis on asset creation and durability aspect of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural

Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: The proposed second Krishi Vigyan Kendra should be set up in my Constituency at the earliest to benefit the farmers. The classes of Agriculture College, Jamnabad be started in this session. My district

Lakhimpur Kheri is the largest producer of sugar cane. The cane payment of about the entire previous session is pending. The mills should make the payment to the farmers. E-Mandi system should be made effective. Every village be provided safe drinking water by constructing tanks under “nal se jal har ghar”. Every village should be provided houses, latrines, LPG connection pucca drains and proper drainage.

DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR: This government is committed for the development of villages, the poor, workers and the farmers. Further, efforts would be made to double the income of farmers by bringing down the input cost. Urea is available easily. Its black marketing has come to an end. Linking of Ken and

Betwa rivers would solve the problem of irrigation and that of drinking water.

This work should begin at the earliest so that all villages in Tikamgarh’s

Chhattarpur Niwari district will be connected with canals and pipelines. In my

Constituency there were about 1000 ponds dating back to Chandel period. Now only about 450 ponds remain. Encroachments be removed to revive these ponds.

The long pending demand regarding the Kakarwaha pick up wier should be taken up to augment the irrigation and drinking water facilities. Tikamgarh, being an agricultural region, agro based and food processing industries be established here, for economic growth, employment and rural development.

SHRI JASHVANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR : In the year of

2022 when we will be celebrating 75th anniversary of our Independence then we should be able to cherish our vision of doubling the income of farmers, own house and electricity connection for each poor, facility of clean fuel, freedom from open air defecation, medical facility for every poor, connectivity of each village with road, consistent and clean flowing of Ganga river, employment for youth and we would make efforts to lead the world with new energy and self-confidence.

ADV. A. M. ARIFF: Agriculture growth is seen slipping to 2.7% from 5% compared to last year. The present condition of agriculture in our country is alarming. Around 10 farmers commit suicide each day in India. The role of the

Government in controlling prices of fertilizers is also losing. The demand for increase in import duty for rubber is a long pending demand of Kerala.

Declaration of Minimum Support Price for cash crops is the only way out to save the farmers from committing suicides. The allocated amount for MGNREGS is less than the amount sanctioned in the last five years. A new pension scheme for

MGNREGS workers also needs to be declared by the Central Government. Central assistance for PMAY needs to be enhanced. The width of PMGSY roads in some coastal areas needs to be fixed at four meters in consultation with the State

Government.

DR. SANGHAMITRA MAURYA: “Izzat Ghar” scheme has been introduced for the toilets. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has reached to three crore people. The Saubhagya Yojana is for free electricity connections and LEDs.

This scheme has benefitted around 8 crore people. 10 crore families have access to

Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Efforts have been made to provide salary equal to the minimum wages or above to provide job opportunities to the rural youth under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana. The Swarna Jayanti Gramin

Rojgar Yojana aims at empowering the self help model for women of the country.

Badaun should be provided proper road connectivity. The schemes which have not reached there or wherein problems were being faced during the last five years should reach there. Our farmers take education loan at the interest rate of ten percent to provide education to their children. I request to reduce this rate of interest. Alongwith this the incomplete work should be completed.

SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY: Around seventy percent people of India lives in 6,49,481 villages. Agriculture is the main occupation. Around 54.6 percent of total employment of the country is associated with agriculture and its allied services . we need to increase productivity. Our Prime Minister has a great vision regarding farmers. The present Government has given great relief to farmers by changing laws regarding compensation of damaged crops due to adverse weather.

Simultaneously Pradhan Mantri Krishi sichai Yojna , Soil Health Card Scheme and other several efforts have been proved successful to improve the financial condition of farmers . Water harvesting is accomplished through dams.Thus 25 million hectares will be irrigated , there will be 24000 megawatt power generation and groundwater will be raised in around 10 million hectare area. At the same time country will not only will be self sufficient in food grains , fruits , vegetable but it can be a big exporter country and we can earn foreign currency significantly . Contribution of agriculture in GDP will be increased after development in agriculture sector and the country can move towards development at fast pace . I request you to chalk out an action plan to give relief to States facing drought and flood situation by interlinking of rivers . I request that Agriculture Technology

Management Agency plan should be continued in interest of farmers and reduction in budget may be withdrawn . Usage of excessive fertilizers in fields by farmers should be curbed and climate may be improved by promoting farmers to promote organic farming. The lifeline of north west Rajasthan is based on animal husbandry and grass production with traditional farming . Grass production has been completely abolished by adopting new technology . The farmers of this area will be benefitted by producing superior quality of grass for animals . My suggestion is that every farmer should be granted permission to build water tank with the capacity of one lakh litre in their fields in view of special situation in

Rajasthan so that better Infrastructure facilities could be developed to provide water availability in rural areas . In recent past Land Health Cards in Rajasthan have been issued so that the farmers could get aware about usage of chemical fertilizers in their land and farmers may be able to produce more at minimum cost .

It is necessary to provide incentive money and discount to agricultural sector on the line of industrial sector . My suggestion is that every farmers should be given solar agriculture pump in the country to provide small and important relief to farmers . I would like to to draw your attention regarding farming of myrtle(Mehndi) in my Lok Sabha constituency that production of Mehndi across the country happens only in Sojat region of Pali district and plantation of myrtle(Mehndi) totally depends on rain water. The farmers of myrtle(Mehndi) are not getting the benefits of farmers as they have not been provided status of agriculture by the Government . I urge upon the Government that the Ministry of

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare should include plantation of myrtle(Mehndi) in the category of agriculture produce by conducting study.

SHRI D. RAVIKUMAR: MGNREGAS work days may be increased from

100 to 150. Under PM KISAN Scheme, our Government is helping land owning farmers. A scheme like Universal Minimum Income should be announced for landless labourers. Disease resistant seeds should be distributed to Sugarcane farmers of Tamilnadu. 100% subsidy for shifting over to drip irrigation should also be extended. A sugarcane research centre should be set up at Viluppuram.

Sufficient fund should be allocated to revive the century old Nandan Canal

Scheme. Agro based industries should be started in Viluppuram district. I request the Government to allot generously houses under PMAY in Viluppuram.

Government has sanctioned hydro carbon exploration licenses to Vedanta. I request the Government to withdraw the hydro carbon licenses and save the farmers of Villupuram district. SUSHRI S. JOTHIMANI: I would like to draw the attention towards the fact that the farmers do not have any better access to timely credit, better infrastructure and markets. Indebtedness and bankruptcy have broken the backbone of the farmers. The farmers are facing immense pressure to repay loan and interest charged by banks and micro-finance institutions. I urge the Government and the hon. Prime Minister to see the situation with a compassionate heart and take steps to waive off all kinds of farm loans, including jewel loans with interest immediately. I would like to raise a few important issues for the consideration of the hon. Minister. The total allocation of the Ministry is Rs.1,38,564 crore, out of which 75 per cent of the allocation goes for only three schemes. Where is the money for the core agricultural activities like pre and post-harvest infrastructure, value addition, and market access. The Government has proposed to double farmers income by 2022. However, the growth rate is declining to just 2.9 per cent.

How is the Government planning to double the farmers’ income by 2022? I would like to ask the status of implementation of the Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Committee

Report, which is crucial to revive the agricultural sector. 50 lakh people from seven districts of Tamil Nadu including my Constituency Karur will directly benefited, if we interlink Cauveri-Kundari rivers. Nearly eight lakh acres of land would be irrigated. I urge the Central Government to take necessary action to complete this project. I urge the hon. Minister, to consider giving subsidies to cotton farmers which would increase the cotton productivity. I would like to request to allocate the fund to interlink Shanmuga, Nanganchi and Kundaganaru rivers. I would like to urge the Agriculture Minister to add Karur in Tamil Nadu as textile hubs to the

`Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ programme under the e-NAM Scheme.

Funds should be allocated to the Thathampalayam lake and control should be transferred to the State PWD from the Forest Department.

SHRIMATI KAVITA SINGH: I come from Bihar. Bihar is such a land which is sometime affected from flood and some time from drought. I request

Hon'ble Prime Minister to listen the miseries and agonies of the farmers. Presently, pension that is disbursed to ladies above 60 years, Central Government contributes only Rs. 300 to 500. I request to increase this amount so that ladies can manage their household affairs properly. I also request to accord special status to Bihar and award special package to the State so that impediments that are coming in the way of the progress of Bihar can be removed and we can progress ahead along with rest of the country.

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE: It is essential to increase the amount allocated to the MGREGS in order to meet the rural employment demands.

50% of the funds allocated to the Ministry of Rural Development is solely for

MGNREGS. Steps should be devised for monitoring of fund utilization under

MGNREGA. I urge the Centre to release sufficient funds to drought hit states, so that the States can provide more work in these areas. In the Hon'ble Finance

Minister's speech, the aim of 'Housing for All' by 2022 was highlighted. It is important to understand how this aim is proposed to be achieved when budgetary allocations have been reduced, the ensure that the quality of materials used in housing construction is maintained. There needs to be expeditious inclusion of leftover homeless families from the list of beneficiaries for assistance under

PMAY-G. With respect to the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, slow-moving pace of work and the continued maintenance of roads built under the PMGSY, need to be examined. In 2018/19, compared to the budgetary allocation of Rs.

9,429 crore, only Rs. 8,251 crore was spent on improving irrigation under

PMKSY. Despite this underspending, 2019/20 budgetary allocation is increased to

Rs. 9,682 crore. It is essential that efforts are made to utilize all the funds that have been allocated, and all watershed development projects that have been sanctioned be completed. The delays in irrigation projects have debilitating effect on farmers' lives. There has been an overall cost escalation of 2341 percent for major irrigation projects due to delays, making them dependent on monsoons. In 2018-19, compared to budgetary allocation of Rs. 7,000 crore, only Rs, 5,500 crore was spent on improving access to drinking water in rural areas. Despite this shortfall in spending, the 2019-20 budgetary allocation is increased to Rs. 10,001 crore. In order to address agricultural stress and doubling farmers' incomes decisive efforts would be required to "bring science and technology to farmers, replacing untargeted subsidies (power and fertilizer) by direct income support, and dramatically extending irrigation but via efficient drip and sprinkler technologies".

The need to the hour is to ensure that the agricultural sector itself operates more effectively with the most efficient technological and scientific tools. The

Department of Agricultural Research and Education also needs substantial focus and allocation of budgetary resources. The National Crime Records Bureau had noted the gradual increase in the number of suicides in the farming sector between

2013 and 2015. Some metric for direct benefit transfers for all other farmer families need to be introduced. Care must taken to ensure to prevent exclusion errors as well, when it comes to direct benefits with the agricultural sector. The

MSP prices approved by the Centre are lower than those recommended by the

Maharashtra state govt. I urge to calculate MSP using the more comprehensive C2 formula, to ensure considerable returns and income to farmers. Total number of farmers covered under crop insurance declined. The percentage of cropped area insured reduced. The information on crop damage assessment is not in public domain and is not being carried out with due diligence. We need an independent regulatory body to propose alternate suitable model for India and settle all crop insurance related claims. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL: The biggest issue today is agricultural development. Agriculture development is associated with 5 departments of the

Ministry - Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Agricultural Research and Education, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries, Jal Shakti and Fertilisers.

I wish to know from the Hon. Minister that how is he connected to these five departments. You are saying that you are going to double the income of the farmers. According to the survey of 2017-18, 52-60 percent of cultivable land is not covered by this Krishi Sinchal Yojana. To double up farmers’ income, it is imperative to include all land under this scheme. You are paying farmers Rs. 6000 but they are not asking for alms. Instead, you give them subsidized loans; give subsidies in fertilizers. When cultivation season starts, the farmers are forced to buy fertilizers at a high rate. You can provide good quality seeds at reasonable prices. Markets have not been set up for them, so that they get remunerative prices. They don’t get compensation if crop is damaged due to drought, flood and such other natural calamities.

SHRI SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY: There is decrease in the agricultural growth rate, contribution of agriculture sector in the national economy, participation of private sector in agriculture and income of farmers. If there is sharp decline in the agriculture sector, how the income of farmers would be doubled? The Government is making very little increase in Minimum Support Price. The cases of farmers' suicides are rising due to low prices of crops, increasing input costs and increasing burden of loans. I would like to appeal to the

Government and hon. Agriculture Minister to waive the farm loans of all the farmers across the country. I would like to request the Government to set up a

Mega Food Processing Plant in Jalandhar, so that farmers get remunerative price for their crops and youth get employment. There should be increase in the fund allocation for agricultural research. Budget allocation for Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) has been decreased from Rs.61,088 crore to Rs.60,000 crore. It has happened for the first time during the last five years that fund allocation for MGNREGA has been decreased.

Though there is no change in the fund allocation for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak

Yojana, but 100 per cent funds could not be utilised under this scheme. I would like to request the Government to make cent per cent utilisation and efficient utilisation of allocation, so that people across the country get all weather roads. I would also like to talk about the interest of my state Punjab. Cash credit limit is provided to states by RBI for procurement of foodgrains for Central pool of the

Central Government. Due to erroneous policies, the loan burden on Punjab has increased to more than two lakh crore rupees and it is adversely affecting the development works in the State. I would like to request the Government to waive the Food Account loan keeping in view the sacrifices and contribution of the state. SHRI DEVAJI PATEL: I would like to express my gratitude to the hon.

Prime Minister and hon. Agriculture Minister for nearly 78 per cent increase in allocation for the agriculture sector. Sixty to sixty five per cent population of the country is dependent on agriculture. Two and a half lakh soil health cards have been distributed in my constituency. Our hon. Prime Minister implemented

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and I am very happy to say that there has been direct transfer of Rs.400 crore in the bank accounts of farmers in my constituency.

The MGNREGA scheme for employment guarantee should be linked with agriculture. I would like to request the Agriculture Minister to set up an industry in my constituency keeping in view abundant production of tomato and Isabgol, so that the farmers get benefit by selling their products. There is Banas dairy. The farmers in my constituency supply two lakh litre milk to this dairy. Sometimes inter-state restrictions are imposed on Banas dairy. I would like to request that there should be no inter-state restriction on supply of milk. There is a long standing demand regarding water from Mahi barrage. If some amount of water is supplied from Dantiwada dam in lieu of Mahi water, it would perhaps solve the water problem in Bhinmal, Jalore and Sirohi in my constituency.

SHRI G. M. SIDDESHWAR: I appreciate Prime Minister Modi Ji for introducing various pro-farmer schemes but the onus of implementation of these schemes rests on the officials of the Departments. Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojna is not effectively implemented in my Parliamentary Constituency

Davanagere due to the negligence of government officials and insurance companies. Farmers are not paid their due amount by the insurance companies.

These companies have declared them ineligible to receive the insurance amount.

Davanagere is facing severe drought for the last two years even then these companies are not paying farmers their legitimate amount of insurance. It is due to the irregularities and wrong entries made by the officials of the department who prepare the list of crop loss that poor farmers are deprived of their due benefits under the insurance scheme. I suggest the Government to entrust the responsibility on government sponsored insurance companies instead of involving private companies and issue necessary directions to the State Governments to ensure proper implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana so that farmers interests could be protected.

SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL: In Maharashtra 12,021 farmers have committed suicide between year 2015 and 2018. In the first four months of 2019 the number of farmers who have taken their lives is 808. It seems that the policy of the Government is failing somewhere that farmers are ending their lives regularly. This is the condition of a progressive state like Maharashtra. When a loan waiver scheme was launched in June 2017, the farmers were assured that all of their problems would be resolved. From the date of introducing the loan waiver scheme till date 4500 farmers have committed suicide. The Government had assured the state Maharashtra that it would be made a tanker free state by 2019. It was also promised by the Government that the income of the farmers would be made two fold by the year 2022. None of these words have been kept by the

Government so far.

In order to raise the income of the common man, the Government has to spend at least one per cent of agricultural GDP on research and development.

Presently only 0.37 per cent of agricultural GDP is spent on research and development in agriculture. A Managing Director of Sugar company in

Maharashtra is sentenced for duping 20 thousand persons there. But he has not been arrested so far. It is also surprising that 100 of the said 20 thousand farmers have passed away years back.

DR. SUJAY VIKHE PATIL: Due to sincere efforts of our Government, the agricultural and allied sectors in India have grown at an annual growth rate of nearly 2.9 per cent. Women's participation in agriculture has also been increasing with 13.9 per cent. Honourable Finance Minister has tried to take care of every aspect of Agriculture, Farmers welfare and Rural economy. For fisherman she announced Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. She took steps to promote traditional industries around bamboo, honey and textiles. At present, the primary challenge before our government is to keep up to its target of doubling farmer incomes by 2022 and in this budget a number of important steps have been taken in this direction. To give a push to rural infrastructure, Budget 2019-20 proposes to make 1.25 lakh km of roads under Pradhan Gram Sadak Yojana after Phase III.

The spirit of the 2019 Union Budget, 'Reform, Perform, Transform' is the mantra to build a stronger economy for New India in the next few years. All rural households will be provided with piped water supply by 2024 under the Jal Jeevan

Mission. I am sure that this budget will transform the life of all rural people.

SHRI : Rajasthan and many other parts in the country have not received adequate rainfall. I request the Government to extend the

Fasal Bima Yojana up to 31st August so that farmers could avail the benefit of crop insurance scheme. Concrete steps should be taken to achieve better results from the various important agriculture schemes initiated by the Hon. Prime

Minister during the last five years. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers

Welfare should be strengthened further. There is lack of storage facilities in the country , therefore, the schemes regarding storage facilities should be approved on priority basis. I request the Hon. Prime Minister to implement the Swaminathan

Report in toto and I also request him to waive off farmers' loan completely.

DR. : Cash transfer should be made to farmers to replace the current fertilizer subsidy regime. This would allow farmers to choose fertilizers in the combination that is best suited to their needs, and help them to fix the fertilizer imbalance in soil. The Standing Committee on Agriculture has recommended that a Pesticides Development and Regulation Authority be created to regulate the manufacturing, import and sale of pesticides in the country.

Agricultural seeds are produced by various agencies. The private sector has also started playing a role in supplying some seeds. The Economic Survey 2015-16 has recommended bringing in more players into the production of seeds, to improve their availability in the market and also reduce their prices. To increase productivity, equipment which is durable, light-weight and low cost, and also specific to different crops and regions should be made available for small and marginal farmers. The quantity of food which is wasted during the harvest and post-harvest processes in the country has increased over the past five years.

Procurement of agricultural commodities is the purchase of food grains by the

Central or State Governments. MSPs are fixed by the Central Government in order to ensure remunerative prices to farmers.

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU: Today farmers are going to get an amount of

Rs.6000/ per year. They are getting now fertilizers, seeds, electricity and water timely. For this credit goes to our distinguished Prime Minister. But it is a matter of regret that the farmers of West Bengal are not getting the benefits of the schemes of the Centre. This has made the lives of the West Bengal farmers a very miserable. My Lok Sabha constituency is facing soil erosion and severe flood. It is located on international border area. So, smuggling and anti-social activities take place there frequently. Taking this into consideration, the Government has decided to erect fencing on international border. But the fencing is taking place 3-4 kilometers inside the international border where our farmers have a large chunk of land on the other side of the international border. Therefore, I request the

Government to erect fencing close to the border i.e. at zero point so that farmers’ grievances are redressed.

I would also like to point out here that the roads in my constituency are in a very bad shape. This causes a lot of inconvenience for the common people of the area.

SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN: The Budget allocation for the

Ministry of Rural Development, which is implementing most of the social welfare schemes of the country, has been enhanced by 4.6 per cent. I do appreciate it. But there is a nominal, marginal increase in the Budget allocation for the flagship programmes. MGNREG Scheme is one of the flagship programmes of UPA-1

Government and it has got a very good impact on the rural development of the country. But it is quite unfortunate to note that the decline or the reduction of the amount, when compared to the Revised Estimates, can never be justified. The aim of the PMGSY scheme is to provide all-weather road connectivity to all unconnected habitations. My specific allegation is that there is a gross discrimination against South Indian States, and Kerala in particular, regarding the allocation of the target. Kerala is entitled to get around 4,000 kms, but only 1425 kms. has been allotted in the third phase. Regarding the Pradhan Mantri Awas

Yojana (PMAY), 'Housing for All by 2022' is the slogan of the NDA Government.

It is also a flagship programme. The budget allocation of 2018-19 was Rs. 21,000 crore which they have reduced to Rs. 19,000 crore in the budget allocation of

2019-20. My last point is regarding Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. Kindly do have some budget allocation for Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, otherwise there is no meaning of having it.

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIA : In my Parliamentary Constituency

Amreli, stray animals often damage standing crops of the farmers and the poor farmers even do not get any compensation for the same. I request the

Government to ponder over this issue and evolve a solution. Farmers in my constituency are facing problems in irrigation due to unavailability of adequate water in the area. Ponds should be constructed at various places for conservation of water and subsidy be given by the Central Government for constructing these ponds. There is also a need to make provisions to promote research work to develop such equipments as could help our farmers undertaking farming in a more simple and scientific manner. This Government has realized the vision of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' and every scheme in the Budget has been formulated focusing on our farmers, poor people and villages.

SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK : Our country is an agriculture dominated country and fully dependent on agriculture. Most of the population in our country is dependent on it for their livelihood. The well being of farmers has become a reality after the formation of BJP Government under the leadership of Hon’ble

Prime Minister, Shri ji. Our Government has taken care of farmers and the biggest example of this is the Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. Under this scheme eligible beneficiaries will receive direct cash payment in their bank accounts. This step of our Government is quite commendable. Our Government has also made provisions for a pension of 3000 rupee for 127 farmers’ and labour organizations. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the rates for Rabi crops has been fixed at 1.5 percent and for Kharif crops at 2 percent. 14000 crore rupee has been provided in this budget for Fasal Bima Yojana. Similarly, our

Government has made provisions for many schemes including Rashtriya Krishi

Vikas Yojana under Krishi Sinchai Yojana and green revolution. Our famous

Prime Minister has regularly taken care of the poor, backward, workers and middle class families. Our Government is making arrangement for pucca homes for the poor through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. SHRI FRANCISCO SARDINHA : In regard to agriculture, the Budget sets the target of doubling the farm income by 2022. This will mean doubling the farm income in four years, which will require a compound annual rate of growth of

18 per cent per year. The growth in farm income has to be 10 per cent per year. But the growth has been about three per cent for the last few years. At present, it is just two per cent. They said that India would become USD 5 trillion economy. For this, growth has to increase. The projections should be genuine, authentic and realistic.

The Government presents a very rosy picture. But when we see it on the ground, the picture is totally different. There is a national recognition that the farmers of our country are in distress. On an average, 15,000 farmers have committed suicide every year in the last few years. Why are our farmers committing suicide? People are abandoning agriculture as a profession. Farmers are committing suicide because they are in distress and in a hopeless situation. Without institutional credit, they are starving. The entire farm loan in the country could be waived as last time

Rs. 1 lakh crore were waived for 100 businessmen. I also want to talk about small farmers who do not sell their produce. Whatever they produce is sometime not enough for their own consumption. Therefore, I would request the hon. Minister to take this into account and provide them fertilizer at a very low rate. He is also requested to provide them seed free of cost. At the same time, I would request the hon. Minister to allocate more money for R&D. We want innovations in this field. Instead of total production, we have to see the production per acre. Now, I want to talk about fisheries. We have got such a big coastline. How much is our fish catch?

We are third in the world. When we have such a big coastline, why is this happening? When the fish is coming for spawning during a particular season, they are caught. How can you expect them to procreate? Therefore, there has to be a national policy. On an average, the annual milk yield of Indian cattle is 1,172 kilogram per year whereas in UK, the production, per animal, is 7,271 kilogram.

There has to be an upgradation of livestock on a war footing. The Budget has announced TDS, at two per cent, for cash withdrawals. It should be done away with. It is because in animal husbandry, whenever people sell their old cattle or even in agriculture when they sell their produce, they do not take any cheque, they are all paid in cash. Secondly, the tax should be reduced on the export meat and hides. It has to be competitive because they have to compete with other exporters.

We are producing cashew and pepper. Please see that the import of pepper, which comes through Sri Lanka and Vietnam and other countries, will be charged heavily so that our people will get remunerative prices.

SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA : Today, wheneven we talk about

Maharashtra, we talk about farmers’ issues, drought and suicide of farmers. Three and half lakh farmers have committed suicide during last 35 to 40 years in the country and out of that eighty thousand farmers are from Maharashtra. It is matter of concern that Maharashtra is still facing drought and there is no rain in the state.

I demand the Hon. Minister to visit the state to know the plight of farmers. Order should be given to state Government to procure the grain directly from the farmers not through middle men and the state Government should pay the farmers 1.5 times the cost of production. Now a days seventy percent of fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, etc. are spurious and it takes three months for testing them in lab and because of this, crops of the farmers are affected. I demand that said testing report should be given maximum within ten days. Finding errors in the form of Pradhan

Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, farmers are made to run from pillar to post to get the benefits. Please simply the farm and give benefit of said scheme to the farmers.

We launched a movement twice on the issue of farmers in Vidarbha district and we were sent to jail and after that a sum of two thousand crore rupees was released to the state. I urge the Hon. Minister to call a meeting on the serious issue of waiving loans of the farmer. You should direct the state to procure the produce from the farmers directly. You should allocate full amount to the State Government so that upliftment of farmers could be made and their loan should be waived off completely.

SHRI MUKESH RAJPUT: Without farmers' empowerment a new India may not come to reality. India is an agricultural dominated country. By developing agriculture Indian economy will be strengthened and GDP growth will be possible. Prime Minister has launched many welfare schemes for farmers. Rs. 6000 per annum under Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is given. They have not to go to money lenders. Ground water level is depleting day by day. Water conservation is an essential urgency. Many blocks in my Constituency have become dark zone due to excessive water extraction. Check dams should be constructed. This will facilitate irrigation, water saving and restoration of ground water level. It is essential to form a policy for cleaning of ponds and rain water harvesting. Now there is a supply of electricity from 18 to 20 hours in villages but faults cause hindrance in supply. Electricity employees exploit farmers by many ways. This should be stopped.

SHRI : Mahatma Gandhi ji had once said, “The should of India lives in its villages”. On this occasion I appreciate the Hon’ble

Finance Minister for putting “Gaon, Garib and Kisan” at the centre of her maiden budget. As per the Census Report 2011, 68.8% of our population lives in rural areas. Prime Minister has laid out the goal for US$ 5 Trillion economy by 2024-25.

I am very saddened to say that the people of my state and my constituency are deprived of the benefits of the PM-Kisan Scheme because the Rajasthan State

Government has not fully implemented the scheme. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana will bring in an additional income of Rs. 82 per month to the every household.

This will empower his spending capacity and boost the overall rural economy. Last year, Prime Minister Modiji announced MSP at 150 per cent of the cost of production. I would like to request the Government to also provide for Jeera

(Cumin), Dhania (Coriander) and Garlic. I would request the Minister for the completion of the required maintenance and dredging of the right wing canal of

Chambal that flows through Baran. It will improve the flow of water and increase the irrigation facilities available to the farmers of my constituency. Today, in India we need to promote organic farming techniques which reduce the dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides over-usage of which sometimes harms the ecosystem. Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan was launched by the previous Government of Rajasthan with an objective to make our villages self- reliant in water with proper planning and usage of technology. It has resulted in increase in irrigated area, cultivable area and higher crop production. The Indian

Council of Agricultural Research has been allocated Rs. 4,869 Crore for the year

2019-20. This is 3.7% lower than the revised estimate of 2018-19. I request the

Government to increase the budget allocated to the agricultural research.

SHRIMATI : In India, the main occupation, of about 61.5 percent people, is agriculture. The technical developments have increased the gap between the rich and the poor. As per census 2011, nearly 83 crore people live in rural areas. There has been a development disparity between rural and urban areas in terms of availability of basic services and socio-economic and development infrastructure. The share of allocation for Rural Development in the Union Budget has decreased. The Budget had announced that in the second phase of PMAY-Gramin, 1.95 crore houses will be provided to eligible beneficiaries, however, the rate of completion of houses under PMAY-G has been slow. PMGSY-III is envisaged to upgrade 1,25,000 kilometers of road over next five years. I request to allocate a greater number of kilometers of road as our State being a very backward State with a lot of State Highways in existence. The allocation for MGNREGA Scheme has been decreased. Since there is more availability of labour component and surplus materials, I request to allocate more funds to my State. There is a need to develop and empower human resources of rural areas. My state should be provided with adequate and timely financial assistance and also special training programme for the youth. I request the

Government to bring an amendment to Section 73 of the Panchayati Raj to make the local Panchayat bodies from five-tier system to three-tier system so as to give more duties and funds for the elected representatives. I would like to know the allocation for Andhra Pradeh through Har Ghar Jal Scheme. I belong to

Amalapuram which is being called the rice bowl of the country and has major production of coconut, is lacking an Agricultural University. I request setting up of the Agriculture University there. SHRI : An amount of Rs. 1,30485 crore has been allocated in this budget for agriculture. Attention has been paid to the farmers. There was less budget for this purpose during the Congress regime. A compensation is being given on loss of any kind of livestock. An amount of Rs.

Three lakh is given on death is thunderstorm. This is a Government that think welfare of farmers. MSP of crops has been increased. All crops production should be purchased on MSP and an immediate payment may be made to farmers. Rs.

6000 per annum is given to farmers under Kisan Samman Nidhi. But only one installment has been released in my Parliamentary Constituency because no data has been sent by Rajasthan Government led by the Congress Party. But people knew that the Government is working in welfare of farmers. Government has made a pension scheme under which there is a provision of covering five crores of farmers during next three years. Fasal Bima Yojana has been streamlined. Many types of loans are given to farmers. An amount of about Rs. 200 crore has been distributed in my Constituency under MUDRA Yojana. Under DEDF upto Rs. 50 lakh is given and on timely repayment upto 33 percent rebate is given. Under

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana an announcement has been made to pucca houses to all by 2022. About four lakh families have been given free gas connection under

Ujjawala Yojana. Subsidy may be given on water pipe. Agriculture equipements availability has to be ensured. An attention is to be given on neem coated urea. Amount for Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project and Isarda dam has been given.

Treatment of Rs. Five lakh is free. This Government believe in 'Sabka Saath,

Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'.

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: The budget presented by Shrimati Nirmala

Sitharaman has already entered the annals of our history as a dubious one with dubious statistics and dubious ideas. I am coming to a subject that is close to our heart; agriculture. Once Jawaharlal Nehru said everything else can wait but agriculture. This Government promised to double the income of the farmer by

2022. And what have we seen on the ground? Growth of agricultural sector in the first five years under NDA was a mere 2.9 per cent. The Finance Minister was very magnanimous with the industrial class and I ‘appreciate’ it. But when it comes to the farmer, she suddenly switches gear and talks of zero budget farming. How much money have you earmarked for agriculture in the budget? The food security concerns of this nation were for real. The Congress Government launched the green revolution in the sixties. It was the Congress’s assault on poverty, which succeed to a great extent. Does the Government have a route map for zero budget farming since it wants farmers to double their income in the next three years?

Where is the money for Zero Budget Farming? I am afraid this is another ploy to hoodwink the Indian farmers. Why do you target the Indian Farmer who feeds us all? They can’t sell their produce in the market for a decent price and buy food for their children. The Government’s policies are aimed to benefit only the privileged class. Congress always picked the motives for the benefit of the Indian farmers.

The Government is killing our research institutions. The Government played havoc with the Indian financial system through demonetization; grounded the economy through mindless implementation of GST. This will peril the nation and farmers and the Indian people would be at the receiving end.

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA: I thank the hon'ble Minister of

Finance, the Prime Minister and the young Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur ji for presenting a stable, futuristic and dynamic budget in the country. I am hopeful that the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ could be materialized in this General Budget and the ten point vision as envisaged by the

Government will expedite the pace of development in the country. The hon'ble

Prime Minister has taken a resolution to double the income of farmers of the country by the year 2022 which has reflected in this budget. The concept of zero budget farming will be promoted as the objective of the same is to adopt basic tenets of farming through which the target to double the income of farmer will be achieved. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare has received historic allocation in the budget 2019-20. The Ministry of Finance has allotted Rs.

1,30,485 crore to the Ministry. It is the highest ever allocation made for the

Ministry. There is a provision to provide Rs. 6000/- per year to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) which will be provided in three installments of Rs. 2000/-. Through you, I would like to draw attention of the government towards my parliamentary constituency that mines have been placed by the Army on fertile land of Khor, Pallamwala, Vattal, Jongwa and other locations in Samba sector of Jammu. The Government has fixed the compensation for these farmers but the same has not been given to them for the last several years.

The Government should assist in providing compensation to farmers. The farmers should be provided proper compensation whose land is being acquired for construction of ring road in Jammu.

SHRI VE. VAITHILINGAM: The Government should take steps for market linkages for value added products to the farming community towards doubling farming income. There is much requirement for training rural men, women and youth. The skill trainings for rural men and women should be made short to suit their needs. Stipends should be given liberally to attract youth for training which would directly improve the agriculture produce. State of art incubation center with all infrastructure and machineries for value addition of agriculture products should be started in every district head quarters. This incubation center will help in building confidence among rural women to become entrepreneur and will be a starter for them. The government should fix a reasonable price for sugar to enable the sugar mills to sustain which would indirectly benefit the farmers who are in distress due to the closure of sugar mills all over.

SHRIMATI VISHWANATH: Agriculture is the backbone of human existence and for any civilization to sustain and prosper agriculture should be healthy and natural. People are suffering from many health issues. Environment, soil and water is completely getting spoiled due to chemical farming practice. One of the natural farming methods which is also called SPNF farming can prevent it. The only way to conserve water and increase water tables is the practice of natural farming. I once again request PM sir to take initiative steps to promote natural farming. I think it is the time to talk about solutions and the ways to provide good, natural, chemical free nutritional food, which is only and only possible when our farmers are encouraged towards producing wonderful produce by means of natural farming. I request for enhancement of credit facility from Rs. 10 lakh to 25 lakh with subsidy to create sustainable livelihood for increasing the SHGs members’ income. Marketing avenues for SHGs products with proper branding, packing and barcoding may be created so that the SHGs products can get recognition in the multinational stores also. Skill based training programme may be imparted to all the SHGs Members.

SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL: Since agriculture is no longer a profitable venture people are migrating to urban areas. A separate Ministry for the welfare and promotion of fishermen and the fisheries sector has been set up.

Considering the problems of fishermen, NDA Government has taken steps to use

Satellite technology for fishing and also for the protection of fishermen.

Agriculture is considered as a system of life in our country. But farmers are committing suicides due to burden of debt. Provision is made to ensure availability of water to every household and also to farmers of the country.

Farmers are getting Neem Coated Urea and fish farming is getting priority. I urge the Government to withdraw the affidavit from the Supreme Court to protect the interests of the areca nut growers in the country. An all-weather fishing harbour in my district has been sanctioned. I request the Government to take immediate steps to float tender and start the work on the said project. I would also like to mention that there is a need to include Paddy cultivation under MGNREGA. I would like to request the hon'ble Minister of Rural Development to sanction projects for my state this year under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SONI: The provision of housing, gas cylinder, benefits of Jan Dhan Scheme, insurance, pension etc has brought changes in the lives of farmers and the common man. Provision of Rs. 6 thousand incentive amount for the farmers has given them the courage to go ahead and has infused enthusiasm into their lives. With the amount of MNREGA, schemes should be prepared to improve the condition of water, forest, land and wealth to deal with the challenges of global warming. If farming is included under MNREGA then employment will be generated in sowing, harvesting and transportation. The farmers will get assistance and it will also be helpful in doubling their income. A terminal market should be set up at Raipur for export of agricultural, plantation crops and vegetables. Schemes for connecting rivers should be prepared and

Mahanadi, Peri, Tandul and Shivnath rivers should be interconnected. It is my request that a discussion on ‘Swachhata’ (cleanliness) should be held in the House.

‘Swachhata’ has become a mission and movement. We should stop using plastic.

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: The introduction of investment in agricultural sector is a commendable step. A scheme has been made to create 10 thousand new Farmer Producer Organizations. Our Government is also committed to promote dairy production through cooperatives. The cluster based approach in

CFC will make its production more profitable and will also help in creating employment opportunities for 50000 artisans. The Government will change the condition of rural farmers by associating them with the fishery industry. The people are getting benefited through “Ayushman Bharat and Jan Aushadhi Centres.

‘One Nation One Grid’ plan has been announced in the budget and target has been fixed to provide digital education to 2 crore rural people. We will celebrate 75th anniversary of independence in 2022. The income of the farmers will be doubled, every poor person will have his own house, every poor household will have electricity connection, there will be clean fuel, the country will be free from open defecation, every poor person will get medical facility, every village in the country will be connected by road, the Ganga will be uninterrupted and clean, every youth will be employed and we will move forward with new energy and self confidence to lead the development of the world.

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: The Government has provided a huge fund of

Rs. 1 lakh 30 thousand 485 crore in this Budget in order to provide agro jobs in the rural areas and to improve the condition of rural lie. On the other hand, fund of Rs.

1 lakh 17 thousand crore has been provided for rural development. A fund of Rs.

19 thousand crore has been allocated in this Budget for construction of houses equipped with toilets, water and power facility in the rural areas. A fund of Rs. 80 thousand crore has been allocated in this Budget for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak

Yojana through which roads upto the stretch of 1 lakh 25 thousand kilometers will be constructed in the rural areas during the next five years. I would like to request the hon. Minister to complete the construction work of incomplete roads under my

Parliamentary Constituency Sheohar. I demand from the Government to give instructions to the State Government to inflict strict punishment upon the persons found guilty in the process of redressing the complaints regarding MGNREGA.

Roads and bridges should be constructed in the border areas of East Champaran and Sitamarhi district of my Constituency. An amount of Rs. 75 thousand crore has been allocated for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna in this Budget.

SHRI P. RAVEENDRANATH KUMAR: On behalf of my Party, the

AIADMK, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I welcome and support this Demands for Grants. At this juncture, I would like to register my concern on behalf of Tamil Nadu State that basic grants for the

Department of Rural Development are pending. The total amount of Rs. 4,610 crore is pending with the Central Government for the State of Tamil Nadu. I urge upon the Central Government to release the funds for implementing the following schemes in Tamil Nadu as early as possible: Rs. 9,800 crore for National

Horticulture Mission, Funds for National Bamboo Mission and Rs. 5,903 crore for

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture Scheme. The State Government of

Tamil Nadu has received five awards from the Central Government for effectively implementing the MGNREGA Scheme. In my Theni constituency, a lot of crops – mango, grapes, coconut etc. are grown. I request the Government to set up an agriculture products’ market in my constituency.

SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI: Today, discussion is taking place on a very important issue which is concerned with 80 per cent population of the country living in rural areas. People get employment under MGNREGA Scheme. The wages of the labourers under MGNREGA Scheme should be increased. Today, construction of pond takes place under MGNREGA. The labourers carry out digging work under it but they are unable to carry out deep digging. So a provision should also be made for getting the rest of the work completed through machines after getting the four to five feet digging work done by the labourers so that the problem regarding the water harvesting can be addressed. Apart from it, the

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and National Rural Livelihood Mission have immensely benefitted people particularly in the State of Jharkhand. A lot of farming takes place in Ranchi, Chatra, Koderma, Hazaribagh and Giridih districts of Jharkhand. Various types of vegetables are grown there but the farmers are unable to get their remunerative prices. An amount of 5000 rupees has been fixed to be given as incentive to the small farmers there under Mukhya Mantri Kisan

Samman Yojna. I believe that the schemes being formulated for encouraging farmers are really very good.

SHRI ANTO ANTONY: As per the funds allotted to PMGSY the state of

Kerala has been completely ignored by the Centre. Even states that have lesser population than Kerala somehow tend to receive higher packages from the government. Hence I request the government to grant special packages to the state of Kerala through PMGSY. There are over 2 million small time Cow-herds or

‘Sheera karshakar’ as we say in Kerala, but unfortunately they are not involved in

MGNREGA. Housing allocation in rural areas needs to be prioritized. There are plenty of government recognized women groups in Kerala. I recommend the government to make provisions for interest-free loans for all women entrepreneurs.

NRHM or ‘Grameena Arogyam’ has been successfully implemented all across the country but its rural reach is extremely pathetic.

SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL: I am very grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to speak on this important topic. When our farmers will become strong, only then our country will become strong. 80 to 85 percent people are engaged in farming and this country can never be strong without the contribution of farmers. At present, about 45 lakh people are reeling under severe flooding. For the last 11 years, I have been making this demand to declare it a 'national calamity'.

My constituency Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Morgaon, Navgaon etc. districts are worst affected. The Brahmaputra Board has completely failed in prevention of flood in Assam. Disaster management in Assam has also failed during floods.

Therefore, the Government should conduct a new study on this and the work should be done to control the flow of Brahmaputra in the same manner in which

Damodar river was controlled. A package of at least Rs. 5,000 crore should be given to Assam; this is the demand of our Party. I hope that the hon. Minister will pay attention towards Assam.

SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA: Stray cattle are causing distress to farmers.

There is a provision of barbed wire fencing under 'MGNREGA'. Barbed wire fencing can be done after an agreement with farmers. For upkeep of cattle, one or two people can be given job, and they can be paid wages under 'MGNREGA'.

Through the House, I would like to assure the people of my constituency that whatever amount of money would be required for drinking water, hand pumps will be provided in my constituency under Members of Parliament Local Area

Development Scheme. Farmers' crop should be protected from stray animals.

SHRIMATI AGATHA K. SANGMA: I come from the State of

Meghalaya which is predominantly agrarian. Twenty-two per cent of our GDP is from agriculture and 80 per cent of our population depends on agriculture for their livelihood one way or the other. Sir, my humble appeal to our hon. Minister is to help us establish this Central agriculture university. We have in my State a practice called Jhum cultivation where lands and mountains are burnt to practice agriculture. But in today’s world it is no longer a sustainable practice. I request the

Government to find a solution to help our State Government and to help our farmers to find a way to transform from Jhum cultivation into a proper sustainable form of agriculture. I urge the Central Government to help us practice or find a solution for rice and fish farming. It is a practice which is being done in many countries like Vietnam. These forms of farming will be lucrative to Meghalaya and also to other States that have similar form of farming. I would like to request the hon. Minister to help us set up more food processing units. SHRI : In this budget, there was a mention to double the farmers’ income by the year 2022. The steps taken for it are historical. The

Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme is very historical and the people of our constituency have reaped a lot of its benefits. It has been mentioned to increase the

MSP by one-and-a-half times of the cost price. 23 notified crops have been included in it. ‘Gawar’ should also be included in it. It will benefit Churu district as well as Bikaner and whole of the ‘Shekhawati’ belt. Transparency is needed in case of procurement done on MSP basis. MSP is a very fantastic programme and lot of procurement is done from my constituency but farmers do not get timely payment. Therefore, the farmers are forced to sell the crop to broker and the loss is caused to farmers. ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana’ is a historical programme. Canal system cease to exist after my constituency, Hanumangarh.

85% crops are rainfed in my district, Churu. A Committee should be constituted to monitor the facilities of ICAR at that place.

SHRI JASBIR SINGH (DIMPA) GILL: Punjab gives around sixty percent paddy in the central pool. But the government has increased the minimum support price by only 3.6 percent. The price of diesel has been increased. The farmland in Punjab is in dire need of water. I would like to request the government to increase the minimum support price by 500 rupees only and Swaminathan report should be implemented. Besides a range of area should be fixed in all the states in regard to cultivation of crops like tomato or sugarcane or any other vegetable so that no vegetable is wasted.

SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL: The agriculture GDP at the time of Independence was 70 per cent in all these years it came down to 18 per cent.

Now, the schemes which have been brought such as Pradhan Mantri Sinchayi

Yojana, Annadata ko Urjadata banana, promoting dairy industry through co- operative, forming new Kisan Utpadak Sangathan and through Zero Farming the farmer will be empowered in coming days. 35 years back Bhatsa dam was constructed in my constituency in which reserve quota of water has been kept for irrigation but that canal was not completed so far. Therefore, provision should be made under Pradhan Mantri Krishai Sinchayi Yojana to complete the work of this

Canal.

SHRI THOL THIRUMAAVALAVAN: The permission granted to exploration of hydrocarbon in Tamil Nadu should be immediately cancelled. I urge upon the Union Government to declare the Delta districts of Tamil Nadu a

Agriculture Protected districts. PM-Kisan Scheme which provides financial assistance to farmers should be extended to benefit the farm labourers of our country. I urge upon the Union Government that the 8-lane highway project between Chennai and Salem should be given up as this will affect around 1000 acres of fertile land. SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN: Today India is the sixth fastest growing economy in the world. The Government is making efforts for the development of villages, poor, farmers, labourers and address the problems of illiteracy and poverty. The Government has eased the living of rural people and successfully implemented the schemes like Ujjwala, Ujala, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana at the grass root level. The allocation in the budget has been made keeping in view the poor, farmer and labourers of rural

India.

SHRI RATANSINH MAGANSINH RATHOD: A number of facilities have been given to farmers by the Government in this budget. Among them the initiative to double the income of farmer is really appreciable. Today the farmers are leading their life happily. There are no irrigation facilities in Taluka Kapadwanj and Kathlal in my Parliamentary Constituency Panchmahal in Gujarat as a result approximately 60,000 farmers are affected by it. Therefore, irrigation facilities should be provided in the said Talukas.

SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN: Union Government fixes the prices of crops like wheat, paddy, pulses, potato, Onion etc., through CACP whereas prices of sugarcane are fixed by Union Government and State Governments. Sugar mills procure cent per cent sugarcane from farmers and payment of sugarcane is often delayed by one year and farmers did not get interest on delayed payment. Payment of Rs. 1,890 crores of farmers of previous year is outstanding against sugar mills in

Saharanpur division. Rs. 45 crore of interest is outstanding against Deoband Sugar mill. If the Government is interested in improving the condition of farmers and doubling their income, payment of sugarcane should be made within 14 days and if this payment is delayed then interest should also be paid to farmers. Prices of sugarcane should also be increased and farmers should be provided subsidy on electricity and diesel.

SHRI R. K. SINGH PATEL: The Government has taken the number of initiatives to improve the condition of farmers. A provision of Rs. 1,30,085 crores has been made for agriculture in this budget. Condition of farming will improve by the initiatives taken to double the income of farmers. Cost of labour of farmers should also be included in determining minimum support prices of crops. Previous

Governments have ignored this aspect but now this Government has decided to include cost of labour of farmers in minimum support price of crops. The

Government of Uttar Pradesh has decided to provide Gau Seva Allowance of Rs.

30 per cow. I would like to request the Government of Uttar Pradesh to provide

Gau Vansh Allowance under MGNREGA.

SHRI T. N. PRATHAPAN: The Budget has reflected the soft corner to the private and corporate sector while leaving common people carrying the burden of excessive taxes, and it doesn’t address the serious problems of our economy and the society. Our GDP growth rate, Agricultural Growth Rate and the foreign investment equity inflow is scooping down. is neglected and the scheme is failed to achieve the desired outcome of an ODF India. The amount provided to the farmers under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi is much lower than what one can earn through MGNREGA. The present allocation under MGNRGA does not even serve 50% of our requirement. Delays in payment to states is discouraging the poor from relying on MGNREGA as lifeline support.

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is facilitating private sector insurers. The allocation in this budget to the Ministry of Water Resources has been far below from the initial target. The allocation to the Blue Revolution Scheme is not enough to meet the demands this sector requires. The allocation for the fisheries department is hardly sufficient and the world’s second largest fisheries sector is totally neglected. I urge to the Government to allocate more funds basically focusing the development of the life style and basic infrastructure.

SHRI : Generally, small ruminants, particularly, sheep die instantaneously in the road accidents and also in train accidents. Sheep growers are losing their livelihood. Hence, I would request the hon. Minister to compensate the sheep growers and shepherds when these kinds of accidents happen. SHRI PALLAB LOCHANB DAS : I hail from Assam. There farmers face a lot of problems due to floods. Those who face land erosion should be given some benefits. We want that tea should be included in agriculture. Tea Board which comes under commerce and industries should be placed under agriculture. I request the Government to include the names of 23.94 lac people of Assam under

PMAY Scheme. First installment of NSAP should be released for Assam. We have not received basic grant and performance grant from 14th Finance

Commission. These should be released at the earliest. The additional list of

PMAY should also be released. There is pending liability of material under

MGNREGA, it should be released.

SHRI RAJKUMAR CHAHAR : Farmers should not have to mortgage their lands to buy tractors and other machineries. There should be some arrangement to provide them loan without having to mortgage their lands on the basis of their record of loan repayment during the last three years. In my

Parliamentary Constituency there is Integrated Farming System Research at RVS

College Bichpuri in Agra district since 1953. It has been shut down since 31st

March, 2018. I raise the demand to kindly restart the Integrated Farming System

Research as soon as possible in the interest of farmers.

SHRI ANUMALA REVANTH REDDY : There is a need to increase more allocation for agriculture in the budget. The present allocation is 1 lakh 33 thousand crores. It is 5 per cent of our Budget which is very meager. The quality seeds should be provided to farmers. The grants being provided for irrigation projects by the Government should be enhanced and more focus should be given on minimum support price. The Government has reflected more budget allocation but utilization has been less which should be taken care of.

DR.(PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI : It is the first time since independence that the Government has shifted its concentration from food production/food security towards farmers income. This Government has announced the aim of doubling farmers’ income by the 75th year of Indian

Independence, i.e. year 2022-23. In lieu of achieving this goal the Government has launched several income centered schemes. A large number of schemes are aimed at our poor farmers, so there has been an 85% increase in the budgetary allocation for the farmers. Out of this PM-KISAN scheme has received an allocation of

Rs.75,000 crore. This scheme will help in providing a structured income support to our farmers.

This Government has also taken steps to ensure that farmers rely more on the formal source of credit by providing the Interest Subsidy Scheme. The allocation for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana(PMFBY) has also increased by

8%. This is a welcome step as the schemes shields our poor farmers from natrual disasters/risks from pre sowing to post harvest. But proper awareness needs to be generated in this regard and timely disbursals of insurance is also very important for the success of this scheme. Access to market is an important feature as it will help the farmer achieve the right price for his yield. I would urge the Government to increase the allocation for research in agriculture. I would also urge the Hon’ble

Minister to explore the potential of oil seeds production in Gujarat as the state is one of the largest producers of cotton seeds.

SHRIMATI : I would like to request the Minister of

Agriculture to set up a Central Agricultural School and construct a Pucca Canal on

Yamuna Chambal rivers to irrigate the agricultural land in my Parliamentary

Constituency Bharatpur. I also request to set up a Goschala for every 45 Gram

Panchayats to accommodate stray cattles in the complex and thus prevent the damage to crops of farmers.

DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR : The Government has brought some very good schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, Aayushman Bharat Yojana, Jan-Dhan

Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana, etc. Dindori is an agriculture dominated area and onions, grapes, pomegranate, tomato, maize are the major crops here. Suitable facilities should be made available in my Constituency to strengthen farmers economically. Onion is the major crop in my constituency.

Hence, I demand that more processing units and Cold Storage facilities should be made available here. Cargo and Transportation Services should also be improved. Electricity, water and road are the essential infrastructure for farmers. More solar energy projects should be implemented to overcome the power shortage. Other subsidiary and allied business should also be developed and encouraged to increase farmers income.

Health and education should be given priority and efforts should be made to eradicate the menace of malnutrition. The Government should complete the irrigation projects like Nar-Par, Wanjalpani, Damangana, Manjar Pada-II as early as possible. The problem of acute water scarcity in Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmadnagar and Marathwada region should be solved. Har Gaar Jal Scheme should be implemented. In my constituency, major crop is infected by ‘Laskar insect’. So, the farmers should be given adequate help.

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: I come from a rice producing area. I request that the Minimum Support Price of rice should be increased. The loan of fishermen of Konkan region should be waived off. The fishery schemes of the NCDC should be promoted in Maharashtra. Cold storage chains in the coastal area of Konkan region should be established. There is need to improve the functioning of Panchayati Raj System. In my Parliamentary Constituency the allocation for PMGSY, Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad should be increased. SHRI BHOLA SINGH: This Government has started a number of schemes for the development of our farmers and villages. The Government has started Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi under which 6 thousand rupees are being given to the deserving farmers. I have an important demand in the interest of the farmers that the minimum support price fixed for farmers' produce should be linked with the inflation rate. I request the Government that for the development of landless labourers in the villages special financial assistance should be provided to them. As per the census of 2011, there are a number of poor people who could not avail the benefit of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. I request the Hon. Minister to start some other housing scheme for them.

SHRI KANUMURU RAGHURAMA KRISHNARAJU: The Central

Government should take an initiative to set up an agency to control the quality of the seeds. Hon. Prime Minister is taking of 'Make in India'. Our focus has been on tractors and some other equipment. But there is a spray which is being imported from Taiwan at the rate of around Rs. 15,000. If we manufacture that in India, it can be made at Rs. 4,000 to 5,000. There is MGNREGS where people are being paid salary for around 150 days. But in some of the areas, where is a shortage of labour, for this small payment, they are not even coming for any work. If this can be clubbed with agriculture, it would help the farmer. The farmer can be subsidized by whatever amount the Government is paying Rs. 190 and balance can be paid by the farmer.

SHRI SANTOSH PANDEY: Allocation of one lakh fourty thousand crore rupees for agriculture sector is a significant initiative. Our Hon. Prime Minister has again given emphasis on agriculture. Ten thousand new Farmer Producer

Organisations would be formed, which would make the farmers financially strong.

The government is making large investments in agriculture and infrastructure. The condition of farmers is likely to improve in the future. Our government is talking about rural development and I would like to mention that beneficiaries in the

Rajnandgaon district are facing difficulties in getting payment under Pradhan

Mantri Awas Yojana and middlemen are very active there.

SHRI V. K. SREEKANDAN: Fair relief and compensation should be given to our farmers in cases of crop loss due to natural calamities. The farmers want a fair and remunerative price which is 50 per cent above the cost of cultivation.

Farmers are also demanding waiver of loans. The agriculture loan of the farmers to the tune of at least Rs. 5 lakh should be waived off urgently so that we can prevent farmers from committing suicide. Palakkad district in Kerala is known as the Rice

Bowl of Kerala. Due to floods during the last year, thousands of hectares of agricultural land has been damaged and become uncultivable. The agricultural labourers have become jobless creating social imbalance there. I urge the government to provide a special agricultural package for the farmers of Palakkad district urgently.

SHRI SURESH KASHYAP: The present budget certainly aims to change the destiny of the rural areas. Nearly 70 percent population of the country depends either on agriculture or on allied activities. The government led by Modiji has taken serious steps to develop agriculture which have resulted in very positive and encouraging results. An Annual sum of Rs. 6000 under Kisan Samman Nidhi will be directly deposited in the accounts of the farmers. The government has set the target to give Rs. 75000 crore for 14.5 crore beneficiary farmers. The Government for the first time has proposed to give monthly pension of Rs. 3000 for the farmers.

A number of steps have been taken to double the income of farmers. These steps include promotion of zero budgeting Agriculture, to set up food processing units and power generation through solar panels. Himachal Pradesh has ample scope for water conservation as number of rivers and runnels flow there. I request the hon. agriculture minister to envisage a special project for Himachal Pradesh so that the water of these rivers could be conserved only by makings dams there. It will not only provide irrigation facilities in Himachal Pradesh, but the water level will also rise. I request to hike import duty on apples from a present 50 per cent to 75 per cent. Himachal Pradesh also produces garlic, which is being smuggled from China.

The import of Garlic should be banned. DR. A. CHELLAKUMAR: I request the government to waive the farmers loan across the country. The Government has the precedent of UPA government.

Government has not even bothered to conduct the survey as to how many farmers in the country has committed suicide due to loss and debt in agriculture after 2015.

Yielding coconut trees are dying because of water starvation and drought. I urge the government to take immediate steps to release pending payment from the sugar mills to the rightful poor farmers at the earliest. I request the government to establish cold storages in Krishnagiri, Shoolagiri, Thally and Rayakottah areas of

Krishnagiri district. I also request to establish a perfume manufacturing industry in

Krishnagiri so that the farmers will get a good price for their floriculture produce. I request the government to increase loan on Kisan Credit Card to Rs. 2.5 lakhs as per today's money value. I request the government to increase the allocation for

MNREGA and provide them job from 100 days to 200 days and also increase their wages to Rs. 500/- per day.

SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL: Our government has set the target of constituting ten thousand new Farmer Producer Organisations in the next five years. The government should promote dairy industry through cooperative.

Our Hon. Prime Minister has resolved to double the income of farmers by the year

2022 and it is getting reflected in the budget. Every year an amount of six thousand rupees would be transferred in the bank accounts of farmers under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. I would like to point out that in my constituency only 40 per cent procurement has been made from the farmers and 60 per cent procurement is still to be made. This remaining procurement should be done. I would like to mention that soil in the Rann of Kutch region is saline. Agriculture

Ministry should take steps to prevent the expansion of desert. MGNREGA scheme should be liked with farmers in the agriculture section.

SHRIMATI SANGEETA AZAD: The agriculture devices of farmers are run on Petrol and Diesel but the prices of Petrol and Diesel have increased manifold. I demand that Diesel and Petrol should be brought under GST. The

Government should ensure the adequate availability of NPK in government godowns. The Government provides subsidy to multi-national fertilizer companies. I demand that this subsidy should be given to farmers. Arrangements should be made for procurement of farmers' produce directly from their houses. I also demand that Kisan Samman Nidhi should be transferred in the accounts of those farmers only whose names are included in Khatauni. There are many farmers and labourers in my Parliamentary Constituency who are very efficient in their work and deserve Kisan Samman Nidhi. The Government should consider them.

SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BHAIYA): A very nice budget has been presented in the House. Ours is a country of farmers. It is an agricultural country. Unless the farmers are prosperous, one cannot think about the well being of the country. Our farmers are poor. Our three generations have been engaged in agriculture. Even today we are involved in agriculture. The farmers produce foodgrains. They feed us all, but they themselves are deprived of food. They starve.

SHRI RODMAL NAGAR: After independence our villages became smaller in size and towns continued to grow big. Our hon. Prime Minister has taken cognizance of it. He has given facilities of roads, electricity, water, houses for the poor, LPG gas connections schemes like Ujjawala Yojana and medical facilities for their treatment. He has given Rs. 6000 per annum to every deserving farmer so that he can be self-reliant. The hon. Prime Minister envisioned to make the income of farmers two fold. But the government must take some measures so that the resources already available with farmers are fully utilised. The argiculture waste should be utilized. The farmers should be given grants and encouraged to prepare composed and manure. Similarly, special subsidy should be given on gobar gas. Farmers are sowing the conventional seeds even today. They should be provided quality and improved varieties of seeds. They need to be trained to make pesticides are insecticides with cow dung, cow urine and neem seeds.

SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA : Most of the farmers are illiterate. So, a provision should be made in the budget and money allocated so that children of farmers become educated. More research and development centres should be opened in Punjab at the district level so that it can give a fillip to the agriculture in the state. Tractors and other equipments should be made easily available to the farmers and GST should be waived off on these items. A lot of cultivable land lies beyond the barbed wire fence on the Indo-Pak border in Punjab. Farmers face a lot of hardship and get very little time to cultivate this area. Government should look into this matter. Punjab is burdened under a lot of debt. I urge upon the

Government to waive off this loan. Modern laboratories should be opened at the district level in Punjab. It is necessary to test spurious medicines and fertilizers.

The groundwater in Punjab is not getting recharged. We have a long standing dispute of river water with Haryana. This needs to be sorted out. Fruits and vegetables are being grown in Punjab. These are perishable items. So, cold storage chain should be provided. An agriculture university should be established between Ramdas and Dera Baba Nanak in his name.

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR : The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman

Nidhi Scheme which has been mentioned in this budget under that scheme money has not been given to the farmers of West Bengal, as this state did not provide the list of beneficiaries. My Parliamentary Constituency is Balurghat. If a research cum production centre is opened there, then there would be much facility to fishermen there. My Constituency is agriculture based area, there is no industry. People get their income from vegetables/fruits. A cold storage is much required there to preserve these vegetables. Money should be allocated by the Ministry of

Rural Development for constructing concrete roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram

Sadak Yojana in my Constituency.

SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH : Government has increased the Minimum

Support Price(MSP) of different foodgrains, this is good but Government should also arrange for purchase of these produce. Rivers may be nationalized because unless rivers are nationalized, all states will go on quarrelling with each other.

Haryana should be provided a food park for tomatoes and onion as it has been provided in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The Ayushman policy of India is very slow. It should be simplified, so that labours and farmers of the village may be included in it. The subsidy on DAP, urea and pesticides may be given directly to the farmers. Presently, for water recharge there is ratio of 60:40 in MNREGA, use of machinery is not permitted. So provision of drilling by JCB should be made.

SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA: Flood, drought and cyclone are common phenomena in my State Odisha. I am thankful to hon. Prime Minister for providing financial assistance to tackle the situation caused by Fani Cyclone in

Odisha. I request the Government of Odisha and the central Agriculture Minister to procure paddy lying in mandis of Odisha. I urge upon the Government to dig pond for every farmer of the country through MGNREGA so that rain water harvesting could be promoted. Special emphasis should be given to form Farmers Producers

Society Organisation.

SHRI GUHARAM AJGALLEY: There is no appropriate arrangement for farmers. It is necessary to provide facility to farmers for systematic farming. There is an urgent need to work out a plan in the country to provide remunerative prices to farmers.

SHRI : The work of Phase-I and II of the

Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana across the country has been almost completed and the work on Phase-III has been started. But unfortunately in Bihar the work on

Phase-I has just finished and the work on Phase-II has been just started and we have to take up Phase-III later on. You have developed Three Tier Mechanism for better roads. But it pains when you see that inferior quality of roads are being constructed. Around 95-100 per cent of tenders are decided by lottery in Bihar regarding construction of rural roads. It is a dangerous thing and there is also loss of revenue because of it. It should be investigated. Big changes are needed in plantation works happening in India under MGNREGA. ‘DISHA’ Committee is a perfect system. I request Hon’ble Minister to strengthen the co-ordination mechanism for meetings of ‘DISHA’. SHRIMATI RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI: Now, perception about this

House is changing. In 1947 population of our country was 33 crores, now it is about 133 crores. At that time 25 crores people depended on agriculture and now, this figures has reached to 80 crores. Indian economy has become the sixth largest economy and it has potential to come to first or second rank. Government has talked about 'ease-of-living in the rural area'. They have launched 18 major schemes. Many states are implementing these in a good way. But I am sorry to say about West Bengal. The farmers of Uttar Pradesh are getting protection and promotion. In Uttar Pradesh loans of 86 lakh farmers have been waived off. They have been given an amount of Rs. 8000 crores through DBT. 56 lakh metric tonne wheat has been procured during the year 2018-19. We have fixed M.S.P. even for potato. Government of Uttar Pradesh has given Rs. 40000 crores for payment of sugarcane that is the highest. There is facilitation centre and e-marketing arrangement in every gram panchayat. Many people living in Prayagnagari and surrounding areas are poor. About 60 percent people are devoid of clean water for drinking. Bagala Pump Canal and Bansagar Pump Canal etc. projects, started during the decade 70 to 80 should be completed. Roads should be repaired. Meja,

Manda, Koraon and Shankargarh areas are backward. They need development. My constituency should be given facilities on the lines of Bundelkhand.

SHRI H. VASANTHAKUMAR: About 60-70 per cent people are farmers.

The crop insurance money should be paid on time. Minimum Support Price should be enhanced. In Kanyakumari constituency, the centre of Excellence College of

Organic should be opened. The funds should be given to lift irrigation. Honey

Bee Development Board, Coconut Development Board and Banana Development

Board should be established. Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment

Guarantee Scheme 150 days in a year employment should be given and wages should be increased to Rs. 300 per day. Town panchayat should be covered under this scheme. The rural connectivity should be developed. Government should clear AVM Channel.

SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV: UPA Government had allocated 58,623 crore rupees in 2013-14 under Rural Development Ministry. While, NDA Government has allocated 1,17,674 crore rupees in 2019-20. This is the change. Panchayats were provided with direct funds for the first time after the independence as per the recommendation of

Thirteenth Finance Commission. UPA Government had allocated 65,000 crore rupees.

While, we have provided 2,29,200 crore rupees. I want to mention about Pradhan Mantri

Awas Yojana. This scheme has brought great transformation in the lives of the poor.

Earlier, seventy thousand rupee was given to a beneficiary under the said scheme. But, our

Prime Minister said that now seventy thousand rupees is not sufficient. Previously, houses under the said scheme were built in 20 square meter area, but now we have increased the built-up area of each home to 25 square metre. Not only this, we have also decided to provide toilets, electricity connection and kitchen in each home under the said scheme. This is being done on the direction of Prime Minister. 1,54,00,000 houses have been built during the last five years. Under the said scheme, our Prime Minister has committed to the goal that every single poor people will be provided with a home. This will bring enormous transformation in the lives of poor people. I can say that our officers are quite efficient.

Prime Minister is going to launch the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana and budgetary allocation for this has already been announced. This scheme follows a criteria that each village will be connected by 'pucca/pitched road' from one side but the interior parts of the village will not be connected. I would request Hon. Minister that now the plough. Oxen method has ended in agriculture and tractors-harvestors are being used.

So, the Kuttcha road creates obstacles in the movement of such vehicles and equipments.

So, I request that internal roads of a village should also be connected through pitched/pucca roads under the said scheme.

SHRI AJAY BHATT: Uttarakhand is a newly born State. It was formed

17-18 years ago. There are certain problems being faced by the people of this

State. Everyone is aware of the tragedy of Kedarnath that took place in 2013 in our State. If roads, bridges and culverts would have been constructed then the lives of many persons could have been saved. Therefore, it is my humble submission to you that the problems of the people living in hilly areas must be kept in mind under the third phase which Hon. Minister intends to start because the houses in hilly areas are located at more distance from each other. So, roads under

PMGSY must be constructed even in those areas where ten families are residing.

The tragedy that we faced in 2013 was due to the inadequate routes and roads. I also want to say that the budgetary allocation should be increased for Rashtriya

Krishi Vibhag Yojana in hilly region which consists of dairy, animal husbandry, pisciculture, mandi council, silk development, herbs and aromatic plants etc. This is because migration is a very big problem for us and we must do these things to check it.

SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH: Aurangabad and Gaya are drought prone areas. Water conservation scheme under MNREGA like construction of ponds etc. should be done compulsorily and on priority basis. Provision should be made for use of Pokland machine or any other machine for this purpose. Durable and permanent assets should be created under above scheme. There is a pension scheme for poor, senior citizen, physically challenged and widow in the village.

Names of a number of poor people are not included in SECC list whereas names of rich people have been added and this is why eligible persons are not getting benefit of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Concerned Government's official should be made accountable for this. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH: Punjab Agriculture University was set up at the time when country was reeling under food crisis. At that time Punjab had Multi- crop system but it had introduced the crops system i.e. wheat and rice for the country but at present there is shortage of water and land. Farmers are in trouble and now it is duty of the Government to waive off their loans. I also demand funds for said university which has introduced Green Revolution. As per decision of

Supreme Court, 35 lakh hectares of water should be released to Haryana and

Punjab each and 2 lakh hectare to Delhi. There is scarcity of water and if our water is released, generations of Punjab will suffer. The Government should think and intervene in the matter.

SHRI S. MUNISWAMY: Kolar is known for production of milk, silk and vegetable. Kolar is of course the land of gold mines. It is one of the driest lands in the country and faces severe drought for about nearly two decades. The water level has gone down drastically. The Government should come out with some specific schemes for districts like Kolar so as to find a long term solution for the problems of the farmers. Almost all agricultural products are heavily dependent on water. Around 130 talukas in 26 districts of Karnataka have been suffering from severe drought this year including Kolar. Farmers are unable to grow anything, as there is no irrigation scheme in these areas. Farmer leaders are demanding that

Government pay drought compensation. With water tables now down to 1600 feet, farming is becoming unviable. The available groundwater is not potable due to excess fluoride content. People in rural areas too are demanding clean and safe drinking water. The State Government is thinking of providing a permanent solution for the water problems of Kolar and Chikkaballapur through the

Ettinahole project. The Government should intervene and try finding a permanent solution for the farmers of Kolar district. Kolar belongs to the semi arid zone of

Karnataka. Education plays a crucial role in the development. Employment has always been a matter of serious concern to a nation and role of employment in development is of immense consideration.

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL: Farmers and entire country want that cases of suicides should be stopped. Employment should be secured under NREGA. I appreciate that the Government has favoured Swaminathan

Commission. My Government is ensuring sustainable development instead of doing relief and rehabilitation, I belong to an area where technology is being developed but the benefits of it are not being availed by people. The Government should clear the status with regard to adopting G.M. technology.

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV: New Crop Insurance Scheme is in line through with One Nation - One Scheme theme. It incorporates the best features of all previous schemes and all previous shortcomings/weaknesses have been removed. I would urge the Minister to regulate the seeds production industry and introduce the incentive for the quality seeds producing farmer in the country. River water is getting dry due to the obstruction of water flowing. Government should make a River Protection Authority. I urge the Minister to prepare a mechanism for

DBT to farmers for the power supply. In Kalburagi, Dall Mills were unable to pay back the loan amount to banks and became NPA Industries leading to their closure.

Thus, out of 400 dall mills more than 300 are closed down. There is need to strengthen dall mill industry in the country. I would like to suggest the following measures to strengthen the Dall Mill Industry: Classification of Dall Mill MSME industry to Agro Based Industry, Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, Abolition of APMC

Cess, Exemption of GST for agricultural inputs like fertilisers, pesticides, Making production of fertiliser by the waste of Toor plant, Provision of Central assistance to Hyderabad Karnataka Region Development Board (HKRDB), Establishment of

National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ), Sanction of Special

Economic Zones for Hyderabad Karnataka region, Facility of drinking water for

Kalaburagi city from Almatti Dam, Establishment of Skill Development University at Kalaburagi, Construction of cold storage at the block level, Work Shed to be constructed, MGNREGA Scheme should be properly implemented and wages to be paid to the labourers on weekly basis.

SHRI RAM SHIROMANI: This budget is peculiar for farmers. All tasks of reforms related with environment, land etc. are to be done by farmers only. It is being said that efforts shall be made for zero budget farming which shall take us back to that situation where budget allocation shall no more be required for farmers. Is this possible? Where are the markets for organic farming? Then, the issue of authentication shall arise in organic farming, how shall we deal with that?

When the Government provides support to Agriculture Sector, it is termed

'Subsidy'. A farmer knows how to increase the production, Government should provide support only. There is nothing for farmers in this budget. There is no mention of doubling farmers' income, doing away with the discrepancies of crop insurance, providing relief from drought and making Kisan Credit Card interest free for one year. In my constituency, Shravasti, thousands of people became homeless due to flood. The condition of that area is horrible, but the budget has no mention of it.

The discussion was not concluded.

SNEHLATA SHRIVASTAVA Secretary General

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